Schedule
Cameron Mack
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
101 Bottles Of Beer On The Wall
115 North Willow St.
Kent, OH 44240
Cameron, a talented musician based in Kent, Ohio, draws deep inspiration from the rich cultural tapestry of his hometown. Having played guitar and numerous other instruments since a young age, he has developed a versatile and eclectic style. Cameron’s performances are marked by authenticity and a heartfelt connection with his…
Steve Roberts
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
157 Lounge
157 S. Water Street
Kent, Ohio 44240
Making their debut at the Kent Blues Fest, Blackcat Roberts keeps their promise to audiences simple: “Stone cold blues – straight outta Cleveland!”
Backstreet Blues Band
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Barflyy
100 E Erie St.
Kent, Ohio 44240
Cleveland’s Backstreet Blues Band has been rocking packed houses all over town with their hot brand of hard-driving, house-rockin’ blues. The quartet met at Cleveland Blues Society jams and knew they had something special. Up front are Backstreet Brantt Hamilton’ searing harmonica and Jimmy Lee’s rocking blues guitar. Adriane Bennett…
Mike Lenz
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
The Battleground Taproom and Mexican Kitchen
425 Cherry Street
Kent, Ohio 44240
Mike Lenz performs solo on guitar, vocals, harmonica, and amplified stompbox. He is influenced by everything from Delta and Piedmont blues artists such as Robert Johnson, Blind Willie Johnson, Blind Blake and Blind Boy Fuller to Jug Band stomps and rags of the 20’s and 30’s to classic 50’s and…
Harry Deacon
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Belleria Pizza & Italian Restaurant
135 East Erie Street
Suite 202
Kent, OH 44240
Harry Deacon has been playing the guitar, singing and songwriting for nearly 50 years. For the last seven years he has played in Akron at The John S. Knight Center Holiday Tree Festival. More recently he has played at the Hometown Bank Plaza in Kent and The Kent Flea Market.…
Blues Deville
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Bell Tower Brewing Co.
310 Park Ave
Kent, Ohio 44240
Boxcar Speakeasy
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Bell Tower Brewing Co.
310 Park Ave
Kent, Ohio 44240
A little jaunty, a little sweaty, mostly legal, Boxcar Speakeasy makes hot jazz music in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Drawing inspiration from the founding fathers of jazz—Kid Ory, Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet—and mixing it with later artists like Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys and Pete Fountain, they make…
Little Steve-O
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Bistro On Main
1313 W. Main St.
Kent, Ohio 44240
Little Steve-O (Steven V. Fine) is a blues vocalist and songwriter who excels plays harmonica and acoustic guitar. His award-winning Blues Duo “Bongo Joe & Little Steve-O,” made it to the International Blues competition in Memphis, securing a number of top honors. Steve-O performs four to five nights a week…
Wallace Coleman
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Brewhouse Pub
244 N. Water St.
Kent, Ohio 44240
Robert Jr. Lockwood said he would never hire a harmonica player, but then he heard Wallace Coleman play. That about says it all.
Ray Flanagan Trio
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Bricco
210 South Depeyster Street
Kent, OH 44240
Musical chameleon Ray Flanagan can be found delivering his own songs intimately in dynamic solo performances, rocking and rolling with his band The Authorities, or playing sideman to any number of bands and artists around town. To date, he has opened for artists such as Train, Dennis DeYoung, Tim Reynolds,…
Xtra Crispy
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Buffalo Wild Wings
176 E Main St
Kent, OH 44240
Kent blues rockers with a five piece horn section. Powerful horn fueled future blues.
Erin Nicole Neal & The Chill Factors
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Dan Smith Park Stage
E Erie St.
Kent, OH 44240
Eclectic Cleveland band Erin Nicole Neal & The Chill Factors explore Blues, Rock, Pop, Soul, Jazz, Funk, R&B, Gospel, and Reggae. The group, formed in 2015, plays all over Northeast Ohio for private and public events. They play a mix of originals and covers by artists such as Aretha Franklin,…
The Greasy Boys
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Dan Smith Park Stage
E Erie St.
Kent, OH 44240
The Greasy Boys are half blues, half R&B and half improvisational coolness. You get three halves for the price of two, and you will go home a different person. Alternate rainout location is inside Bricco. 210 S. DePeyster St.
