Schedule
Bethany Joy & Dan Socha
8:30 pm - 10:30 pm
101 Bottles Of Beer On The Wall
115 North Willow St.
Kent, OH 44240
Dan and Bethany collaborate on original music and also play a variety of covers, including songs from The Beatles, The Allman Brothers, Sam Cooke, and other classics. Their instrumentation includes acoustic and electric guitar, auxiliary percussion and powerful harmonies.
Tom Evanchuck
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
157 Lounge
157 S. Water Street
Kent, Ohio 44240
Tom Evanchuck is a storyteller on stage, weaving through tales of love and heartbreak, friendship and the allure of the Midwest. But this is also a musician that seems born from another era. Drawing on the influences of the likes of Bob Dylan, Otis Redding, Neil Young and even the…
Randy Horvath
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Belleria Pizza & Italian Restaurant
135 East Erie Street
Suite 202
Kent, OH 44240
Randy Horvath is an Americana/Folk singer/songwriter who has been a fixture in the Northeast Ohio music scene for 15 plus years. He articulately blends thoughtful lyrics, driving melodies, and powerful vocals. Photo Credit: Roger Hoover
Jen and Anthony
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Bricco
210 South Depeyster Street
Kent, OH 44240
Jen (Maurer) & Anthony (Papaleo) make up a “Heart Of It All” duo from NE Ohio specializing in Old-School Blues & Roots music. They revitalize the “old soul” of America on electric & acoustic guitars, upright bass, fiddle, and buttonbox. These musical soulmates share a love for not just one…
Box of Squirrels
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Buffalo Wild Wings
176 E Main St
Kent, OH 44240
box of squirrels was founded by cal craig (guitars, mandolin, we call him mom) in an effort to bring a group of his students and fellow band mates (Off the Record, rock bottom, unstrung heroes) together to celebrate the combined sound of acoustic instruments and vocal harmony. our foundation is…
Ben Gage Trio
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Burnside Barbecue
154 E Main St. Ste B
Kent, OH 44240
Ben Gage grew up in the rust belt of Northeast Ohio, spread out in the countryside along the great Lake Erie. His roots run deep alongside the hard working blue collars that Ohio has to boast. That tenacity, love of family, and respect for a long day can be seen…
Rachel Brown and The Beatnik Playboys
8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Dominick’s Pub
147 Franklin Ave
Kent, Ohio 44240
Rachel Brown and the Beatnik Playboys are a delicious musical anachronism – Americana music of today that seems like it could have come from a time when milk came in glass bottles and doctors still made house calls. Powered by singer-songwriter Brown’s multi-octave voice, fed by guitarist Dave Huddleston’s tasty…
Crooked River Stompers Duo
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Franklin Hotel Bar
176 E. Main St.
Kent, Ohio 44240
The Crooked River Stompers perform old time rags, blues, medicine show, and jump jazz tunes, as well as other esoterica.
Hey Mavis Duo
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Kent State University Hotel & Conference Center
215 S. Depeyster Street
Kent, Ohio 44240
Leaders of their Northcoast Americana band, Hey Mavis, Eddie and Laurie Michelle Caner weave a musical tapestry together…from old-time fiddle tunes to wholehearted story songs.
Open Mic hosted by Ryan Gavalier
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Last Exit Books and Cafe
124 E Main St, Ste 1
Kent, Ohio 44240
Got a song to sing? A tune to play? It it’s roots, be there!
Dale Galgozy
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Last Exit Books and Cafe
124 E Main St, Ste 1
Kent, Ohio 44240
Dale Galgozy writes the blues; his guitar swings, and his songs are shrouded in understated humor. Dale is a published songwriter, a studio musician, and a teacher.
Jon Mosey
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Laziza
195 East Erie Street
Kent, OH 44240
New roots music, contemporary, but firmly grounded in tradition. Mosey’s guitar playing is Piedmont Blues/Ragtime based, but there’s a healthy dose of old-time and bluegrass flatpicking in there, too. He’s a pretty good singer, too.
