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Music Festivals in Lawrence, Kansas

Lawrence, home of the University of Kansas, became famous when Rolling Stone magazine named it one of the best little college towns in 2005. It also used to be the home of the Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival, which is a four-day festival of rock music. Wakarusa is run by promoters in Lawrence, but the venue is now in Ozark, Arkansas. Lawrence still hosts distinctive festivals presenting a variety of music.

  1. North vs South Music Festival

    • A Civil War battle gave this festival its inspiration.

      The North vs South Music Festival started in Lawrence in the summer of 2004, and gets its name from the Civil War raid on Lawrence, which was a small abolitionist outpost. The Festival is a three-day event that pits bands from the northern states (mainly Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas) against bands from the southern states (Oklahoma and Texas) in various music venues across the city. The festival has also taken place in Kansas City and Austin, since the host city changes every year. Organizers plans to hold the festival again in Lawrence in 2011. The festival features a variety of contemporary rock bands playing post-punk, Americana and powerpunk music.

      North vs South Music Festival

      Lawrence, KS

      myspace.com/northvssouthmusicfestival

    International Festival of Spanish and Latin American Music

    • The International Festival of Spanish and Latin American Music offers opportunity to learn from and enjoy the music.

      This festival is spread out over two weeks in the summer and offers people many opportunities to experience and learn about Latin American music. According to the festival website, the festival's mission is to "bring together master teachers, musicians, and young performing artists from across the world to share the beauty and artistry of Spanish and Latin American music." To accomplish this, the festival offers performances, workshops and study, and venues where artists can collaborate on their music. Most of the performances and special events take place on the campus of the University of Kansas at Lawrence.

      International Festival of Spanish and Latin American Music

      KU School of Music, Murphy Hall, Room 460

      University of Kansas

      1530 Naismith Drive

      Lawrence, KS 66045

      785-864-9730

      fimel.org

    Lawrence Scottish Fest

    • Bagpipes will be heard at the Scotish Fest in Lawrence.

      This April festival, which began as a celebration of the life and work of Scottish poet Robert Burns, became a music festival in 2005. It is not a typical music festival, however, as it includes a formal dinner, a short lecture, readings, and poetry---and of course, much Scottish music. The festival offers both a festival and a concert setting for the music, with the festival events including traditional Scottish-themed songs and the concert portion presenting works by contemporary artists, who might even use nontraditional instruments, such as the fiddle and sitar, in the songs. The festival is a one-night family event in which people can celebrate their Scottish heritage through music and communal activities.

      Lawrence Scottish Fest

      Lawrence, KS 66045

      785-841-8473

      lawrencescots.org

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