Gold Record Winning ‘Head East’ Returns to Kansas City
Rock and roll legends, country stars, jazz and ragtime acts will take the stage at KCRiverFest July 3 & 4.
Presented by Friends of the River—Kansas City, the acclaimed festival returns to Richard Berkley Riverfront Park for a sixth year with a diverse lineup of bands and an 18-minute fireworks spectacular by internationally-renowned Zambelli Fireworks. Again, festival goers will also be treated to a six-minute “sneak preview” fireworks show on July 3rd at approximately 10 p.m.
Legendary gold-album certified band Head East will headline on the Friends of the River Main Stage at 8:30 p.m. July 3rd. Head East has Missouri roots and has appeared in more than 5,000 concerts over the past 25 years. From St. Louis to Seattle and Dallas to Detroit, Head East has performed in every major city and market in North America. Led by founding member, keyboardist and producer Roger Boyd, Head East is one of the hottest, most exciting live shows touring today.
Other acts appearing July 3rd acclaimed guitarist Fast Johnny Ricker, bluesman Rich Berry, the Bluecat Creole Band and Chicago-based singer/songwriter Dan Coyle. Coyle was a crowd pleaser at last year’s KCRiverFest.
July 4th entertainment will feature the best in country and jazz, with performances by returning KCRiverFest favorites Bayley Kate and Phil Vandel. The all-girl group broadBAND will lead in to the wildly popular U.S. Air Force Shades of Blue Jazz Band. As in years past, the Shades of Blue will perform patriotic standards and tributes to the Armed Services, culminating with the 18-minute fireworks show over the river by the First Family of Fireworks, Zambelli International.
Besides the Friends of the River Main Stage, two new stages will offer something for everyone. The Show Me Stage presented by Radio Disney is under a shade tent and features children’s entertainment. The children’s zone in the stage area offers inflatables and other activities, including Tom Mancuso of Sit Means Sit Dog Training. As seen on Animal Planet, Mancuso will return to demonstrate the Sit Means Sit dog training method.
KCRiverFest will feature the best in ragtime and jazz musicians at the Americana Pavilion presented by the Kansas City Ragtime Revelry. Grab a seat under the shade tent as emcee Bill Long (known by ragtime fans for his years emceeing Sedalia's Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival) keeps the Americana Pavilion hopping both days of the festival welcoming the best in ragtime performers. Acts include the New Red Onion Jazz Babies, TurpinTyme Ragsters, Marty Mincer, Frederick Hodges, the Rhythmia, the Sunflower Ragtime Orchestra and many more.
2010 marks the inaugural year of a new tradition: the First Annual KCRiverFest Canoe & Kayak Invitational Championships. Be sure to be at KCRiverFest at 3 p.m. July 4th to watch these river racers challenge themselves and their competitors on the Mighty Missouri.
The U.S. Army Strength in Action Zone returns, featuring an Apache helicopter simulator, Guitar Hero stage, dog tags and the Army fitness challenge.
Complete schedules, a new map of the park and detailed information about performers are online now at www.KCRiverFest.com. Regular priced adult tickets are $6 at the gate, but may be purchased online for $5 at www.KCRiverFest.com. Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover are accepted online. Children age five and under are admitted free of charge. Only cash will be accepted at the gate.
Community groups and individuals may volunteer at KCRiverFest. More information and volunteer applications are available at www.KCRiverFest.com or by calling 816.960.3400.
A special package deal is offered by the Downtown Marriott, including a room with a panoramic view of the fireworks and tickets to the festival. A link to the special hotel package for KCRiverFest visitors is posted on www.KCRiverFest.com.
Sponsors for KCRiverFest include Friends of the River—Kansas City, the Port Authority of Kansas City, the Neighborhood Tourism Development Fund, U.S. Army, Midwest Living magazine, Burns & McDonnell, Mazuma Credit Union, Country 94.1 KFKF, Q104, Mix 93.3, Star 102, ink, Radio Disney, Capitol Federal, Clear, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, DST Systems, BNSF, Ameristar Cares, Central States Beverage Co., Isle of Capri Casino, GE Energy, HNTB, King Hershey, Konrady’s, Corporate Branding, Liberty RV, Missouri Bank, Missouri Gas Energy, Downtown Kansas City Marriott, the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation, Lockton, TranSystems, Shook, Hardy & Bacon, the Session Law Firm, Sound Check and Bartlett and West.
Friends of KCRiverFest include American Red Cross, the Hon. Mayor Richard Berkley, Centerpoint Properties, Cold Storage Lofts, Enterprise Rent A Car, Jim & Ann Foil, Chris & Lois Gutierrez, Hanson Professional Services Inc., KPMG, Kansas City Garden Railroad Society, Kansas City Kite Club, Kansas City Parks & Recreation, Kansas City Water Department, Mark Laverentz, North Kansas City Levee, J. B. Reynolds Foundation, Taliaferro & Browne, Tetra Tech, Tradebot Systems, Trinity Transport Foundation, Turner Construction and The View Condo Association.
KCRiverFest is produced by EventPros, Inc., Kansas City’s creative meeting, event and communications resource. Visit EventPros on the web at www.EventProsInc.com.
