ARTSPEAK RADIO presents: Dimitri Reyes + Sammy Loren + Kristin Conkright & Jessica Harp

ARTSPEAK RADIO
9:00 AM Wednesdays – Streaming at KKFI.org
Produced and Hosted by Maria Vasquez Boyd

Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at 9:00am!

Mark Manning fills in as host for Maria Vasquez Boyd

Mark welcomes Special Guests: Dimitri Reyes + Sammy Loren + Kristin Conkright & Jessica Harp

On the eve of the Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) 2024 Conference & Bookfair, February 7-10, here in Kansas City, MO., we’ll talk with two writers/organizers participating this year’s conference. We also talk with two musicians who will play Killith Faire, a one-night only collaboration of women/femme musicians from the KC & Lawrence areas, at recordBar on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024.

At 9:00am Mark welcomes Dimitri Reyes, Marketing & Communications Director at CavanKerry Press. Dimitri Reyes is a Boricua multidisciplinary artist, YouTuber, and educator from Newark, New Jersey. Dimitri’s book, Every First and Fifteenth (2021) is the winner of the Digging Press 2020 Chapbook Award. You can find more of his writing in Poem-a-Day, Vinyl, Kweli, Duende, Obsidian, & Acentos. Educator Dimitri Reyes has experience with early learners and undergraduate school curriculum. A true educator at heart, Dimitri loves teaching so much that when not in the classrooms or lecture halls, he’s teaching online about creative writing, urban planning, and social justice. More info at: www.dimitrireyespoet.com

Dimitri Reyes is collaborating with curator Robert Gann, Habitat Contemporary Gallery, CavanKerry Press, Acre Books, Perugia Press, and FlowerSong Press for an AWP offsite event and reading extravaganza about community and celebration between independent presses and the wider arts community in Kansas City. Books from their sixteen featured authors will be for available, and light refreshments will be served. They also encourage the audience to take a walk and admire the Habitat Contemporary space and gallery as a HUB for local artists in the KC area. Friday, February 9, at 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Habitat Contemporary at 2012 Baltimore Ave., in the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center.

At 9:20am Mark talks with Sammy Loren of Casual Encounterz. Sammy Loren’s essays and interviews appear in Paper, Nylon, Interview, and others. His fiction has been published in The Dry River and serialized in La Prensa, Mexico’s largest tabloid. He co-wrote the script for Volta’s performance SALT, which premiered at 2220 Arts + Archives in LA and toured festivals in Cyprus and London as well as for GLASS HOUSE which is premiering during Frieze LA 2024. He lives in Los Angeles and curates the reading series Casual Encounterz. Sammy will present a Casual Encounterz AWP off-site event Saturday, February 10, at 10:00pm, at Birdies Lingerie, 116 W 18th St, KCMO. More info at: http://www.casualencountersz.com/

At 9:40am Mark talks with Kristin Conkright & Jessica Harp about Killith Faire, a one-night only collaboration of women/femme musicians from the KC and Lawrence areas, at recordBar, 1520 Grand Blvd kCMO, on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 7:00pm. This concert will feature new collaborations from more than 20 women/femme-identifying musicians, performing their music and the songs of women who have inspired them. The concert will highlight performers across genres, with members of Frogpond, The Creepy Jingles, Cowtown Country Club, The Black Creatures and many more. A special tribute to musician Britt Adair of The Bad Ideas. The night will also showcase lead singer Breaka Dawn and a live band, performing unreleased tracks from the popular punk act. The line up includes: Alyssa Murray, Breaka Dawn, Hannah Novaria, Heidi Phillips, Hillary Watts, Terri Quinn, Jessica Harp, Jessica Salley, Kandi Kos, Kirsten Paludan, Kristin Conkright, Kristin Hamilton, Leah Sproul, Michelle Bacon, Mikal Shapiro, Miki P, Nan Turner, Spencer Goertz-Giffen and Tracy Flowers, with DJ sets by Stephanie Marchesi. Sarah Bradshaw of 90.9 The Bridge will emcee. A portion of proceeds will be donated to Midwest Music Foundation, a local nonprofit organization that provides health care grants and resources to countless musicians in the region.

Kristin Conkright is a founding member of the Kansas City based bands: Emmaline Twist, Knife Crime and Onward Cripin Glover where she plays bass. She also plays guitar with Frogpond, and bass with Federation of Horsepower, and Heidi Phillips. After years of performing alongside and befriending fellow women players, musician Kristin Conkright envisioned Killith Faire as an evening for this growing contingent to celebrate their achievements, cultivate new relationships and foster a sense of community.

Jessica Harp is best known for being one half of the Grammy Award Nominated country roots duo The Wreckers with friend Michelle Branch. Born in Kansas City, MO, Harp was focused on music from childhood. While working as a singer and songwriter in Nashville, Harp began singing backup for Branch, and when Branch opted to take a break from her solo career in 2004, joined her in the duo The Wreckers. Harp’s country edge meshed nicely with Branch’s pop approach, and the Wreckers were a fast success with the #1 debut single, Leave the Pieces. A debut album, Stand Still, Look Pretty, appeared in 2006 from Maverick Records, followed by a live set, Way Back Home: Live from New York City, a year later. In 2007 Harp and Branch announced that they were putting the Wreckers on hold and concentrating on solo projects. Harp’s solo album, A Woman Needs, produced by Jerry Flowers and featuring Vince Gill and Keith Urban in guest spots, appeared in 2009 from Warner Bros. Nashville. After taking a step back from recording to focus on songwriting and other pursuits, Harp currently resides in KC with her family.

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