Schedule
Jim Dotson and Joey Pinkl
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
101 Bottles Of Beer On The Wall
115 North Willow St.
Kent, OH 44240
Steve Roberts
8:00 pm - 10:00 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!”
Rockside Band
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Barflyy
100 E Erie St.
Kent, Ohio 44240
Liz Bullock
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
The Battleground Taproom and Mexican Kitchen
425 Cherry Street
Kent, Ohio 44240
Formed in 2017, Liz Bullock and The Tremonts is a Cleveland-based band that covers a range of genres with the bulk of their material being Blues and Soul based. One of the youngest additions to Cleveland’s Blues scene, this group plays classics from Etta James to Thundercat. Old and new…
Bent String
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Belleria Pizza & Italian Restaurant
135 East Erie Street
Suite 202
Kent, OH 44240
Bent String performs a mix of early American roots music, including early jazz, acoustic blues, and originals . The quartet centers on the vocals of Kari Ann Rutushin and underpinned with the feel of jazz age swing. With Reed Simon’s hot violin, Kevin Richards on acoustic guitars and Cleveland Blues…
Blues Deville
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Bell Tower Brewing Co.
310 Park Ave
Kent, Ohio 44240
Memphis Cradle
7:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Bell Tower Brewing Co.
310 Park Ave
Kent, Ohio 44240
Memphis Cradle has always been about the blues. Whether you like your blues hard and hot or soft and cool, Memphis Cradle’s versatility allows the listeners to enjoy all aspects of the genre with both their original compositions and covers.
High Temperature – The Wallace Coleman Band
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Brewhouse Pub
244 N. Water St.
Kent, Ohio 44240
Wallace Coleman is still recovering from a recent case of shingles, and is making excellent progress. He thought he would be good to go for the Kent Blues Fest but he still needs more time to heal. The good news is that Wallace’s fine group of backing musicians – dubbed…
Susan Marie Project (SMP)
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Bricco
210 South Depeyster Street
Kent, OH 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,…
Backstreet Blues Band
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Buffalo Wild Wings
176 E Main St
Kent, OH 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…
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.
Apostle Jones
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Dominick’s Pub
147 Franklin Ave
Kent, Ohio 44240
“Formed in late 2018, the eclectic band has spent the last few years setting stages ablaze, thanks to an energetic live show rooted in soul- and blues-in-fused rock’n’roll sounds.” – Cleveland Magazine
Taylor Lamborn
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Hometown Bank Plaza
203 N Water St
Kent, Ohio 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…
Clapton Tribute: 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,…
Ty’s Tunes
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Kent Free Library
312 West Main Street
Kent, OH 44240
Tyrone Hornbuckle has been playing on stage since he was 13 years old. He plays Classic Rock, Blues, Southern Rock and Originals.
Max Stak & The Rizztones
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Kent State Hotel & Conference Center
215 S Depeyster St,
Kent, OH 44240
Blues Open Mic with 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 blues, be there! Hosted by Ryan Gavalier.
Dale Galgozy
8:00 pm - 10:00 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.
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!
Roger Hoover
2:00 pm - 4:30 pm
The Loft Tavern
112 W Main Street
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.
Kristine Jackson
5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
The Loft Tavern
112 W Main Street
Kent, Ohio, 44240
Since 2004 Jackson has performed her original material with a consistent schedule that takes her all across the country. From house concerts to festivals Jackson is the original package… the guitar, the voice, the stories. KJ says “As a kid I dealt with abuse and in many ways music saved…
Conway Brothers
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
The Loft Tavern
112 W Main Street
Kent, Ohio, 44240
Immersed from birth in a ridiculously diverse array of rhythm & blues, jazz, funk, soul, and rock, Corey Conway, an Akron, OH native, has recently established himself as one of the most exciting and tasteful multi instrumentalists in Northeast Ohio. With influences that span the entire musical spectrum, Conway’s singular…
Little Steve-O Blues Duo
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. Steve-O performs four to five nights a week…
Frankie Starr feat. Natalie Stamper
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
North Water Brewing Co.
101 Crain Ave.
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…
Johnson Walker Blues Band
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
North Water Brewing Co.
101 Crain Ave.
Kent, Ohio 44240
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 - 3:00 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…
BC Hudson & Sonny Leach
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
The Pub
401 Franklin Avenue,
Kent, OH 44240
Ten years ago, BC & Sonny met at a jam night in Cleveland. From there they went on to become part of the Skip Werke Band playing honky tonk blues and blues rock. BC has played in the Kent Blues Fest for five years, first with the 9 Volt Hot…
Danny Christian
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
The Pub
401 Franklin Avenue,
Kent, OH 44240
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…
Austin Walkin’ Cane
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Taco Tanto’s
123 Franklin Avenue
Kent, OH 44240
Veteran Northeast Ohio performer Austin Walkin’ Cane calls his music “Damn Fine Blues.” He plays original and classic Blues featuring his superb slide guitar and soulful vocals. Cane offers a Blues gumbo repertoire that can conjure up the ghosts of Highway 61 and the Delta blues experience. He has toured…
Mike Lenz
6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Tree City Coffee & Pastry
135 East Erie St.
Kent, OH 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…
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…
Redhouse Band with Denzonrocks
12:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Water Street Tavern
132 S. Water St.
Kent, OHIO 44240
E.T. King & The Determination
2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Water Street Tavern
132 S. Water St.
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
The Zydeco Kings Duo
4:30 pm - 6:30 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.
Armstrong Bearcat
7:00 pm - 10:00 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…
The Bluestones
8:00 pm - 11:00 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…
The Buffalo Ryders
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Zephyr Pub
106 W Main St.
Kent, Ohio 44240
Feckweed
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Zephyr Pub
106 W Main St.
Kent, Ohio 44240
Robbie Allan and the Loveshack
9:00 pm - 10:00 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…