ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
Those looking for high-caliber live entertainment right in Liberal will soon have just that opportunity thanks to Community Concerts of Liberal.
The 2025-26 Community Concerts of Liberal season will start with The Sidekicks, who will be performing at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 8, followed by Dan Miller's AmeriCoustic show, which will be at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31. The season will then continue with Aria Nouveau, which will be at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26, 2026, followed by David Burnham's Broadway and Beyond show, which will be at 3 p.m. March 29, 2026. The season will conclude with The Suits, who will be performing at 7:30 p.m. April 18, 2026, and all the concerts will take place in Maskus Auditorium at Liberal High School.
Community Concerts of Liberal President Mike Brack said much work went into arranging the upcoming season.
“It was in November 2024 when our partner, Allied Concert Services, had their rep come out and show us the video collage of all the acts that were part of their catalogue. We watched all of those and then went through our voting process to decide the acts who would ultimately be part of our season this time around,” Brack said. “We really like this year's lineup because it showcases such different genres including country, pop/opera, Broadway and Motown, and it should be an overall great season for everyone take in. We were also able to time everything out really well and get everyone when we wanted, which we were also really happy about. And even though this season hasn't quite started yet, we're already kind of thinking about next season because the Allied Concert Services rep will be back out here around October or November and talk to us about the next group of acts in their catalogue, so the planning never ends.”
Brack said he feels the upcoming season will have something for everyone.
“I'm always excited because our group of volunteers always do a great job of picking the acts. I remember when I was in college, there was always a lot of classical music chosen with the concerts, but the community's age demographics have changed, so we're definitely getting more variety as time has gone on, which is great,” Brack said. “And then when COVID-19 hit, everything got disrupted for a couple years, and there was some uncertainty about having live performances again, and there was also concern about ticket prices, but we've been able to keep those manageable for everyone so far. But overall, I feel like we managed to find something for everyone – The Sidekicks are a great 70/80s tribute band, and since country music is big in this area, I feel like a lot of people will enjoy the AmeriCoustics concert. Then, the people who are more into showtunes and opera should appreciate the Aria Nouveau and David Burnham concerts, because they'll be amazing, and then we'll end the season with another tribute band, so I think we ended up with a great season this year. We never really go into discussions with a firm plan in mind, we wait and see what Allied Concert Services has in their catalogue and then go from there in terms of deciding. The company knows what concerts we've had in the past, so they keep some of that in mind when they make their presentations.”
Brack added there are a couple shows he is particularly excited to see in Liberal.
“I know we've been trying to connect with David Burnham for a long time, he came to the Rotary Club conference in town a few years ago and put on a phenomenal show, with just him and his piano player, so we knew we would want to see him again, and I'm so glad we were finally able to. He was the lead in a production of 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat' and was also Fiyero in 'Wicked,' so it'll be great having him back in the home of Dorothy Gale and performing,” Brack said. “And then Claire Thompson actually went to school with John Riesen from the Aria Nouveau group – I remember she was at that meeting and when he started singing in the video, her jaw dropped and she said 'I went to school with him!' and remembered him being a great performer, so we were glad to get them too. There have been multiple times when there's been a group/act or two I wasn't as excited about as everyone else on the board, and then that group/act was the one that ended up blowing me away the most, so it's great to have an open mind and just let yourself be carried away by the music.”
With the wide variety of entertainment on deck, Brack said he hopes to see large crowds at each show.
“If you enjoy live entertainment, especially right in your backyard, it's a no-brainer. All the acts are fantastic, the auditorium is a great facility, and it saves you from having to drive to Wichita or Amarillo or some other big city for a similar type of show. And those types of trips out of town are fun, but if you're looking for something closer and more convenient, any of these shows would be great to take in,” Brack said. “We're so blessed to have support from local businesses and individuals, and we want people to be able to feel like there is a good quality of life and know we're able to bring in high-caliber performers without having to spend extra money on gas and hotel accommodations and all of that. I know a lot of people say there's not a lot to do in Liberal, but these shows are an option for you to get out of your house for a couple hours without breaking the bank or doing a bunch of extra traveling.”
Brack then talked about tickets.
“We sell individual tickets at the door the day of the show for $25, we don't sell any in advance. People can get tickets to individual shows, or they can buy yearly memberships – Family memberships are $150, Individual memberships are $75, and student memberships are $20. Those memberships encompass all the shows of the season, so if anyone is interested in that option, that's available, and we don't want anyone to miss out,” Brack said. “And sometimes, the groups will also perform nearby in Garden City or Dodge City, so if you went to the show here in Liberal and REALLY wanted to see a particular group again, they'll be relatively nearby. We've seen a lot of great entertainment come through Liberal, and this coming season is a continuation of that trend.”
Overall, Brack said, it should be a great season for Community Concerts of Liberal and area patrons.
“We always appreciate the word being spread about what we have going on in the community, and we're proud to bring all of this high-caliber entertainment right to the people of Liberal,” Brack said. “And if anyone is interested in being a volunteer or serving on the board, they are more than welcome to get in touch with me at (620) 482-0466 and I'll find them a place. Overall, we're just really excited about this season and hope to see everyone at this season's shows!”
