Over the past seven years, Flew the Coop Sessions has built a dedicated following through its video series highlighting local bands. Now, the nonprofit organization is extending beyond the digital platform with the inaugural Flew the Coop Fest on August 29.
“It’s just the logical next step to get people physically in the same space with the live music they’re watching on our channel,” says Cody Boston, executive director and co-founder of Flew the Coop Sessions. “It’s a great way to give back to those artists, spotlight them and have a big party.”
Although the nonprofit has put on a handful of fundraising shows over the years, the multi-stage festival marks a major expansion. The event spans two venues in the West Bottoms and features 20 Kansas City artists, all of whom have appeared in the video series, including Lauren Lovelle, Kat King, Virga and Eddie Moore.
Alternating between three stages at different venues throughout the course of the day, the festival kicks off at Blip Coffee Roasters before moving to nearby venue Radco for a late-night afterparty. Spanning indie-rock, honky tonk, nu metal, experimental jazz, Turkish disco and beyond, the lineup reflects KC’s sweeping music scene.
Beyond the live music, Flew the Coop Fest will also welcome food trucks, a whiskey tasting pop-up from West Bottoms Whiskey Company, art vendors and locally grown produce from KC Food Hub.
“I’m just looking forward to pulling it off,” Boston says. “And having so many genres playing in one space. That’s always been a highlight of Flew the Coop—showcasing the diversity of music we have in Kansas City.”
GO: August 29. 2:30 pm. Blip Coffee Roasters & Radco. For more information and tickets, visit coopsessions.com.
