Nora en Pure, Andhim, Kidnap, Corren Cavini, and Jack Emery

Nora always delivers. A solid undercard of DJs had the intimate crowd assembled on The Riot Room patio buzzing in anticipation of her arrival on a drizzly and cool November night in Kansas City. Immediately preceding, Longer Days delivered a solid buildup, prepping for the arrival of our headliner. At the stroke of midnight, Nora arrived through the stage adjacent, patio entrance stairs without much fanfare. Upon taking her place at the decks, she immediately engaged the crowd. Nora delivered her patented silky smooth mixes over the next two hours, integrating fresh deep house beats with her own acclaimed work.

As an avid listener of Nora’s Purified Radio podcast, I am consistently impressed with her passion for innovation. In her mixes and remixes of her own tunes and other house favorites she seems to never be satisfied with the status quo. Her Riot Room performance was equally pleasing. Like a master weaver creating a complex tapestry, Nora creatively built the warp and weft of the beats into a continuous aural massage that left the audience craving a few hours more.

As Nora finished her set that included her requesite hits Lake Arrowhead, Come with Me, Fever, and True, she was extremely gracious and patient, spending better than ten minutes taking pictures and chatting with appreciative fans. I am personally thankful for getting to meet and capture a photo and a few brief words with one of my favorite artists.

Andhim is a production and DJ duo who create some of the most catchy music I’ve ever heard. They have this audience in the palm of their hands on this hot summers day spinning what they describe as “Super House” which has become it’s own genre. Immediately I’ve got to appreciate how happy their music is making this audience. Everyone is smiling dancing with friends and enjoying a drink in the sunshine, or having a cocktail on their deckchair relaxing. There’s so much passion that exudes from this pair when they perform, and it translates so fantastically in this set. “The Wizard of Us” is one of the biggest songs of their set, bringing this audience to such a worthy climax. “Aleefee” has everyone dancing their best dances, without a care. They finish this set with a track called “Alter Egon” and then of course get called on stage for an encore. They finish with “Extragold” which has some infectious hooks throughout. Fair play Andhim.

At aged just 23, Kidnap Kid was awarded in the US ‘iTunes Best Electronic Song of 2012’ with his track ‘Vehl’, which is most likely what he is best known for. Originating from Sheffield, Kidnap Kid is a DJ and Record Producer in the rising genres of electronic and house music. Since his career kick-started, he studied at the University of Leeds and came out with a Politics and Crime degree. He has toured all over the world with similar artists like Hostage, Shadow Child, Bondax and Rudimental. He has also featured in some of the UK’s biggest house and garage events e.g. The Warehouse Project (frequently), Chew the Fat! Bank Holiday Weekend and Creamfields. His stage name originates from a prank he pulled at 17 – where him and some buddies faked a kidnapping in KFC, from which he got sent to court. Kidnap Kid – also known as Matt Relton – was previously in Rock bands for 10 years before becoming a famous DJ. His first track was produced when he was just 19, also the one he won the iTunes award for, Vehl. Since, he has four other tracks – So Close, Thin Lines, Stronger and Like You Used To – all under the label Black Butter Records.