
Jill Westra
&
Them KC Boys
A Kansas City Conundrum.


Now hear this!
Who the what...?

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!

some moving pictures. . .
UPCOMING EVENTS

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Parkville Jazz and Blues Festival
Saturday, June 7, 2025 6:30 PM
English Landing Park, Parkville, MO
PAST SHOWS
- Scott H. Biram @ recordBarThu, May 11Kansas City
- NoMO Tour-ette! Stop 3: Walnut Creek Winery, Holt, MOSun, Apr 23Walnut Creek Winery
- NoMO Tour-ette! Stop 2: OK Tavern, Marceline, MOSat, Apr 22OK Tavern
- NoMO Tour-ette! Stop 1: Bixler 108, Unionville, MOFri, Apr 21Unionville
- Live Music at The Brick!Fri, Dec 09Kansas City
- Gaslight Gardens, LFKFri, May 27Lawrence
- Mike Kelly's WestsiderFri, Apr 08Kansas City
- ULAH Live SessionsThu, Mar 24Westwood
- Mike Kelly's WestsiderFri, Jan 14Kansas City
- Cover Me, Kansas City #5!Mon, Dec 20Kansas City
- Live at Buck-U DistillerySat, Jul 31Buck - U Distillery
- Live & Loud-ish!Fri, Jul 30Kansas City
- Live Music at the KC Irish CenterThu, May 20Kansas City
- LIVE at Gaslight Gardens - LFKFri, Oct 23Gaslight Gardens
- Live @ Bar KFri, Aug 28Bar K
- Headin' up Strawberry HillFri, Jul 10506 N 4th St
- Westport SaloonFri, May 22The Westport Saloon
- 3-band Showcase!Thu, Apr 30The Buffalo Room
meet the band!

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
anyway?
