The Brad Cunningham Band was a popular act at the West Plaza neighborhood’s Porchfest last year, and Cunnigham says he’s excited to be invited back this year.
As the West Plaza neighborhood gears up for the second annual Porchfest music festival, one of its popular performers is a contender for a prestigious national songwriting award.
Brad Cunningham is a finalist for best new folk songwriter at the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas this weekend.
Brad Cunningham
While he waits to hear the results, he’s getting his band ready for another performance on a West Plaza porch.
On June 13, dozens of bands will play on porches spread across about 20 square blocks.
Porchfest, from noon to 5 p.m. is free, as artists put out tip jars for pay. (Don’t forget to take some cash with you).
Last year’s inaugural event was a big success, and Cunningham and his band were popular in it.
He will be back this year with all five band members (three played last year), new songs and great appreciation, he said this week. “I thought it was awesome – I had a great time.”
Sometimes it’s great to play for families outside in daylight, he said, a change from things like dim lights and late hours in bars.
Not only that, but a picture from the band’s Porchfest appearance last year will be in the June issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine.
That happened because Cunningham saw a boy of about five years old playing harmonica on the street and invited him up to play.
The boy went into his house, put on his shoes, grabbed his microphone and stepped onto the porch, where they all belted out a version of Kansas City.
Cunningham said his band will put out another album this year with more of a country emphasis.
The Brad Cunningham band.
He and his wife moved to Kansas City more than two years ago, and a band he put together six years ago, Man in the Ring,had been popular in Columbia for doing a blend of many kinds of music.
“I think we need to pick a direction and go with it,” he said, and that is more toward country and bluegrass.
He does lead vocals and rhythm guitar. Other band members now are TJ Klein on lead guitar, Molly Healey on violin, Kyle Day on bass and Drake Detwiler on drums.
You can expect them to play two of Cunningham’s songs that got him nominated as a finalist in this weekend’s contest for best new folk songwriter at the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas.
The songs are “Every Inch of Texas” and “Wings.”
By the way, Willie Nelson and Robert Earl Keen won that award early in their careers.
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