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Jill Westra

&

Them KC Boys

A Kansas City Conundrum.

Now hear this!

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Who the what...?

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Jill Westra & Them KC Boys are a Kansas City-based, woman-fronted, full band with their fingers in a number of musical pies. Their catalog of original tunes draws on Jill’s influences that include Texas singer-songwriters such as Robert Earl Keen, as well as 1960s Bakersfield and Memphis blues. In August 2019 the band (as a trio) released an EP entitled “so_low” that will take you on a grass rootsy, acoustic-yet-gutsy trek through four up-tempo foot-stompers, heavy on chutzpa. Playing live, you can expect extra electric guitar added to the bash, for even more oomph.

 

The panoply of musical styles that got all stirred together in this trippy troupe spans from bass player Leo Eilts’ smooth, western Kansas cowboy crooner alter-ego, to drummer Joe Guthrie’s rock n’ roll crash-bangs. Mr. Mark Franzke brings his flatpicking bluegrass chops & sweet harmonies because that's what was in the contract. The result? A lot of fun paired with cleverly-written songs that will keep you wide awake from a heavy dose of full-tilt vocals, great harmonies, and plenty of ruckus. And it all comes with a toe-tapping guarantee!

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EVENTS A-COMIN'!

  • Scott H. Biram @ recordBar
    Scott H. Biram @ recordBar
    Thu, May 11
    Kansas City
    May 11, 2023, 7:00 PM CDT
    Kansas City, 1520 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
    May 11, 2023, 7:00 PM CDT
    Kansas City, 1520 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
    Opening for The Dirty Old One Man Band, fine purveyor of haunting South Texas blues! Tickets $25 at the door.
  • NoMO Tour-ette! Stop 3: Walnut Creek Winery, Holt, MO
    NoMO Tour-ette! Stop 3: Walnut Creek Winery, Holt, MO
    Sun, Apr 23
    Walnut Creek Winery
    Apr 23, 2023, 3:00 PM CDT – Apr 24, 2023, 5:00 PM CDT
    Walnut Creek Winery, 90 N Main St, Holt, MO 64048, USA
    Apr 23, 2023, 3:00 PM CDT – Apr 24, 2023, 5:00 PM CDT
    Walnut Creek Winery, 90 N Main St, Holt, MO 64048, USA
    One last stop on the Northern MO Tour-ette! They bring farm-to-table to your wine glass, and we'll bring the homegrown tunes to drink along to. This is our closest tour-ette stop to KC, so we hope to see some of our local friends put this one on your Sunday Drive itinerary!
  • NoMO Tour-ette! Stop 2: OK Tavern, Marceline, MO
    NoMO Tour-ette! Stop 2: OK Tavern, Marceline, MO
    Sat, Apr 22
    OK Tavern
    Apr 22, 2023, 4:00 PM CDT
    OK Tavern, 126 E Howell Ave, Marceline, MO 64658, USA
    Apr 22, 2023, 4:00 PM CDT
    OK Tavern, 126 E Howell Ave, Marceline, MO 64658, USA
    Next stop on the Northern MO tour-ette! We're heading on over to the place where legends are born: Our drummer Joe's beloved hometown of Marceline. Looking forward to playing this rustic dive just a block away from Main St., USA.
  • NoMO Tour-ette! Stop 1: Bixler 108, Unionville, MO
    NoMO Tour-ette! Stop 1: Bixler 108, Unionville, MO
    Fri, Apr 21
    Unionville
    Apr 21, 2023, 7:00 PM CDT
    Unionville, 108 S 17th St, Unionville, MO 63565, USA
    Apr 21, 2023, 7:00 PM CDT
    Unionville, 108 S 17th St, Unionville, MO 63565, USA
    The Bixler 108 is a historic building on the Unionville Square operating as a unique listening room venue. We can't wait to liven things up there, as we roll through on our fantastic Tour-ette adventure through Northern MO!
  • Live Music at The Brick!
    Live Music at The Brick!
    Fri, Dec 09
    Kansas City
    Dec 09, 2022, 8:00 PM CST
    Kansas City, 1727 McGee St, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
