Leave it to Chuck Byrd and his team at Platform Promotions to take the 4th Annual Grub and Groove Festival to another level. Once again, they’re at a new location but this place feels like home, and he’s put together a powerful lineup that’s sure to impress old-school fans and their millennial children.
Who even knew there was an amphitheater in Andover? Very few people knew about the facility that just opened in April, but it’s built just for concerts like these, with the capacity to hold 10,000 funk fans, a great stage and jumbo screens already in place. And, ladies, there are even flushing toilets.
OK, to cut down on the lines, Byrd is bringing in some porta potties, and he’s also putting up a fence barrier, but pretty much, the location was ready to go.
While there is some parking in Andover Central Parking, the city built the facility with overflow parking in mind at the nearby Andover Central Middle and High Schools. While it’s close enough to walk, there will be a shuttle available between locations.
The entire place is wi-fi connected and Byrd encourages you to “feel free to tweet and whatever else they need to do, and it’s free.”
Housekeeping rules will be posted on the jumbo screens and there are designated smoking areas
Grub and Groove is the first non-city sponsored event at the amphitheater, and it’s a great test for the new facility says Byrd, who feels his 40 plus middle to upper-middle class audience is a great fit for the new facility.
“We’re excited about the new venue and introducing it to them,” Byrd told us.
Now with a great facility taken care of, Byrd went to work on this year’s lineup and he struck a home run: Cameo, Atlantic Starr, Evelyn Champagne King and Avant. There are two Kansas City opening acts: Norman Liggins and Charlotte Fletcher from Kansas City. So arrive early, get a good location and enjoy the entire show. The gates open at 3 p.m. and the show begins at 5 p.m.
While most of the acts are 1970s stars that appeal to old-school fans, and their children who grew up listing to their music, Avant is a different fit for Grub and Groove. He didn’t record his first song until 2000. While are large number of old-school fans still keep up with new-school artists and will definitely appreciate the soulful R&B crooner, Byrd says he specifically added Avant to the lineup to provide something for the millennials.
“Young people were getting tired of their parents coming to the Grub and Groove and having a good time and wanted to know why they couldn’t enjoy the fun,” says Byrd. “Millennials, we got the message. We heard your request.”
With something for an even broader audience, Grub and Groove will have even more of a family reunion/home coming feel says Byrd. It’s something he’s looking forward to at “Wichita’s Largest Urban Music Festival.”