December 2, 2022 – Last Monday the newspaper The Guardian posted an article called, “A free Spotify alternative? How US libraries became the place to stream your favorite band.” While there are many corporate streaming services outlined in the article, here in Kansas we have the Kaw Valley Jukebox (KVJ).
Developed by the Lawrence Public Library using Rabble, KVJ has become the place to listen to new artists and your old favorites from the rich music scene of the regional area. Thanks to partnerships with local businesses “I Heart Local Music” (love the name) and Mass Street Music, KVJ streams hundreds of hours of music on the open-source platform.
Were you part of the ’80s or ‘90s music scene? Then you will love listening to The Embarrassment from Wichita or The Micronotz from Lawrence. Are you looking for a newer artist? Check out The Sluts and Cuee who play in the area on a regular basis. Are you an aspiring artist? Check out the library’s Sound+Vision studio where you can record your next song. All at the local library. Another example of how Kansas libraries are on the cutting edge on library innovation.
By the way, if you are looking at KVJ, be sure to check out the band Vitreous Humor which features Lawrence Public Library’s Brad Allen.