Shaun Crowley knows firsthand the struggles of being an independent musician.
The founder and executive director of Manor Records, a nonprofit record label that supports Kansas City musicians, was signed to a local label as a teenager while playing guitar with garage pop band Rev Gusto. “I grew up in the local music scene,” Crowley says. “If you’re trying to make a career here, it’s really difficult to do it by yourself. But that’s what a lot of musicians have to do.”
Now, Crowley wants to help KC artists grow their careers, in part by helping bring their recording projects to fruition.“[Releasing music] can help get you to that next step,” Crowley says.
Manor Records has humble roots. It informally began in 2014 as a DIY house show series presented out of Crowley’s then-home in Johnson County. Originally dubbed the Shawnee Manor, he hosted touring acts like British indie-pop band Glass Animals and Madrid-based alternative rock band Hinds before both groups reached wider audiences and acclaim. He’s got a knack for scouting emerging talent.
After moving out of the house, Crowley shifted his focus and officially launched Manor Records in 2017 with a small grassroots mission. “We basically covered the cost of cassettes for musicians,” he says.
Today, Manor Records does far more than front cassette bills. Since its inception, the organization has seen a couple brick-and-mortar venues: a bar and music venue in Strawberry Hill, followed by a record store on Troost. Those spaces have since closed, and the nonprofit has reprioritized its efforts. Spanning folk to funk, the label currently boasts a roster of 10 local artists. Crowley and a robust team of volunteers help those musicians with marketing, press, booking and more.
For this year’s artist roster, Manor Records expanded to an open call for the first time in the organization’s history. In total, 75 artists applied. Among those selected are funky singer-songwriter Jamogi and soul band Freia, an ensemble led by vocalist Frankie Shorez.
The record label is also doubling down on physical media. Crowley says the label anticipates releasing “more vinyl than we ever have” this year. On February 25, the organization launched preorders for a compilation album, featuring music from each of the artists currently on the roster.
Beyond those 10 performers, Manor Records produces concerts and acts as a booking agent for venues across the city. That includes Songbird Sessions, a singer-songwriter night held each Sunday at ArtsKC’s Crossroads locale, as well as programming regular entertainment for J. Rieger & Co. Last month, the nonprofit also launched Music Maker Mondays, a monthly happy hour networking event for musicians to connect in a laid-back environment. The program, which takes place at Brewery Emperial, is a collaboration with hip-hop artist Flare Tha Rebel.
Crowley is also gearing up for Manor Fest, the organization’s annual multi-venue festival. Taking place over the course of the last two weekends of May (20–23 and 27–30), the extensive lineup welcomes approximately 60 performers across 20 area venues. To close out the festival, the local label is teaming up with the KC Streetcar to bring live music aboard the tram, as well as performances at venues along the route—like the lawn of the Kemper Museum and the Kansas City Public Library’s scenic rooftop terrace.
Above all, Crowley sees Manor Records as a way to strengthen KC’s music industry. “There are a lot of barriers, and I want to break those down,” Crowley says. “I want to make this an open conversation for anybody who wants to be a part of the local music scene.”
Learn more about Manor Records’ artist roster and upcoming events at manorrecords.com or on Instagram @manorrecordskc.
