Here are nine great things to do in Kansas City this weekend, February 29-March 3, including: Setting the Stage, Uncorked: KC Wine Fest and J. Cole and Drake.
Setting the Stage
Unique multimedia program Setting the Stage combines live dance performances with pictures and narration, starting with the Middle Passage and continuing through present day. Created, directed and choreographed by KCFAA’s Chief Artistic Officer Tyrone Aiken, Setting the Stage is the captivating visual journey of African American dance history, from minstrelsy to modern dance.
February 29. Doors 6:30 pm. The Gem Theater.
Ben Sayevich & Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich
The Park University International Center for Music presents acclaimed husband-and-wife duo Ben Sayevich on violin and Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich on piano. Sayevich is a teacher, acclaimed violinist and chamber musician. He is also a founding member of the Park Trio, established at Park University in 2006, and is a violinist of the London-based Rosamunde Piano Trio. Joining him in this special concert is Lisovskaya-Sayevich, a performing pianist who also serves as the director of collaborative piano at Park’s International Center for Music.
February 29. 7:30 pm. 1900 Building.
{B/qKC}
The launch of {B/qKC}, an exhibit featuring the Black, queer histories of Kansas City—one of the few archives in the world to focus on Black queer history—is happening this Friday. It is now its own standing digital archive, but the event will preview its city-wide exhibits launching later this year. Along with the archival exhibit, there will be food, drinks, music and exclusive merchandise.
March 1. 7 pm. The BlaqBox.
Le Consort
This unique chamber music ensemble brings together four young musicians, interpreting the trio sonata repertoire in various enthusiastic ways. Le Consort plays Corelli, Vivaldi, Bach and others in this program, taking the quintessential baroque chamber music while interpreting it with a complex and colorful language all their own.
March 1. 7:30 pm. Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral.
The Doo Wop Project
The classic barbershop quartet-esque group, The Doo Wop Project, brings audiences on a journey of sound, starting with street-corner singing to doo-wop-ified versions of yesterday’s and today’s hits. The group features stars from Broadway hits like Jersey Boys and A Bronx Tale to recreate some of the most celebrated music in American pop and rock history.
March 1. 8 pm. Yardley Hall.
Joyce Yang Plays Tchaikovsky
Fresno Philharmonic music director Rei Hotoda leads the Kansas City Symphony in this thought-provoking program that includes works by Gabriela Lena Frank and Dmitri Shostakovich. With expert technique and deep emotion, pianist Joyce Yang breathes life into Tchaikovsky’s beloved Piano Concerto No. 1 alongside the Kansas City Symphony.
March 1 & 2, 8 pm; March 3, 2 pm. Helzberg Hall.
Uncorked: KC Wine Fest
KC’s annual Uncorked wine festival is back for its ninth year, with the event benefiting local nonprofit KC Jazz Women’s Rugby Club. There will be over one hundred different wines and bubbles from around the world, along with local food trucks and vendors, a photo booth and a live DJ. Early and general admission tickets are available, with the former including an extra hour of time for smaller group tastings and exclusive pours from select wineries.
March 2. 1–9 pm. Union Station.
Drake
One of the biggest names in hip-hop, Toronto native Drake has dominated popular music for well over a decade. Drake is often credited with popularizing singing and bringing R&B sensibilities to contemporary hip-hop. He’s also known for his trailblazing OVO record label and tying the king of pop himself, Michael Jackson, with 13 number one hits. Drake is joined by hip-hop powerhouse J. Cole.
March 2 & 3. 8 pm. T-Mobile Center.
The StepCrew
The StepCrew performs to help kick off St. Patrick’s Day celebrations with a production led by The Chieftains’ top Irish dancer for the last thirty years, Cara Butler, and the Pilatzke brothers, who are considered one of Canada’s best Ottawa Valley step dancers—along with accompaniment by virtuosic musicians from the Celtic, traditional and rock genres. The StepCrew balances a respect for traditional forms of dance while creating exciting, new modern fusions.
March 3. 7 pm. Midwest Trust Center.
