KC Cafe Radio to Feature Local Musicians in Lee's Summit Concert

Lees Summit, MO, August 08, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Featured musicians from throughout the Kansas City area will perform a variety of musical styles from 6:30 to 10 p.m. on Friday, August 21, at Howard Station Park in downtown Lee's Summit. The free, family-friendly event is sponsored by KC Cafe Radio, in conjunction with Downtown Lee's Summit Main Street's "Free Friday Nights" summer concert series.

The lineup includes Kansas City musicians Toni Gates, Andrew Foshee, Stranger Creek and Forrest Whitllow.

"We have a wonderful lineup of musicians, and musical styles in store at the concert," said Kathy Forste, Music Director for KC Cafe Radio, and event organizer. "Everything from jazz, bluegrass, folk and maybe even a little bit of rock are all on the bill for the evening," she added.

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.

Stranger Creek is simply one of the best of the Midwestern bluegrass bands. They are lead by the songwriting team of Larry Dean Inman and Garry Bichelmeyer and hale from Tonganoxie, Kansas. Their music encompasses all that bluegrass is about: Life, love, nature, heavy pickin’, great harmonies and a whole lot of fun. Larry sings lead vocals and plays rhythm guitar, Garry Bichelmeyer on guitar, Mary Bichelmeyer on bass, Gordon Riley plays lead guitar and John Malone on drums. Their current album is called “The Winner,” and they have plans for a new album in the near future full of more tunes from the songwriting duo.

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.

Kansas City-based KC Cafe Radio plays exclusively original music by independent artists. Using their personal computer as a radio, visitors to its website enjoy a music experience similar to that found in a coffee shop-style setting. The station is also listenable on an iPhone, and other wireless Internet devices. KC Cafe Radio and its independent music programming are available 24 hours-a-day at http://kccaferadio.com.

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