On May 22, 2022, The KC Folk Fest officially launched as its own independent, community-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit. We celebrated with a kick-off event as a free, green city festival in Washington Square Park, 100 E. Pershing Ave, KCMO, with a full line-up of local, touring and international artists. We also hosted a grassroots craft fair, local farmer’s market, live painting, craft and music demos and storytelling. Want to hear who played? Listen to our KC Folk Festival May 2022 Spotify Playlist
2022 Artists
MUSIC BY:
(in order of appearance)
Charly Lowry (she/her) – North Carolina Singer-songwriter (acoustic/electric guitar and Native American hand drum), Lowry is an Indigenous Artivist belonging to the Lumbee/Tuscarora Tribes. She was also a semi-finalist on American Idol and is currently a member of the international a cappella Native Women’s group Ulali Project with Pura Fé (Tuscarora/Taino).
Elexa Dawson (she/they) – Flint Hills Singer-Songwriter, Potawatomi activist and educator. Her debut album, “Music is Medicine” (Lost Cowgirl Records), has been nominated for five Native American Music Awards, and her single, “Mother” is the latest of two Top Ten hits on SiriusXM’s IMC.
Just Angel (she/her) – (My Brothers and Sisters) (The Wades) Kansas City neo-soul singer-songwriter, dancer and author, Just Angel released her first solo EP “Just Angel pt 1” in 2019 followed by “Just Angel pt. 2” in 2021
Nina Ricci (she/her) – Nashville artist, Nina Ricci, one of the new guards of the American folk revival, heralds songs of the 1960s folk movement and writes a new chapter with her own songwriter’s voice.
Mac Sauce (she/her) – 10 year old Kansas City rap artist known as “the voice of the playground,” Mac Sauce is one of Kansas City’s youngest rappers who writes all her own lyrics.
Ani Mal (they/them) – Folk musician, community organizer and tattoo artist at Tintoretta Tattoo Studio based in Kansas City, KS, Ani Mal will lead a sing-a-long during our festival programming.
Cary Morin (he/him) – Internationally touring musician described as “one of the best acoustic pickers on the scene today,” Cary Morin brings together the great musical traditions of America with deft finger-style guitar and vocals that alternately convey melodic elation and gritty world-weariness.
Nilko Andreas and Friends (he/him) – Colombian/American classical guitarist who made his debut at Carnegie Hall in 2009, Nilko Andreas Guarin has been captivating audiences in over fifteen countries and three continents as a soloist, composer, chamber musician and folk singer.