Smokin' J's Ready to Rock Grinnell After Harvest Festival Friday Night

The annual Grinnell After Harvest Festival is ready to kick off another year of fun, food, and live entertainment, and one of the highlights will be a free concert Friday evening featuring Kansas City-based band Smokin' J's.

Kristina from 100.3 The Ride recently caught up with Justin, one of the band's founders, to talk about what Northwest Kansas can expect when the group takes the stage at 7 p.m. Friday in the Grinnell City Park following the community barbecue.

Smokin' J's began as a musical duo featuring Justin and guitarist Jesse. While searching for a band name a few years ago, Jesse jokingly suggested "Smokin' J's." The name stuck, fans loved it, and the duo has since grown into a full five-piece band.

Today, the group features Justin, Jesse, drummer Thomas, bassist Tommy, and keyboardist Brian.

"We started as a little duo and eventually built it into a full five-piece band," Justin said.

If you're wondering what kind of music you'll hear Friday night, Justin says the band prides itself on playing something for everyone.

"We cover music from the 1960s all the way through the last decade," he said. "There's classic rock, rock and roll, R&B, country, reggae, funk...a little bit of everything."

The goal is simple: play songs the audience already knows and loves.

"You should know just about every song we play. And if you don't know one, you'll probably know the next one."

While Justin says two of his favorite songs for the band to perform are "Zombie" by The Cranberries and "Creep" by Radiohead, concertgoers can expect an upbeat, high-energy set designed to get everyone involved.

"If we're doing our job right, we'll have everybody up dancing, singing along, and having the best time ever," Justin said.

Friday's performance will also mark the band's first visit to Northwest Kansas. Although they've driven through the state on trips west, Justin says they've never had the opportunity to stop and perform in this part of Kansas.

"We're really looking forward to coming out there and playing for you all," he said. "Tell your friends and family. It's going to be a great day, very family-friendly, with great music. Don't miss out!"

The concert is part of the Grinnell After Harvest Festival, a community tradition that has been celebrating the end of harvest for more than 50 years. The weekend festival features activities for all ages, with Friday night's free barbecue followed by live music from Smokin' J's at 7 p.m.

With free food, free live music, and a weekend full of hometown fun, it's the perfect way to kick off one of Northwest Kansas' longest-running summer celebrations.

For more local events and community news, keep listening to 100.3 The Ride and visit NWKSRadio.net.

Listen to the full audio interview here:

INTERVIEW WITH JUSTIN FROM SMOKIN JS

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