True Lions ( Fritz Hutchison, left, Alison Hawkins, right) photo courtesy of Megan Karson

Rachel Meng
Editorial Intern

   Local Kansas City band, True Lions, will be headlining the first of the Summer Dusk Concert Series on Friday,  June 19, playing at The Colonnade building, located at 200 Benton Blvd from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. 

   This 31-year tradition started by Northeast Arts KC in 1995 with the centennial Celebration of Independence Boulevard, it being the first Boulevard in Kansas City. 

   “It’s the longest running program that our organization has,” said Rebecca Koop, one of the original board members of Northeast Arts KC and its current Treasurer. “It is the biggest front porch concert in Kansas City.” 

   Although the number of concerts vary per year due to funding, three are set to take place over the summer with the second on Friday, July 17 and final of the season being Friday, August 21. 

   Alison Hawkins, the founding member of True Lions, starting back in 2019, has been a full time musician. Hawkins, who is the band’s songwriter, singer, and fiddler, currently resides in Kansas City, KS, performing with partner Fritz Hutchison. 

   “I used to live in [Washington] D.C., I’ve experienced different music scenes. [Kansas City] feels like a music community  because I do feel deeply supported. I’ve never felt this level of being embraced authentically and showered with love and affection, no matter the music outcome,” said Hawkins.

   The folk sounds of the band are deeply rooted in Missouri history, down to the name, which is based on lion statues in front of buildings around the city.

    “There’s really something special about Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas that feels like a sense of pride without it having to be a sports team,” said Hawkins. “We have to keep this music alive, this tradition is taught orally, we’re not playing sheet music, we’re playing true Ozark music, it is specific to this region.”

   Hawkins has also been teaching music since 2010, most recently at Northeast High School and Kansas City Academy through Base Academy of Music. Though having performed throughout the Northeast community, this will be True Lions first performance for the Summer Dusk Series. 

   “They’re not afraid to speak their mind on issues outside of the music world,” said Jimmy Fitzner, an at-large board member of Northeast Arts KC responsible for selecting musicians. “We are mixed income communities, a lot of things that happen around the city don’t always include those of us in the Northeast. We’re trying to continue a long tradition of simple expression of arts and music.”

   These concerts are completely free to the public, with the encouragement for people to bring chairs, blankets and snacks. 

   “There’s a lot of artists that live here, Kansas City is an arts city. It’s an opportunity to support the arts, put a few bucks in the donation jug and meet your neighbors,” said Koop. 

   For any future concerts, prospective musicians interested in playing at a Summer Dusk concert, contact the nonprofit at NorthEastArtsKC@aol.com.