KC Cafe Radio returned to historic downtown Lee's Summit, Missouri for an evening that featured some of Kansas City's finest talent.
Our lineup of talent for the evening represents the breadth of music heard on KC Cafe Radio, including Toni Gates, Larry Garrett, Forrest Whitlow, and Andrew Foshee.
Listen to the performances here:
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Featured Performers:
Kansas City native Toni Gates has been singing literally all her life. As a toddler she sang along with TV jingles and would play on the swing in her family backyard wailing her version of “Rhinestone Cowboy”. Everyone was amazed that such a large voice could come from a small child. Toni’s vocal abilities have only blossomed since then and now she is a singer/songwriter in high demand around the Kansas City area. Toni is well known as a church soloist, and can be heard on radio commercials, in cabaret shows, fronting jazz combos and directing traditional jazz chorals and vocal jazz ensembles. She has produced and written two album’s, “Outside the Lines” and her latest album, “I’m Old Fashioned”, which features original material as well as classic jazz tunes. Toni also produces a showcase concert every year called One by One, which features Kansas City artists.
Andrew Foshee is receiving a lot of attention for his latest album, “Melodramatic Popular Song”. A beautifully crafted album full of indie rock/pop tunes and featuring the single,”The Way I Am”, currently in rotation on 90.9 The Bridge. Andrew is an eclectic songwriter hailing from the outskirts of Kansas City. His vocals are reminiscent of Jack Johnson but his songs and style are all his own. Andrew is getting a lot of national attention as well, opening for various national touring bands coming through Kansas City.
Larry Garrett has been performing his unique homespun style music for nearly 20 years in the Kansas City Area. Evoking memories from his childhood. His debut album, "My Old Neighborhood," offers a collection of these fan favorites. Larry is also well known in the Kansas City coffeehouse circuit, and hosts regular songwriter circle events throughout the area. His lifelong musical influences include Johnny Cash, Ian Tyson, Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, Emmy Lou Harris, Lefty Frizzell, Gordon Lightfoot, and Bob Dylan.
Forrest Whitlow is one of Kansas City’s best known and loved singer/songwriters. He has written and recorded seven albums as a solo artist and with his band The Crash. His newest album, appropriately titled 7, is his best of the bunch, so far… Songs ranging from rock to folk and espousing a variety of topics that only Forrest can write and sing about. His music and style have been described as David Lynch meets Neil Young. He has a strong sense of who he is and it comes across in his strong musical performances. Forrest has a devoted following and plays consistently at coffeehouses, bars and bookshops around Kansas City.