Jarred Goldweber and The Park Brothers
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Dominick’s Pub
147 Franklin Ave
Kent, Ohio 44240
These talented and seasoned musicians deliver a show for a new generation. Finalists for best band in the Hot list, they are members of the Chicago, Cleveland, Northeast Ohio and Memphis Blues Societies. They tour extensively along the Blues Highway from Cleveland to the Mississippi Delta, as well as Chicago,…
Stakhouse featuring Max Stak
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Hometown Bank Plaza
203 N Water St
Kent, Ohio 44240
The Cleveland-based rock band, StakHouse, was born out of 13-year-old phenom guitarist Max Stakolich’s house in 2023. A masterful musician in his own rite, Max was the hunt for young talent that could match his own. He recruited from his local School Of Rock and found Eli Berger (drums), a…
WINTRIP Evolution
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Hometown Bank Plaza
203 N Water St
Kent, Ohio 44240
EVOLUTION features hits from The Yardbirds, The Blues Breakers, Cream, Blind Faith, Derek & the Dominos, and Eric Clapton’s solo career. Chris Wintrip – guitar/vocals: Professional guitarist, vocalist, recording artist, and producer. Mr. Wintrip has enjoyed a successful music career performing with Joe Walsh, Frampton’s Camel, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Roger McGuinn,…
Jack DiAlesandro
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Kent Free Library
312 West Main Street
Kent, OH 44240
Taylor Lamborn
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Kent State Hotel & Conference Center
215 S Depeyster St,
Kent, OH 44240
Taylor Lamborn credits her sound to years spent immersing herself in Cleveland’s diverse music scene. Lamborn didn’t begin performing her original material until she was in her twenties, but since then she has been it’s been no looking back. She has released a number of albums and live singles, toured internationally, and…
Bob Frank Blues
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Last Exit Books and Cafe
124 E Main St, Ste 1
Kent, Ohio 44240
A lifelong resident of Cleveland, Bob spent eighteen years as the leader of the Hotfoot Quartet, touring throughout North America and recording several albums. As a sideman he has worked with Robert Lockwood, Wallace Coleman, fiddler Howard Armstrong, the Falls City Ramblers, and British bluesman Long John Baldry. Bob has…
Blues Open Mic
7:00 pm - 9:00 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 blues, be there! Hosted by Ryan Gavalier.
The Jon Mosey Trio
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Laziza
195 East Erie Street
Kent, OH 44240
The Jon Mosey Trio is an all-star original blues/rock band featuring: Jon Mosey, Toussaint “Tb Player” English, and Erik Diaz. Lahdy, lahdy!
Jim Kormanik & Keith Parker
2:00 pm - 4:30 pm
The Loft Tavern
112 W Main Street
Kent, Ohio, 44240
Jim Kormanik (harmonica) and Keith Parker (guitar & vocals) pays homage to many of the artists from the classic blues scene that started in Chicago. The duo also covers the artists who were influenced by the likes of Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Jimmy Reed,…
Tim Matson
5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
The Loft Tavern
112 W Main Street
Kent, Ohio, 44240
Tim Matson has been playing guitar and harmonica as a solo artist and with various bands in Northeast Ohio and beyond for almost fifty years. He has recorded with Wallace Coleman, Becky Boyd, the Mr. Stress Blues Band, Natural Facts and the Supernatural Band. He has released two solo CDs,…
Stamper-Starr
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
The Loft Tavern
112 W Main Street
Kent, Ohio, 44240
Stamper Starr is a Cleveland based music duo that brings you traditional blues with a fresh twist. Natalie and Frankie met in 2018 at a jam night. Since then, they have brought us their unique approach to blues and other styles. Combining Natalie’s powerhouse vocals, Frankie’s commanding guitar style, with…
Little Steve-O & John Markovic
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
North Water Brewing Co.
101 Crain Ave.
Kent, Ohio 44240
Little Steve-O (Steven V. Fine) is a blues vocalist and songwriter who excels plays harmonica and acoustic guitar. His award-winning Blues Duo “Bongo Joe & Little Steve-O,” made it to the International Blues competition in Memphis, securing a number of top honors. John Marković has been playing the Northeast Ohio…
E.T. King & The Determination
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
North Water Brewing Co.
101 Crain Ave.
Kent, Ohio 44240
E.T. King & The Determination has been providing Northeast Ohio with the authentic sounds of Motown, R&B, blues, funk and more for over 25 years! Members: E.T. King – Vocals/Keys Luke Pernici – Guitar Dave McNary – Bass Rob Warth – Drums
Susan Marie Project (SMP)
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
North Water Brewing Co.
