Wednesday MidDay Medley
TEN to NOON Wednesdays – Streaming at KKFI.org
90.1 FM KKFI – Kansas City Community Radio
Produced and Hosted by Mark Manning

Wednesday, July 29, 2026

New & MidCoastal Releases + Angela & James Ward + Joel Kraft

Mark Spins More New & MidCoastal Releases from: Kirstie Lynn, Malek Azrael & The Vibez with Mike Dillon, The Creepy Jingles, Jamogi & Les Izmore, Joel Kraft, Fullbloods, James Ward Trio, Miss Boating, Kevin Morby, Pearl & The Oysters, Lucy Dacus, Mumford & Sons, and Mavis Staples, and artists playing AMER’KANA Music & Arts Festival on August 1 in Concourse Park: SEYKO, Radkey, Gina Chavez, and Rosie Flores.

At 10:30 Joel Kraft joins us to share details about his new album, THE END released March 1, 2026. Joel Kraft is a curious animal that grew up among the rolling hills of Missouri. Climbing trees and walking through tunnels of Brush Creek, his head swam with all kinds of notions he could only just pin down and understand by singing them out loud over and over again. At first he sang them to himself, then into microphones he found at coffee shops and bars around the US. The End is the fourth album from Kansas City–based singer-songwriter and producer Joel Kraft. It’s a layered indie pop record with roots in folk and a twist of art pop—featuring toy pianos, disco bass lines, square wave synths, and field recordings stitched together by hand. Ten years in the making, it’s the first album Kraft fully produced himself after years of learning from collaborators and experimenting with tape, MIDI, and microphones. Joel Kraft plays an Album release show on Friday, August 7, 2026 at 6:00pm, Matinee Show with Miss Boating at The Ship, 1221 Union Avenue, KCMO West Bottoms.

At 11:00 Mark talks with James Ward and Angela Ward of The James Ward Trio and James Ward Band also known as The JWB. The JWB is a Jazz Fusion band formed over 20 years ago that combines Jazz, R&B, Funk, and Gospel. The Wards consist of Angela Ward on keyboards, James Ward on bass, and Jaylen Ward on drums. In addition to performing, they also run a Music School where they facilitate Music Education Programs in the community. Their goal is to offer the gift of music to all. The Wards perform regularly at The Blue Room located on the Historic 18th and Vine Jazz District. They also perform individually in various bands in the Kansas City Music Scene. Angela Ward will be performing with Lee Langston at 1587 Prime, on Thursday, July 30, at 6:30pm. The James Ward Band will be performing at the Blue Room on Friday, July 31, at 8:30pm. James Ward will be at Eddie V’s on Wednesday, August 12, at 6:30pm. Angela Ward plays with Lee Langston at 1587 Prime Friday, on August 7, at 6:30pm. The James Ward Trio play Jazz by the River on Saturday, August 8, in Leavenworth, Kansas.

Show #1158