Meat and Music

Barbeque has been synonymous with Kansas City for a century, so it's no surprise that our saucy town hosts the 2008 American Royal Rib America Festival — a traveling party that makes four Midwest stops this summer. The festival kicks off its KC leg today and runs all weekend at Kemper Arena (1800 Genessee). Along with the food, the family-friendly event features music from Rick Derringer and Blue Oyster Cult tonight. Other acts include the Alan Parsons Live Project, Soul Asylum, Los Lonely Boys, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Dennis DeYoung (of '70s rock band Styx). For details, see ribamerica.com or kemperarenakc.com. Festival hours are 4 to 11 p.m. today and Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free before 5 p.m. today and Friday, and before 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Entry is $5 after. Reserved seating for the music is $30.
June 19-22, 2008