    Dec 09, 2022, 8:00 PM CST
    Kansas City, 1727 McGee St, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
    We'll be playing a triple bill with our friends Gullywasher and True Lions! This will be a fun ruckus and you'll love it! $10 at the door.
  • Gaslight Gardens, LFK
    Gaslight Gardens, LFK
    Fri, May 27
    Lawrence
    May 27, 2022, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM
    Lawrence, 317 N 2nd St, Lawrence, KS 66044, USA
    May 27, 2022, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM
    Lawrence, 317 N 2nd St, Lawrence, KS 66044, USA
    It's a wee venue with gargantuan fun to be had. Come out and help us pack the patio!
  • Mike Kelly's Westsider
    Mike Kelly's Westsider
    Fri, Apr 08
    Kansas City
    Apr 08, 2022, 8:00 PM CDT
    Kansas City, 1515 Westport Rd, Kansas City, MO 64111, USA
    Apr 08, 2022, 8:00 PM CDT
    Kansas City, 1515 Westport Rd, Kansas City, MO 64111, USA
    Everybody's favorite Westport watering hole with the best live music in town!
  • ULAH Live Sessions
    ULAH Live Sessions
    Thu, Mar 24
    Westwood
    Mar 24, 2022, 7:00 PM CDT
    Westwood, 4707 Rainbow Blvd, Westwood, KS 66205, USA
    Mar 24, 2022, 7:00 PM CDT
    Westwood, 4707 Rainbow Blvd, Westwood, KS 66205, USA
    Join us for ULAH Live Sessions, a monthly intimate in store concert. March features a performance from Jill Westra and Them KC Boys. You don't want to miss this one! Brought to you by You Found Music. Drinks and bites included. Limited seating for 30, so grab your ticket today! Doors at 7:00.
  • Mike Kelly's Westsider
    Mike Kelly's Westsider
    Fri, Jan 14
    Kansas City
    Jan 14, 2022, 8:00 PM CST
    Kansas City, 1515 Westport Rd, Kansas City, MO 64111, USA
    Jan 14, 2022, 8:00 PM CST
    Kansas City, 1515 Westport Rd, Kansas City, MO 64111, USA
    Playing from 8pm at our favorite local joint!
  • Cover Me, Kansas City #5!
    Cover Me, Kansas City #5!
    Mon, Dec 20
    Kansas City
    Dec 20, 2021, 6:00 PM CST
    Kansas City, 1520 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
    Dec 20, 2021, 6:00 PM CST
    Kansas City, 1520 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
    Join us for the fifth annual (fourth in-person) Cover Me, Kansas City! In this celebration of Kansas City music, 11 different local artists will each cover songs by other local artists of their choice. All proceeds from the show will be donated to the Midwest Music Foundation. Doors open at 6pm.
  • Live at Buck-U Distillery
    Live at Buck-U Distillery
    Sat, Jul 31
    Buck - U Distillery
    Jul 31, 2021, 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM
    Buck - U Distillery, 3970 Tennessee Rd, Ottawa, KS 66067, USA
    Jul 31, 2021, 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM
    Buck - U Distillery, 3970 Tennessee Rd, Ottawa, KS 66067, USA
    Originally a Stuckey's. Now a beautiful indoor/outdoor distillery featuring Bourbon Whiskey, Vodka, Rum, Brandy, Gin and 100% Natural Fruit and Spice Infusions. All natural fruits and grains locally sourced.
  • Live & Loud-ish!
    Live & Loud-ish!
    Fri, Jul 30
    Kansas City
    Jul 30, 2021, 7:00 PM
    Kansas City, 506 N 4th St, Kansas City, KS 66101, USA
    Jul 30, 2021, 7:00 PM
    Kansas City, 506 N 4th St, Kansas City, KS 66101, USA
    Bringing the noise to you - and the good folks of Strawberry Hill! Live on the Hilltone Studios Stage.
  • Live Music at the KC Irish Center
    Live Music at the KC Irish Center
    Thu, May 20
    Kansas City
    May 20, 2021, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
    Kansas City, 3301 Baltimore Ave, Kansas City, MO 64111, USA
    May 20, 2021, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
