🎤 Live on the Vine: Kansas City’s Ultimate Artist Showcase Returns with a $1,000 Prize on the Line

Jul 9

Kansas City’s most electrifying performance competition is back — and it’s bigger than ever.

Live on the Vine, a dynamic showcase of emerging talent, returns as part of the 2025 18th & Vine Arts Festival, bringing music, movement, and spoken word to center stage in the heart of Kansas City’s iconic Jazz District.

Whether you're an aspiring artist or a festival-goer looking for unforgettable live performances, this is a moment you don’t want to miss.

🌟 What Is Live on the Vine?

Live on the Vine is more than a performance — it’s a platform. A proving ground. An opportunity for dancers, poets, singers, musicians, rappers, and hybrid performers to show Kansas City (and the world) what they’re made of.

Artists from all over the country are invited to audition live or submit video performances to compete for a spot on the main stage during the festival — with $1,000 cash, professional photo shoots, and VIP-level exposure up for grabs.

🎯 Audition Details

📅 Date: Wednesday, July 23, 2025
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
📍 Location: Gem Theater, Kansas City, MO
💸 Entry Fee: $30

Can’t make it in person? No worries — out-of-state performers can submit a video audition online and still be considered for the finals.

👉 Apply now at: https://www.18thandvineartsfestival.com/artist-sign-up

💥 What’s at Stake?

12 finalists will be selected to perform on the main stage during the 18th & Vine Arts Festival on Saturday, September 27. Finalists will receive:

💰 $1,000 Cash Prize
🎤 Main Stage Festival Performance
📸 Professional Photo Shoot provided by Suite P Studios, Kansas City’s premier creative space known for capturing artists and public figures with high-end, stylized visual content
🎚️ Studio Time at 64111 Studio, a cutting-edge recording facility specializing in music production, engineering, and artist development
🎟️ VIP Artist Exposure through festival media, content, and influencer platforms

🎙️ Meet the Judges

This year’s judging panel features some of the most influential voices in Kansas City’s music and creative scene:

Jo Blaq – Grammy-nominated producer (Ariana Grande, Jill Scott, Kanye West)
Marks My Barber – Soul Sessions KC founder & community curator
Ara McGee – Carter Broadcast Group executive (Hot 103 Jamz, Gospel 1590)
Cherayla Haynes – Jazz vocalist & community leader
Sean Tyler – Strange Music artist manager and KC music connector

🎨 About the 18th & Vine Arts Festival

The 18th & Vine Arts Festival is a 3-day celebration of Black creativity and cultural excellence. Taking place in one of the country’s most historic artistic neighborhoods, the festival includes:

🎶 Live music and DJ sets
🎤 Spoken word and live theater
🖼️ Local and national visual artists
🍽️ Food trucks and chef showcases
👗 Fashion shows and vendor markets
🎬 Film, dance, and special exhibits

🎟️ Festival Tickets On Sale Now

General admission tickets for the full festival weekend are now available. Whether you’re cheering on a performer or soaking up KC’s creative spirit, this is where the city shows out.

👉 Grab your tickets at: https://www.18thandvineartsfestival.com