Press Release:

In partnership with UNESCO Creative Music City

Kansas City, MO - Sunday June 23 | 2pm

The Art Garden KC Stage hosts “CREATIVE REVIVAL”, a public concert in Berkley Riverfront Park featuring a genre-bending music lineup celebrating Kansas City as a true “City of Music”. This special, free concert is open to the public and will feature twenty five exceptional local musicians, highlighting the rich and eclectic sounds that have shaped and inspired Kansas City’s musical landscape. This powerful evolution of KC musical influences showcases innovative styles of local favorites Calvin Arsenia, Kimberly Keys, and “The Cowardly Lions” Nick Marshall just to name a few. This eclectic lineup epitomizes the cream of Kansas City's musical crop, ensuring an unforgettable experience sure to inspire and energize all who attend.

Adding to the excitement, Kansas City, the first (and currently only) designated UNESCO “Music City” in the United States, joins the ranks of globally recognized cities spanning 90 countries in the UNESCO Creative City Network. This prestigious designation underscores the city’s unique musical heritage and thriving creative scene. “CREATIVE REVIVAL” will be filmed by the Creative City, KC - UNESCO Creative City of Music Foresight Film and Music Workshop, featuring notable personalities such as actor and activist Lamman Rucker, two-time Oscar winner Willie D. Burton, Academy VP Phil Robison, Hollywood producer Dorez Douglas, and Count Basie Orchestra Director Scotty Barnhart. Creative City KC, Inc. is the founding organization that established and manages Kansas City Missouri USA’s membership in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. This collaboration further amplifies the city’s creative influence on a national scale and aligns with Kansas City’s commitment to fostering and promoting its rich cultural heritage and supporting its creative economy.

Art Garden KC supports the creative economy of Kansas City every Sunday at Berkley Riverfront Park with a small business ecosystem featuring 70+ local artisans, musicians, and entertainers each week for their family and dog friendly free public festival. The organization operates their Berkley location with a social enterprise-nonprofit model with $10 vendor fees, making it the largest and most inclusive creative market in the region. Art Garden KC places a strong emphasis on mental health within the creative community, offering a weekly wellness garden yurt that is open to local creatives and the public, providing a space for relaxation and mental well-being.

“Art Garden KC’s “Creative Revival” is more than just a concert; it embodies Kansas City’s vibrant creative spirit of collaboration. Kansas City is of icially a music City! And good music is good music. Bringing this vision to life at our free, weekly Sunday festival is thrilling! Music unites our community and this celebration of music and art showcases our city's role as a creative epicenter. We’re beyond excited to bring this vision to life and incredibly grateful to be collaborating with Creative City, KC - UNESCO Creative City of Music.”

-Crissy Dastrup, Dastrup Creative with Art Garden KC

“The presence of Art Garden KC at Berkley Park has solidified our riverfront as a dynamic, creative, and accessible place for all. As we continue to invest in revitalizing our riverfront into a world-class neighborhood, the arts are at the center of that reclamation. Kansas City is a hub for the arts and known as a destination for the creative-class. ‘Creative Revival’ coupled with Art Garden KC reaffirms that KC is not only an arts and music community, but one that values accessibility and inclusion in the arts. Port KC is proud to serve as a partner in these efforts.”

-Jon Stephens, PortKC - Sponsor & Berkley Park Owner

“In 2023 Art Garden KC ‘s efforts had a $1.4 million dollar impact for creatives in KC. We are proud to offer an affordable and inclusive venue in partnership with Port KC to provide this opportunity to the community and to our network of over 2000 creative small businesses here in the city. Art Garden provides an unparalleled experience for the community to come together and revel in the landscape of creativity that defines Kansas City.”

-Bethany Alzanadi, Art Garden KC CEO

CREATIVE REVIVAL is produced by Crissy Dastrup, Rob Tribitt, and Edward Bohannon. Crissy Dastrup is a nationally recognized Creative Placemaker, notably from producing the largest creative placemaking project in recorded history: KC Art on the Block | A Black Lives Matter Project. Crissy is a creative advisor for Art Garden KC, helping the garden grow across Kansas City. Rob Tribitt’s international music career spans over 20 years, playing with artists from Tech 9 to Lynda Randle. Rob's dedication to Kansas City's local music scene shines through blending Jazz, Rock, and R&B sounds with collaborative open jams at The Phoenix, KC’s historic jazz venue. Edward Bohannon’s explosive radio personality brings in-depth interviews and sounds as music correspondent for KKFI 90.1 and host of Energy & Jams. Known as “DJ E” to many, Edward is a professional entertainer, former NFL sound technician, and supports local recording artists as co-owner of Emerald Dream Labs recording and production studio. His interviews include ASAP Rocky, Styles P, and various local Hip Hop, Soul, and R&B artists in KC.

SUNDAY | JUNE 23
Berkley Riverfront Park | 1298 River Front Drive

ART GARDEN SUNDAYS ART FAIR: 11:00 AM-4:00 PM
A family and dog friendly event, bring a chair or blanket.

“CREATIVE REVIVAL” CONCERT: 2:00-3:00 PM
Joined by Creative City, KC - UNESCO Creative City of Music Foresight Film and Music Workshop

SOLSTICE SOUNDS OPEN JAM w/ ROB TRIBITT: 3:00-4:00 PM

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Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair, sunscreen, and plenty of water. There is plenty of shade. Berkley Riverfront Park is located directly West of CPKC’s KC Current Soccer Stadium right off of I-35. An Art Garden KC flag flies at the parking entrance along Berkley Pkwy. Parking is free.

Join us at Art Garden Sunday’s CREATIVE REVIVAL to experience the heartbeat of Kansas City’s vibrant music scene and celebrate our city’s creative spirit!

For Inquiries email: crissy@dastrupcreative.com

You can find more on Art Garden KC at www.artgardenkc.org and follow @artgardenkc on social media for all things CREATIVE REVIVAL and beyond.