by Ben Trickey, Marketing & Communications Specialist, feat. Kevin Corcoran, Cataloging and Collection Development Supervisor
A Lawrence Music Time Capsule
If you’ve ever wondered what Lawrence sounds like, you can’t find a better sample than Kaw Valley Jukebox (KVJB). Created in collaboration with I Heart Local Music and Mass Street Music, this curated music catalog connects listeners to Lawrence’s past and present music scene.
“We hope to preserve local music history and add to it as local artists create more,” said Kevin Corcoran, Cataloging and Collection Development Supervisor. “It’s a place you can go to hear what's going on in Lawrence right now and also what was going on 50 years ago.”
How to Submit to Kaw Valley Jukebox
Library staff have approached local artists to submit their original music since 2014. But the version of Kaw Valley Jukebox we know today debuted in 2020 when the library’s now-defunct music-sharing website was replaced with MUSICat, a library-focused, open source music streaming platform. An online submissions page has been available to local artists ever since.
“If you've got an album or an EP, and you're from Lawrence — or you play here a lot — that's what we're looking for,” Corcoran said. “You can submit to Kaw Valley Jukebox whenever. Submissions are always open.”
All genres are welcome. Resonant folk strings, gritty guitar licks, and smooth, bass-bumping beats make up only a small sample of KVJB’s offerings, reflecting the city’s diverse, ever-evolving musical identity.
“You submit one track and a little bio about who you are, then we listen to your music without judgment,” Corcoran explained. “Acceptance has nothing to do with our personal preferences in music. It’s about being a part of the local music scene.”
Once the team has reviewed your submission, they will ask for the rest of your album or EP, including original artwork. Each accepted artist receives a page where they can promote their music via outside channels.
“You can add links to your Bandcamp, Facebook, Instagram, and even direct donation links like PayPal and Cash App,” Corcoran said. “We want this place to always exist for the artists. We’re not just trying to lock them in and only get streams through Kaw Valley Jukebox. If artists want to link to Bandcamp or Spotify, more power to them.”
Event Poster Preservation
However, KVJB sets itself apart from larger music libraries like Spotify by archiving the visuals of local music history, including a digital gallery of historic event posters.
“Two big stashes of posters make up most of the collection so far. Craig Comstock is legendary in the music scene and has lived in Lawrence since the early 90s. He’s been in tons of bands and very fortunately kept most of the posters for bands he played in,” Corcoran said. “The other stash we have is from Leslie Kuluva of LFK Press, who’s made really beautiful posters for local artists.”
Although Corcoran appreciates the variety of the current collection, he hopes to collect more metadata for each poster, since the information surrounding a given event isn’t always captured on the poster itself.
“Ideally I would like if the poster gallery had more of a wiki element, where people could suggest adding metadata about shows they attended. The posters don't always have the year, so we do our best to nail down the period an event happened,” Corcoran said. “Listeners should shoot us an email if they know the artist who made a poster or any other info they might have.”
Play Your Part in Lawrence Music History
Free for anyone to stream on mobile and desktop, KVJB also allows Lawrence Public Library cardholders to save playlists featuring their favorite artists, albums, and tracks. For new listeners looking for a place to start, LPL staff members have curated helpful playlists to fit various seasonal moods, including the hopefully-soon-to-be-relevant “A Totally Local Sweater Weather Playlist.”
Corcoran has a few recommendations of his own. “You should check out Serene Fiend. I love Joel's music, and he used to be library staff. The Embarrassment are Kansas legends, and we’ve got all of Danger Bob’s albums, which are in heavy rotation. And one more big shout out to Brad Allen and his former band Vitreous Humor.”
Artists interested in submitting their music to the platform can learn more about the submission process on the KVJB website. And anyone who wants to record their music can book free sessions in the library’s SOUND+VISION Studio, available to all library cardholders.
“If somebody reads this and they're not in a band, but their friend is, go badger them,” Corcoran said. “The more Kaw Valley Jukebox spreads, the happier I'll be and our library patrons will be. And hopefully more people will stumble upon it and have a little glimpse of music history and music happenings in Lawrence.”
Whether you’re a longtime fan of the local music scene or a newcomer eager to explore, tune in, discover new favorites, submit your own recordings, and play an active role in a community that celebrates artistic expression.
If you’d like to support KVJB, you can donate to the LPL Friends & Foundation, book recording time in the SOUND+VISION Studio, attend library programs and events, and share your favorite albums, songs, and artists on social media. Use #kvjb and #wheatbeats to get in on the conversation.
About Lawrence Public Library
Lawrence Public Library (LPL for short) is a community hub that believes in the power of connecting with each other through shared knowledge and resources. Located in the heart of Downtown Lawrence, Kansas, we are committed to providing a space where our community can learn, connect, create, and grow through access to our vast collections, resources, services, programs, and knowledgeable staff. The library is supported by tax dollars, record-breaking book sales and philanthropic efforts by the LPL Friends & Foundation, and the dedicated efforts of more than 300 volunteers. All are welcome.
