Category: Arts and entertainment

AG says Bonner Springs concert-goers could be eligible for refunds

A judge last week ordered a North Carolina-based company to provide refunds to Kansas consumers who attended a rained-out concert in 2017, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said today.

Funk Fest Concerts, Inc., a North Carolina-based company, promoted and sold tickets to a concert in Bonner Springs in June 2017 while advertising the event as held “rain or shine.” Due to thunderstorms, the event was canceled midway through and no refunds were given to concert-goers. In total, 5,982 tickets were sold for the event, ranging in price from $25.50 to $225.

After receiving complaints from consumers, the attorney general in November 2018 filed a consumer protection lawsuit against Funk Fest Concerts.

Shawnee County District Court Judge Mary Christopher last week entered a summary judgment in favor of the attorney general and ordered Funk Fest Concerts to pay $364,492.50 in restitution to consumers. The order also permanently enjoined Funk Fest Concerts from engaging in similar deceptive marketing practices in violation of the Kansas Consumer Protection Act in the future and to pay a civil penalty and the cost of the attorney general’s investigation.

It is unclear whether funds actually will be available to pay the ordered refunds, according to the attorney general’s office. During the course of the litigation, Funk Fest Concerts represented to the attorney general’s office that the company is out of business; therefore, it is unknown whether funds exist to satisfy the judge’s order. However, the attorney general’s office is making efforts to determine the company’s status and ability to comply with the judgment.

To be considered for any refunds for which funds may become available, consumers who have not already received a refund from their credit card company should file a complaint with the attorney general’s office. Consumers who already have filed a complaint will be contacted by the attorney general’s office with more information. For more information or to file a complaint, consumers should contact the attorney general’s Consumer Protection Division as soon as possible at 800-432-2310 or file a complaint online at www.InYourCornerKansas.org.

A copy of the judgment is available at https://bit.ly/35XDwXB.

KCKCC choirs to perform with Midwest Chamber Ensemble this weekend

by Kelly Rogge, KCKCC

The Kansas City Kansas Community College Choral Department is preparing for its annual fall concert.

The KCKCC Fall Choral Concert with the Midwest Chamber Ensemble is at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20, at Community Christian Church, 4601 Main St. in Kansas City, Missouri. Advanced tickets are $12 and can be purchased from the Midwest Chamber Ensemble’s website. Groups of eight or more can purchase tickets for $10. Students can get free admission if they show their Student ID at the door.

The KCKCC choirs, under the direction of Associate Professor of Music John Stafford, will join the Midwest Chamber Ensemble for a performance of Schubert’s G major Mass. Tchaikovsky’s “Serenade” will round out the program.

For more information on the concert, visit the Midwest Chamber Ensemble’s website at
http://www.midwestchamberensemble.org/concerts.

For more information on KCKCC’s Choral Department, contact Stafford at [email protected] or call 913-288-7137.

KCKCC to hold m-pact Vocal Festival

by Kelly Rogge, KCKCC

Kansas City Kansas Community College will be the site of a November music festival held by the Los Angeles based pop-jazz vocal group, m-pact.

The m-pact Vocal Festival is Nov. 14 and 15 at the KCKCC Performing Arts Center. A non-competitive festival, vocal jazz ensembles, contemporary a capella groups and other small choral ensembles have the opportunity to work hands-on with the award-winning group.

In addition to the master classes and workshops, m-pact will also perform in a concert with KCKCC’s “The Standard” Vocal Jazz Ensemble. This concert will be at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14 in the KCKCC Performing Arts Center.

Tickets for the concert are $15 and can be purchased from the festival’s website at https://www.m-pact.com/event/2490902/481366624/m-pact-vocal-festival. Acaville Internet Radio, which offers a range of a cappella music through its streaming service, will be on site to stream the concert at https://www.acaville.com/.

Described by the San Francisco Chronicle as “one of the best pop-jazz vocal groups in the world” m-pact is known for its sophisticated sound that has won the group Vocal Group of the Year at the L.A. Music Awards and an Indie nomination from the Independent Grammys.

The group has been named Grand National Champs of the Harmony Sweepstakes competition and has performed with artists such as Boyz II Men, Sheryl Crow, the Woody Herman Orchestra, the Maynard Ferguson Big Band and Natalie Cole, among many others. Their “signature sound” can also be heard in television theme songs as well as Disney feature films and on radio stations throughout the world.

Started in 1995, m-pact has made five full-length albums, three EP’s and several single releases and continue to receive rave reviews and multiple awards.

Billboard Magazine named them the “Best Unsigned Band” and in 2014, the group joined with New York a cappella powerhouse Duwende to produce “I Wish for All Time,” an a cappella tribute to Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson. M-pact continues to thrill audiences with their innovative orchestrations and stage presence as well as their vocals as they work to stay true to the music they are performing.