Kansas Citians, Common feel Juneteenth spirit in 15th festival: ‘It means a lot’
Thousands of people filled the 18th and Vine Historic Jazz District on Saturday for JuneteenthKC’s 15th anniversary, a day of music, community gatherings and cultural programming that culminated in a headline performance by Grammy-, Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning artist Common.
Families, longtime festival attendees and visitors from across the metro spent the day moving through vendor booths, food stands and community exhibits spread throughout the district.
Among those in attendance was Jawon Waters, who said the festival has become a family tradition spanning generations.
“I grew up coming to Juneteenth, and now I get to share it with my kids,” Waters said. “We have been out here since noon, and we will be staying for the Common concert. This is the biggest artist that I can remember coming to perform at the Juneteenth celebration, and I am glad I get to be here for it.”
Throughout the day, a lineup of performers reflected both the local and national reach of this year’s festival. Kansas City artists shared the stage with touring performers, creating a program that organizers intentionally built around both hometown talent and nationally recognized acts.
One of the featured local performers was Jamel Thompson, also known as The Royal Chief. Raised on Kansas City’s East Side just blocks from the district, Thompson viewed the opportunity as a milestone in his career.
“You know, for me, it’s just confirmation of the work being done,” Thompson said. “Being able to get noticed by people in the city and be asked to be on the stage just lets me know I’m moving in the right way and in the right places.”
The festival also marked the first JuneteenthKC performance for several artists. Singer Lashonta Worthy, who performs under the name Lizzen, brought original music to the stage, including songs centered on acceptance, unity and reconciliation.
For many artists, the significance of the event extended beyond entertainment. Performing at a Juneteenth celebration carried a deeper connection to community and cultural history.
Worthy expressed a similar sense of gratitude.
“I’m very thankful, honey,” Worthy said. “Juneteenth, honey, it’s the official day, and we got it, and we’re going to celebrate it. And I’m a part of it, so I’m here.”
The festival also brought back musicians whose roots in Kansas City stretch back decades. Anthony Harvey, founder and leader of Da Truth Band, returned from Los Angeles to perform as part of a reunion featuring artists who have been connected to the group throughout its history.
Harvey said Da Truth Band grew from friendships formed through Kansas City’s music community and Soul Sessions, eventually becoming one of the city’s best-known live music collectives. Though he now works full time as a musician in Los Angeles, returning home remains meaningful.
For Harvey, the opportunity to perform during Juneteenth was as much about reconnecting with family and community as it was about music.
“When you’re out there, you’re always hoping that people are rooting for you,” Harvey said. “It’s good to come back and know that they are rooting for you.”
As evening approached, attendees packed the concert area in anticipation of Common’s performance. The Chicago rapper took the stage before a crowd that stretched throughout the venue, delivering a set that mixed fan favorites with freestyle moments and audience interaction.
Common performed songs including “The People,” “The Corner,” “I Used to Love H.E.R.” and “The Light.” During the performance, he invited a fan onto the stage and serenaded her while continuing through portions of his set. He also performed material connected to artists such as D’Angelo and Erykah Badu, drawing enthusiastic reactions from the crowd.
The appearance represented one of the highest-profile bookings in the festival’s history and fulfilled organizers’ goal of bringing an artist whose work aligned with the spirit of Juneteenth. Throughout the performance, audience members sang along, recorded videos and celebrated together as the festival reached its finale.
For Common, the significance of the evening was rooted less in the performance itself than in the community gathered in front of him.
“I mean, it means a lot, especially when the community is coming out,” Common said after the performance. “This city means a lot to me, especially because I know the music and the history of it.”
He said Juneteenth offered an opportunity to celebrate Black culture and community together.
“It’s great to be amongst our people just celebrating us,” Common said. “So it means a lot. I feel grateful that I got to do it, and I thank Kansas City for coming out.”
Even after the concert ended, Common remained to take photos with fans and sign autographs, extending the evening for attendees who had waited throughout the day to see him perform.
For many in the crowd, the concert served as both a celebration of Juneteenth and a reminder of how the festival has grown over the past 15 years.
“I love it out here,” attendee Tiffany Lennox said. “Everyone is friendly, and the vibes are really all love today.”