Thor Platter Band
8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
The Loft Tavern
112 W Main Street
Kent, Ohio, 44240
The talented troubadour Thor Platter plays solid roots music with gritty soul and a touch of grass. With his new album “Take Time,” Platter is setting out to showcase his mastery of the genre, as well as capture the energy, spirit, and infectious harmonies of his live shows. Platter’s gentle,…
Moonshine Trio
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Pacific East
100E Main St,
Kent, OH 44240
Moonshine (drumless this time) plays country music the way it ought to be played. With Kathy Camille and Kerry Kean on guitars, vocals and fiddle, and Tim Akin on upright bass and vocals, Moonshine plays hits from the 60s through today as well as a selection of originals. The harmonies…
My Buddy Josh’s Band
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
The Pub
401 Franklin Avenue,
Kent, OH 44240
Led by singer-songwriter, Josh Ferro, My Buddy Josh’s Band has an ever-changing cast of characters. This go, the band will consist of Ferro on vocals, guitar and harmonica, Stephanie Axtell on vocals, percussion and melodica, DJ Buell on banjo, Brant Novak on upright bass, and likely a guest player or…
Southern Cross Band
9:30 pm - 12:30 am
Rays Place
135 Franklin Ave.
Kent, Ohio 44240
We are a high energy band playing yesterday and today’s country as well as southern rock and some 80s classics.
City of Invention
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Scribbles Coffee Company
237 North Water Street
Kent, Ohio 44240
Scott Budzar on guitar & vocals, Joe Wells on bass, Mark Watt on guitar & keys, and Zac Hall on drums, are friends. They write music. Occasionally, outside of the busyness of life, they get to play it live.
Ray Flanagan
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Taco Tanto’s
123 Franklin Avenue
Kent, OH 44240
Ray Flanagan can be found rocking and rolling with his band The Authorities, or playing sideman to any number of bands and artists. But this time, he’ll be delivering his own songs intimately in a dynamic solo performance.
Gretchen Pleuss
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Tree City Coffee & Pastry
135 East Erie St.
Kent, OH 44240
Gretchen Pleuss is an Ohio-bred singer/songwriter whose soft vocals and evocative songwriting ability have quickly positioned her as one of the finest emerging acts in her genre. Hailing from a lower middle-class upbringing, her pure and poetic lyrics resonate with listeners on deep, sometimes gut-wrenching levels.
Emily Keener
8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Tree City Coffee & Pastry
135 East Erie St.
Kent, OH 44240
Keener’s emergence into artistry was more of a fateful stumble, and the difference between each early release exhibits a quick wising-up: from the Folk/Americana EP “East of the Sun” (March 2015) to her latest full length, “Breakfast”, (November 2016) following a successful run on The Voice. Music Connection called Breakfast…
Bonnis and The King
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Treno Ristorante
152 Franklin Ave.
Kent, Ohio 44240
Spanning genres of Americana, Swing and Soul music, Andrew Bonnis and Christine King stimulate the senses with eclectic covers and dazzling originals. This dynamic duo is sure to entertain!
Cody J. Martin
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Troy Grille
118 E. Main St. Suite 1
Kent, Ohio 44240
Cody J. Martin is a siner/wongwriter from Massillon, Ohio. Cody J. Martin writes songs that rest where folk, blues and country music intersect. The Massillon, Ohio native has been performing his aggressive, fingerpicked tunes for nearly 5 years in both his home state and across the country. He is currently…
Cory Grinder Band
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Venice Cafe
163 W. Erie St.
Kent, Ohio 44240
The Cory Grinder Band writes original honky tonk type tunes for those who love that old hillbilly sound, and cover great country music from artists like Merle Haggard, Hank Williams Sr, and George Jones. Their entertaining live performances are full of fun, upbeat songs and silly antics. Always a good…
Roger Hoover’s Hootenanny
10:30 pm - 1:00 am
Venice Cafe
163 W. Erie St.
Kent, Ohio 44240
A fearless songwriter and performer, Roger Hoover has distilled the experiences of an American wanderer into songs that illuminate the ethereal worlds and promise within each of us. He’ll tear your heart right out. He’ll close the festival with one helluva party, with special guests and talent galore.
The Shootouts
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Water Street Tavern
132 S. Water St.
Kent, OHIO 44240
The Shootouts’ debut album “Quick Draw” is an effortless blend of high-energy honky-tonk and traditional country music mixed with touches of Americana and western swing. The band marries a blend of Roy Orbison and Bob Wills with the barn-burning sounds of Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives and Dwight Yoakam.…
Jack Fords
9:30 pm - 12:30 am
Water Street Tavern
132 S. Water St.
Kent, OHIO 44240
Here’s what folks have to say about Jack Fords. In other words, you need to see them play. Boy, howdy, do they play. “The Ford’s music has a mean streak that appeals to both bikers and hipsters” Jeff Neisel, Cleveland Scene “Foot stompin, beer drinkin barroom rock that will get…
JP and the Chatfield Boys
8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Zephyr Pub
106 W Main St.
Kent, Ohio 44240
JP & The Chatfield Boys is an Ohio based band with variably deep Mid-Western roots. They couple highly charged original songs with forward thinking covers, and their influences range from The Pixies to Ralph Stanley, from Martin Sexton to NWA and beyond. Wow.