Before musicians get to hear the thunderous applause of hundreds upon thousands of adoring fans, many will first hear the muted claps from the small crowd at their local bar or coffeehouse. Before the bands have those adoring fans wearing their T-shirt and attending all the meet and greets, there will be the handful of faceless Facebook likes. And for many local musicians, platforms like Facebook and Instagram are the place to spread their music and grow a fanbase.

For some music fans, finding local bands is difficult, especially if you don’t know band names or members personally. Accounts like @iheartlocalmusic on Instagram highlights musicians in the Lawrence and Kansas City area, so if you’re willing to make a short drive to support some up and coming artists they are the account to follow. Record stores and bars like The Replay Lounge and The Bottleneck, both located in downtown Lawrence, often keep their Facebook pages up to date with upcoming shows as well. One of the trademark downtown Lawrence staples is the plastering of promotional posters on doors and in windows. So if you find yourself walking around Lawrence stop for a second and see if you can make it out to a show. If Manhattanites show an interest in Lawrence music, those musicians may end up playing a show here in town, which might then inspire a group of kids to start a band, and the Manhattan music scene will grow. It’s all about cause and effect.

If you’re not capable or willing to drive out of town, there are plenty of local musicians right here at home. Facebook pages like MHK Music Scene and their website, mhkmusicscene.com, have a running calendar of events for local groups and solo acts from all genres. Bands like Headlight Rivals, which features Manhattan High’s very own Eric Kleiner; The Grateful Dudes; and The Sounds of Many are just a few you have the opportunity to keep up with via MHK Music Scene.

A popular place to find out about and even watch live music is Aggieville’s Sisters of Sound record store. The store often hosts small, intimate shows from musicians of all genres, from punk to bluegrass. There you can talk to the owners or browse their cork board by the door, where many bands and artists advertise their shows.

Ultimately, the key to being a good music fan is showing up and supporting the arts. Those artists who are cashing in on H&M merchandise started out in basements, garages and record stores, so support your friends and community and get in touch with your local music scene.

Find out more about Manhattan’s local music by visiting:

http://mhkmusicscene.com/https://www.instagram.com/iheartlocalmusic/