Local Expert: Fally Afani

Your Live Music Guru

Fally Afani, editor and founder of the music journalism project I Heart Local Music, is an award-winning journalist with a career spanning more than 15 years in media. From her home in Lawrence, she reports on local and touring musicians and enjoys photographing families, live events, concerts, conferences, and her daughters. She is a champion of the area’s vibrant, colorful, and progressive music community—and eager to share these riches with guests and visitors.

Fally

Fally's 5 Top Spots for Music

Fally

THE GRANADA

What it’s known for: Day in and day out, the Granada is bringing a range of national acts into Lawrence while also hosting some of the city’s biggest local music events.

Why she loves it: Recently, the venue has been hosting a series of free, outdoor community concerts known as “Live on Mass” events (named after downtown’s central street, Massachusetts Street, where the block party concerts are held).

Insider tip: Follow the Granada’s twitter account for chances to win free tickets.

Link | Twitter | Facebook

Fally

LOVE GARDEN SOUNDS

What it’s known for: Love Garden is best known for its quality, eclectic collection of LPs (new releases and bargain used selections).

Why she loves it: Browse through the stacks, ask the staff to lend you some earphones to sample tunes and enjoy the selections from the in-house DJ.

Insider Tip: There are the occasional album-release concerts at Love Garden—and if your visit overlaps with one of them, be sure to attend.

Link | Facebook | Twitter

Fally at liberty Hall

LIBERTY HALL

What it’s known for: A combined arts cinema theater and movie rental shop, Liberty Hall’s historic stage has also hosted some of the largest national acts to come through town—ever, from Susan B. Anthony and Oscar Wilde to Janelle Monáe and Billy Corgan.

Why she loves it: It’s a Lawrence institution. This is the quintessential Lawrence concert space.

Insider Tip: Fresh Free State beer is on tap in the concession room.

Link | Tripadvisor | Facebook

More Live Music Experiences

Fally's Event Recommendations

LIED CENTER SHOWS

The University of Kansas Lied Center brings in some of the nation’s (and world’s) biggest stage performances, including singer-songwriters, hip-hop artists, classical quartets, jazz bands, orchestras and much more. Tickets for headline events go quickly, so be sure to check out the schedule in advance of your visit.

YEAR-ROUND

KAW VALLEY PUBLIC HOUSE OPEN MIC NIGHTS

The relatively new North Lawrence venue has jumped onto the musical scene with regular in-house concerts and its popular Monday night open mic concerts. Since this is Lawrence, of course, the host, Megan Luttrell, just happens to have a PhD in Russian language and literature and is a talented singer-songwriter in her own right.

YEAR-ROUND

MARDI GRAS PARADE

Started by former Lawrence musical duo Truckstop Honeymoon, this annual tradition continues as a gathering of costumed musicians who progress down Massachusetts Street, playing tunes all along the way and ending with a raucous performance at Free State Brewery.

FEBRUARY

PRIDE PARADE

Lawrence values its commitment to inclusive, accepting communities—and the annual Pride Parade and street concert is an opportunity to publicly affirm and celebrate Lawrence’s diversity. The June daytime event has been followed by a Pride-themed concert and drag performances at Granada, and it continues to evolve and grow.

JUNE

KANSAS NUTCRACKER

The Lawrence Arts Center hosts this holiday tradition. It’s a retelling of the classic E.T.A. Hoffman tale and Pyotr Tchaikovsky ballet through the lens of Kansas settlers during the dangerous years on the Kansas plains leading up to the Civil War.