Manor Fest is a labor of love for Kansas City music. See who’s in the two-weekend lineup
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Over the course of the pandemic, Shaun Crowley learned to meditate.
The founder of local label Manor Records has found the practice grounding in a whirlwind couple years.
Crowley has been building up Manor as a nonprofit organization that promotes, produces and provides a platform to Kansas City musicians, while preparing to open a record store and bar in the Strawberry Hill neighborhood of Kansas City, Kansas.
“You have to put love into everything you do or else you’re not going to get anything out of it,” he said.
That love is coming to fruition in this year’s Manor Fest.
This week, Manor announced the lineup for the fourth iteration of the Kansas City music festival. And after two years off because of the pandemic, it is by far the label’s biggest celebration yet. Here’s what to look forward to.
KC’s biggest DIY festival
What started as a DIY house show in Crowley’s basement called the Shawnee Manor will now span two weekends, two cities, 54 acts and 16 stages. It will take place in both Lawrence and Kansas City in the last two weeks of May.
Proceeds from the festival will go directly to a fund for the artists that will help them release their music on physical platforms.
Given Manor Fest’s origins, celebrating nontraditional venues throughout the city keeps that same DIY spirit alive. Some locations, like Nighthawk, are used to hosting a wide variety of performers, whereas The White Schoolhouse in Lawrence has mainly been used for receptions and business meetings. Other venues in the lineup include restaurants, coffee shops, theaters and bookstores.
“The people that are a part of the festival are people that have expressed to me they want to support local music,” Crowley said.
MAKING CONNECTIONS
Crowley put together a diverse lineup of artists for the festival, including many who haven’t performed much in public settings since the onset of the pandemic.
One of the scheduled performers, Daniel Gum, said he’s looking forward to the opportunity to build relationships with audiences that can only happen in person.
“I feel like I get to meet new people pretty much every show and hopefully make a connection with anybody who comes out,” Gum said.
Peter Beatty, the leading frontman to genre-bending pop band R.I.Peter, said that even more than playing in three different groups throughout the festival, he’s most excited to watch some of the other local acts that he hasn’t seen in over two years.
“Playing is me doing my part, but if I’m being greedy, I’m just excited to be an attendee,” Beatty said.
For melodic hip-hop artist Khrystal., Manor Fest is a chance for Kansas City artists and fans to come together to celebrate the vibrancy of the local scene with people who care about the future of Kansas City music.
“Manor Records really serves as a great space to not only making artists feel comfortable performing, but creating, putting out art and collaborating with other artists in the area,” she said.
WHERE ARE THEY PLAYING?
Both schedules for Lawrence and Kansas City dates and venues are below. Each day of the festival is grouped together geographically to make it easier to walk from venue to venue.
In Lawrence on May 20:
Gaslight Gardens from 5 to 7 p.m., featuring CS Luxem, Kirstie Lynn & Galen Clark and Mr. Golden Sun
The Bottleneck from 7 to 10 p.m. with Rue, Dunes Day, Midwestern and Doubledrag
Replay Lounge from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. with performances by Eggs On Mars, Cuee, No Magic and Approach
In Lawrence on May 21:
Replay Lounge from 5 to 7 p.m. with Jacob E.chord, Oxford Remedy and Dylan Pyles performing
The White Schoolhouse from 7 to 10 p.m. Vanity Plates The Cavves, R.I.Peter and Ebony Tusks will perform here.
Eight Street Tap Room from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. featuring Flooding Pale and Tongue Bummer
In Kansas City in the Crossroads on May 26:
Fox & Pearl from 5 to 7 p.m. with Bream, Faith Maddox and Supermoto
Deep Space from 7 to 10 p.m. Jass, Brat Pitt, Scabb and Blanky will be performing.
Nighthawk from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. featuring Mason Blaize, Khrystal. and Fullbloods
In Kansas City in the West Bottoms on May 27:
Blip Roasters from 5 to 7 p.m. with performances Sam Wells, Miki P & The Swallowtails and Catty Cline
The Black Box from 7 to 10 p.m. featuring The Black Creatures, Kat King, Paris Williams and Dreamgirl
9th & State from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. with Mae C, Friendly Thieves and The Creepy Jingles
In Kansas City in Strawberry Hill on May 28:
Flagship Books from 2 to 5 p.m. with Rachel Cion, Maddie Razook, Charlotte Bumgarner and Chloe Jacobson
Mockingbird Lounge from 5 to 7 p.m. with performances by Forest Porridge, Lava Dreams and Daniel Gum
Manor Records from 7 to 10 p.m. featuring Orlando Gillig, True Lions, FACEFACE, Fritz Hutchison
The Easy Inn from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. The Sluts and Drugs & Attics will close out the festival
HOW TO GET TICKETS
The two-weekend pass costs $45.
If you’re only interested in Lawrence, buy it here for $25. Kansas City’s weekend pass costs $35, and you can purchase it here.
This story was originally published March 25, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