101 Crain Ave.
Kent, Ohio 44240
The Susan Marie Project represents a stellar guitarist/vocalist that changes the atmosphere of a room, whether intimate surroundings or a coliseum filled to capacity. Backed by a solid rhythm section, the Susan Marie Project (SMP) generates a unique, ambitious nod to their roots of bluesy rock, funk, folk and dance,…
Sam Hooper Group
9:30 pm - 12:30 am
Panini’s Bar & Grill
295 S Water Street
Kent, Ohio 44240
Sam Hooper is a captivating American musician from Cleveland, Ohio. His alluring blend of blues, rock, jazz and funk has thrilled audiences in China, Switzerland, Finland, Japan and the USA. His soulful vocals have been compared to Otis Redding, while critics have likened his blistering guitar playing to Jimi Hendrix…
Cleveland Fats
12:00 pm - 2:30 pm
The Pub
401 Franklin Avenue,
Kent, OH 44240
Mark “Cleveland Fats” Hahn is a versatile guitarist who possesses a strong reverence for the tradition of blues. As a youngster he started playing the guitar by studying the recordings of such masters as Muddy Waters, The Kings (Albert, B.B., and Freddie), Earl Hooker, and T- Bone Walker. He was…
The Delta Hand
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
The Pub
401 Franklin Avenue,
Kent, OH 44240
The Delta Hand is a northeastern Ohio electric blues ensemble known for their rockin’ performances, warm dynamics, and soul-soothing grooves. Formed in 2023, the six-piece group originated when Steven Brooks (guitar/vocals), Adam Labin (guitar), and Paul Labin (drums/vocals) began attending an Akron-based blues jam. Bill Hodge (bass) and Kaiden Bos,…
The Madison Crawl
6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
The Pub
401 Franklin Avenue,
Kent, OH 44240
Vocals & Upright Bass: Chris ‘Crawl Daddy’ Stovicek; Harmonica: Jason ‘Voodoo’ Walling; Drums: Eric Bam
Gaetano Letizia & The Underworld Blues Band
8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Rays Place
135 Franklin Ave.
Kent, Ohio 44240
Gaetano Letizia & the Underworld Blues Band was formed in 2010 by guitarist/composer Gaetano Letizia to play a style of progressive blues that combines it with funk, rock, jazz and soul. Desiring to stand on the shoulders of the blues greats, the band strives to produce creative, new blues music…
15-60-75 (The Numbers Band)
8:30 pm - 12:00 am
Venice Cafe
163 W. Erie St.
Kent, Ohio 44240
15-60-75 can’t be defined or categorized. Robert Kidney explains: “The music industry, the media, and the ‘tellsusourvision’ (TV) are defining for the American public what is good music by only playing and supporting what is profitable. We are taught to disregard everything that is not familiar. We give the people…
Gene Schwartz & The G-Force
1:00 pm - 3:30 am
Water Street Tavern
132 S. Water St.
Kent, OHIO 44240
Gene “Geno” Schwartz is renowned as a Hall of Fame drag racer and NHRA record holder and as an accomplished bass guitarist. His career spans over five decades of musical prowess. He toured Europe and Japan with Robert Lockwood Jr. and remains active in the local Cleveland music scene. Recently,…
Jon Pyle & Riviera Paradise
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Water Street Tavern
132 S. Water St.
Kent, OHIO 44240
While living and performing in Branson, MO, Jon was chosen to play guitar for Missouri’s first ever All College Jazz Ensemble. While a part of this group Jon led his own jazz trio which entertained Presidents and world leaders including President Clinton (who sat in and played sax), President Bush, Prime Minister…
The Zydeco Kings Duo
4:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Water Street Tavern
132 S. Water St.
Kent, OHIO 44240
The Zydeco Kings are a spicy mixture of old school rhythm & blues infused with the spirit of New Orleans. The duo will be Kevin Okey on guitar & Bob Corlett on keys. They’ll be steeped in gumbo boogie woogie, with a dash of Caribbean soul.
The Bluestones
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Water Street Tavern
132 S. Water St.
Kent, OHIO 44240
Inspired by a dream, the Bluestones were founded over twenty years ago by Jim Fox. Jim continues to manage and lead the band as a vocalist and guitarist. The coining of the name Bluestones came from the combined influences of the Blues Brothers and the Rolling Stones. We are serious…
Armstrong Bearcat
8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Water Street Tavern
132 S. Water St.
Kent, OHIO 44240
Once you experience the searing brand of hard-driving, in-your-face classic rock and blues of Armstrong Bearcat, you will understand their demand. Scene Magazine describes Armstrong Bearcat this way: “With half the musicians but more than twice the talent of the Marshall Tucker Band, The Armstrong Bearcat Band wasted no time…
Robbie Allan and the Loveshack
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Zephyr Pub
106 W Main St.
Kent, Ohio 44240
The Loveshack consists of Robbie Allen, Owen Quinn, and Brandon Lewis. Brandon and Owen have been playing music together since high school. The Loveshack started off as Robbie Allen and a guitar, but after similar life experiences, the stars aligned for all three musicians to create together. Brandon and Owen…
The Buffalo Ryders
9:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Zephyr Pub
106 W Main St.
Kent, Ohio 44240