Schedule
Bands and venues are being finalized for this upcoming event. Stay tuned!
Bob Frank Blues
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
101 Bottles Of Beer On The Wall
115 North Willow St.
Kent, OH 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…
Stakhouse featuring Max Stak
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Barflyy
100 E Erie St.
Kent, Ohio 44240
StakHouse is a Cleveland-based rock band delivering a powerful mix of classic rock, blues, and improvisational jam music. Featuring Max Stakolich (guitar), Riley Perry (vocals/keyboards), Danny McDonald (bass), and Eli Berger (drums), the band brings youthful energy and seasoned musicianship to every stage. Known for electrifying live performances, StakHouse puts its own spin on rock classics while showcasing original…
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 Cleveland venues and international airwaves for 8 years and counting with their hard-driving Slide Guitar and Amplified Harmonica sound, contest of Buddy “the Guy” Collura and Harpman Brantt Hamilton. Joe Mazz on bass and Hank Hess on drums. Their original songs are getting…
Guy Pernetti
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Belleria Pizza & Italian Restaurant
135 East Erie Street
Suite 202
Kent, OH 44240
Guy Pernetti is a solo contemporary American guitarist and singer-songwriter with a rich history. He has earned a reputation for his clean and beautiful guitar work, along with exciting compositions and unique vocal interpretations. A seasoned multi-instrumentalist, Pernetti is known for his wide variety of styles, and his expertise on…
BC Hudson & Sonny Leach
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Bell Tower Brewing Co.
310 Park Ave
Kent, Ohio 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…
Blues Deville
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Bell Tower Brewing Co.
310 Park Ave
Kent, Ohio 44240
Dynamo Love
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Blind Squirrel Pub
802 N Mantua St
Kent, Ohio 44240
A modern and progressive blues-rock band with an eclectic sound spanning many genres
The Wallace Coleman Band
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Brewhouse Pub
244 N. Water St.
Kent, Ohio 44240
Wallace Coleman’s Blues roots run deep and wide. He began touring throughout the United States in the 80’s, European tours began in 2002, followed by extensive touring in South America’s Brazil with some memorable recording sessions. In 2026, Wallace was featured on the cover of Living Blues Magazine. Wallace Coleman’s…
The Blue Drivers
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Buffalo Wild Wings
176 E Main St
Kent, OH 44240
Including veterans of such legendary Cleveland-area bands as Tiny Alice, Wild Horses, Baskerville Hounds, the Blue Drivers feature blues standards by artists like Muddy Waters, Junior Wells, and Little Walter, swinging jump blues by Louis Jordan and Tiny Bradshaw and Louis Prima, jazz tunes by Mose Allison and Billie Holiday,…
Erin & 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.
Castles and Airships
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Dominick’s Pub
147 Franklin Ave
Kent, Ohio 44240
Artist information coming soon.
Art Michaud
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Gigi’s Italian Restaurant
210 S Depeyster St,
Kent, OH 44240
Born in Fall River Mass. Art is an accomplished musician who is driven by an incredible passion for self-expression. With over 30 plus years of musical experience One-Man-Band/vocalist utilizing both acoustic and electric guitars, guitar synthesizer, bass pedals, and drum machine and vocal harmonizer for background vocals (Everything is LIVE).…
Dave Terry
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Kent Free Library
312 West Main Street
Kent, OH 44240
A fun and engaging solo performing the great music of the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s and ’90s. Songs by the Beatles, Stones, Clapton, Petty, Springsteen, Lightfoot, Eagles, Adam’s, Stapleton, Aerosmith Journey and more.
Like Flinn
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Kent State Hotel & Conference Center
215 S Depeyster St,
Kent, OH 44240
Becky Flinn is a Canton-based singer and entertainer performing in area musical groups and theatre. She covers a variety of music that spans across many different eras and genres including hits from the 60s, 70s, 80s, and more. Becky’s lively energy and smooth vocals will leave you thoroughly entertained and…
Tim Matson
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Last Exit Books and Cafe
124 E Main St, Ste 1
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,…
Rachel Brown
2:00 pm - 4:30 pm
The Loft Tavern
112 W Main Street
Kent, Ohio, 44240
Rachel Brown is a singer-songwriter and pianist whose soulful, multi-octave voice brings to life a rich blend of Americana, country, jazz, blues, and gospel influences. Best known as the frontwoman of Rachel Brown and the Beatnik Playboys, she has earned a reputation as one of Northeast Ohio’s most captivating performers,…
Ray Flanagan Trio
5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
The Loft Tavern
112 W Main Street
Kent, Ohio, 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,…
Steve Roberts
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
North Water Brewing Co.
101 Crain Ave.
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!”
The Applewhites
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
North Water Brewing Co.
101 Crain Ave.
Kent, Ohio 44240
Hailing from Kent, Ohio, The Applewhites (Alternative Rock band) was formed in 2021 by Cory DiDonato (Drummer) and Jacob Hill (Lead Vocalist/Guitar). Quickly joined by Kyle Galloway (Lead Guitar), Jesse Britt (Bass), and Austin Brown (Organ/Vocals), the band solidified their blend of 60’s/70’s inspired Rock ‘n’ Roll. In 2023, they…
Taylor Lamborn
8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
The Nut House
295 S Water 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…
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…
The Delta Hand
4:00 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 Brown Liquor Band
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
The Pub
401 Franklin Avenue,
Kent, OH 44240
Amber sounds with hints of vanilla and honey, The Brown Liquor Band brings their authentic and unique brand of “Brown Liquor Music” to every stage. Originally formed in 2017, BLB released their debut album “#BrownLiquorMusic” in 2021 and has since released “Small Batch EP” (2023), “Live at the Jenks” (2024)…
Gaetano’s Underworld Blues Band
7:00 pm - 10:00 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…
Gil Stomatori del Cuyahoga
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Sonny & Olive’s
425 Cherry Street
Kent, Ohio 44240
Gil Stomatori del Cuyahoga (The Crooked River Stompers) perform old time rags, blues, medicine show, and jump jazz tunes, as well as other esoterica.
15-60-75 (The Numbers Band)
7:30 pm - 11:30 pm
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…
Stamper-Starr
1:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Water Street Tavern
132 S. Water St.
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…
JJ Vicars & The Desiatos
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Water Street Tavern
132 S. Water St.
Kent, OHIO 44240
J.J. Vicars tore outta the Sci-Fi Diner in a ’58 Caddillac with mounted steerhorns and backward flames, cranking out Hard Driving Blues, Boogie & Rock ‘n’ Roll complemented by smoky after-hours vibes and irreverent humor, his snarling guitar and gruff vocals tying it all together. Born into a musical family,…
The Alan Greene Band
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Water Street Tavern
132 S. Water St.
Kent, OHIO 44240
Cleveland-based guitarist Alan Greene is a veteran of the Northeast Ohio Blues who has entertained audiences for decades. He has played with major artists including Humble Pie, Michael Stanley, Donnie Iris, and Pere Ubu. Greene’s favorite local artists include the James Gang, the late Glenn Schwartz (a Kent Blues Fest veteran), Mr. Stress Blues Band,…
Conway Brothers
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Water Street Tavern
132 S. Water St.
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…
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…
Xtra Crispy
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Zephyr Pub
106 W Main St.
Kent, Ohio 44240
Kent blues rockers with a five piece horn section. Powerful horn fueled future blues.
The Buffalo Ryders
9:30 pm - 11:30 pm
Zephyr Pub
106 W Main St.
Kent, Ohio 44240