    Kansas City, 3301 Baltimore Ave, Kansas City, MO 64111, USA
    It's patio season! Come join us for a mid-week outdoor happy hour at the Kansas City Irish Center.
  • LIVE at Gaslight Gardens - LFK
    LIVE at Gaslight Gardens - LFK
    Fri, Oct 23
    Gaslight Gardens
    Oct 23, 2020, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
    Gaslight Gardens, 317 N 2nd St, Lawrence, KS 66044, USA
    Oct 23, 2020, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
    Gaslight Gardens, 317 N 2nd St, Lawrence, KS 66044, USA
    Well, Covid robbed us of our 1st outing in Lawrence, so we're gonna try again! Wear your mask and come watch us make a racket on the patio. Limited audience numbers for social distancing, so get there early!
  • Live @ Bar K
    Live @ Bar K
    Fri, Aug 28
    Bar K
    Aug 28, 2020, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    Bar K, 501 Berkley Pkwy, Kansas City, MO 64120, USA
    Aug 28, 2020, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    Bar K, 501 Berkley Pkwy, Kansas City, MO 64120, USA
    Bar K is a unique new destination featuring a modern bar, restaurant, live music venue and dog park located in downtown Kansas City on the shore of the Missouri River in Berkley Riverfront Park. And we're gonna rock it.
  • Headin' up Strawberry Hill
    Headin' up Strawberry Hill
    Fri, Jul 10
    506 N 4th St
    Jul 10, 2020, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
    506 N 4th St, 506 N 4th St, Kansas City, KS 66101, USA
    Jul 10, 2020, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
    506 N 4th St, 506 N 4th St, Kansas City, KS 66101, USA
    It's a house concert on Hilltone Studios Stage in KCK's coolest 'hood.
  • Westport Saloon
    Westport Saloon
    Fri, May 22
    The Westport Saloon
    May 22, 2020, 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM
    The Westport Saloon, 4112 Pennsylvania Ave, Kansas City, MO 64111, USA
    May 22, 2020, 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM
    The Westport Saloon, 4112 Pennsylvania Ave, Kansas City, MO 64111, USA
    Opening for act TBA.
  • 3-band Showcase!
    3-band Showcase!
    Thu, Apr 30
    The Buffalo Room
    Apr 30, 2020, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    The Buffalo Room, 817 Westport Rd, Kansas City, MO 64111, USA
    Apr 30, 2020, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    The Buffalo Room, 817 Westport Rd, Kansas City, MO 64111, USA
    Come join us as we join Scotch Hollow and Flatpenny Revue in a big night of hoots n hollers.

meet the band!

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Lead vocalist, guitarist and Songwriter-in-Chief, Jill Westra (above, center) is a road-weary scientist by day and multi-instrumentalist moonlighter. She performs as a with the acoustic trio "Distant Cousins" as well as all by her lonesome, when everyone else has had enough of her.

Drummer Joe Guthrie (above, center) is a hard rock n' roller who keeps the band on the straight and narrow with his iron fist of authority and rock solid beats. We begrudgingly share him with the Wakarusa River Band when we have to.

Bass-snuggler and band Hat Director Leo Eilts (above, left) has played in all the Kansas City bands that ever existed, including Total Strangers, Spontaneous Combustion, and is currently the bad boy of KC's headed-for-legendary-status cowboy band, 3 Trails West

New guy Mark Franzke (above, left) is our lead guitar string-strangler and boy, can he pick a Telecaster! Not only is Mark voted "Most Lovable" band member, but he's the only guy to go to if you need your guitar repaired, your mandolin built from scratch or your banjo (finally) tuned. He's a wizard of all the musics.

Who's in this

crazy omnium gatherum

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