If you’ve got the blues this week, Topeka has a pretty good prescription: turn up the volume.
Beginning Wednesday night, the capital city is getting a three-night run of blues, roots and soul music, with shows stretching from Gage Park to NOTO and featuring both familiar Kansas names and touring musicians.
And you won’t have to wait for the weekend to get started.
Wednesday: Brody Buster brings the blues to Gage Park
The run begins Wednesday, Sept. 16, with TBS Summertime Blues featuring Brody Buster at Gage Park Amphitheater.
The free event runs from 6 to 9 p.m., with Buster taking the amphitheater stage at 7 p.m. Food options listed for the evening include Tod’s BBQ and La Creperie.
Buster is hardly a stranger to Kansas blues fans. The singer, guitarist and harmonica player has spent years building a reputation around a hard-driving style of blues rooted in the Kansas City tradition.
For Topekans, however, the appeal Wednesday is simpler: live blues, outdoors, in Gage Park—and free admission.
Thursday: Kelli Baker and McKinley James take over NOTO
Things move north Thursday evening when the Compass Point: Home of Dirty Girl Adventures courtyard hosts touring blues artist Kelli Baker, with McKinley James opening.
Gates open at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, with James scheduled to begin at 6:15 p.m. and Baker expected around 7:15 p.m.
This may be the sleeper show of the week.
Baker has been earning attention well beyond Kansas, combining blues with soul, rock and roots music. After her appearance at the Paxico Blues Festival, longtime festival promoter Michael Hund praised her talent, stage presence and connection with the audience.
Then there’s the opener.
McKinley James approaches the blues from the perspective of a much younger musician while drawing heavily from old-school American sounds. His music mixes electric blues, rock ‘n’ roll, soul and rhythm & blues; his debut album, Working Class Blues, is built around precisely that collision of old and new.
Smokey Dunks BBQ is scheduled to be on site, and Compass Point will have its bar open. The venue describes the evening as family friendly, with leashed dogs welcome as well.
Friday: Velvet Blues Revue closes the run in NOTO
Then Friday night, Topeka gets to finish the week with one of its own.
Velvet Blues Revue headlines the NOTO Summer Concert Series on Friday, Sept. 18 at Redbud Park, with the evening beginning at 6 p.m.
Young local musician Sophia Johnson is scheduled as the opening performer.
Velvet Blues Revue is a Topeka-based juke-joint blues band mixing blues and soul with the kind of energetic, audience-driven performance that feels particularly appropriate outdoors on a Friday night.
NOTO describes the group as a familiar presence around the local music scene, known for a roots-driven sound and high-energy performances.
It’s also an appropriate place to end this little three-day tour.
Wednesday puts the blues in one of Topeka’s best-known parks. Thursday brings touring musicians into an intimate North Topeka courtyard. Friday turns the stage over to a Topeka blues band in the heart of the arts district.
Three nights, three very different blues shows
You don’t often get a run like this without leaving town.
Wednesday, Sept. 16: Brody Buster — Gage Park Amphitheater — event 6–9 p.m., music at 7 p.m. — Free
Thursday, Sept. 17: Kelli Baker Band with McKinley James — Compass Point, 800 N. Kansas Ave. — gates 6 p.m., music 6:15 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 18: Velvet Blues Revue with Sophia Johnson — Redbud Park in NOTO — 6 p.m.
Three nights. Three venues. Local musicians, touring artists and a lot of blues.
For once, having the blues in Topeka sounds like a pretty good way to spend the week.
