The Kent American Roots festival presented by Wayside Furniture returns on Friday, April 26 with a fantastic line-up of artists. It’s all free, due to the support of our patrons and sponsors.
Featuring Performances By
Bill Poston - Bonnis and The King - Colin John & Long Tall Deb - Cory Grinder and the Playboy Scouts - Country Honk - Crooked River Stompers - Flat Earth Ramblers - Guy Pernetti - Hiram Rapids Stumblers - Hunter Skeens and The Forerunners - Jon Mosey - Maura Rogers & The Bellows - Mother Ale Lite - Punching Oswald - Randy Horvath - Rubber City Rednecks - Sugar Mules - The Applewhites - The Shootouts - The Whiskey Drinks - Thorne Musica - Whiskey Throttle - Wishgarden
Schedule of Events:
Mother Ale Lite
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
101 Bottles Of Beer On The Wall
115 North Willow St.
Kent, OH 44240
Mother Ale plays classic rock, pop, southern rock, and country. Perfect for bars, parties, patios and parties. We are a Four Piece Electric Band featuring two and three part harmonies. We also play as an acoustic act for unplugged gigs.
Hunter Skeens and The Forerunners
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Barflyy
100 E Erie St.
Kent, Ohio 44240
Hunter Skeens and The Forerunners bring their unique style of traditional and “grassed-up“ roots.
Bonnis and The King
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
The Battleground Taproom & Mexican Kitchen
425 Cherry Street
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!
Thorne Musica
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Belleria Pizza & Italian Restaurant
135 East Erie Street
Suite 202
Kent, OH 44240
The duo of Caroline King & Paul Kovac performs traditional European instrumental music.
Sugar Mules
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Bell Tower Brewing Co.
310 Park Ave
Kent, Ohio 44240
Cleveland, OH-based and Cleveland-loyal, Sugar Mules have got Lake Erie water pumping through their veins. Strike a match–they dare ya… Eric Mule – lead guitar, songs and singing Jamie Mule – Dobro, songs and singing Govinda Mule – Bass, songs and singing Wyatt Mule – Fiddle, songs and singing Chris…
Randy Horvath
7:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Bricco
210 South Depeyster Street
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
Wishgarden
6:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Buffalo Wild Wings
176 E Main St
Kent, OH 44240
Wishgarden is a Northeast Ohio indie rock band that connects with audiences through feel-good rock & americana music genres. They apply their own upbeat vibe to their original songs and updated versions of the music of Van Morrison, Johnny Cash, Jimmy Buffet, John Prine, Beatles, Neil Diamond and Cat Stevens,…
Punching Oswald
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Dominick’s Pub
147 Franklin Ave
Kent, Ohio 44240
Guy Pernetti
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Kent Free Library
312 West Main Street
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…
The Shootouts
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Kent Stage
175 E. Main Street
Kent, OH 44240
2023 was a banner year for The Shootouts. Their album “Stampede” dropped on February 24, 2023 and was named by Saving Country Music as one of the most ANTICIPATED ALBUMS OF 2023. The band was also named one of Nashville Scene’s Country Music Almanac 2023 ARTISTS TO WATCH. Since then,…
Maura Rogers & The Bellows
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Kent State University Hotel & Conference Center
215 S. Depeyster Street
Kent, Ohio 44240
The passionate vocals and prolific songwriting of Maura Rogers are supported by lush harmonies, a dynamic rhythm section, and intricate arrangements with driving accordion and guitar leads. Expect energy and emotion, walk away with something profound. Americana, with tasteful bits of folk and classic rock. The Bellows are Meredith Pangrace…
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.
Colin John & Long Tall Deb
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
The Loft Tavern
112 W Main Street
Kent, Ohio, 44240
“This is what Jimi Hendrix might have sounded like had he abandoned the rat race, moved to Hawaii, taken up surfing and let the sun and waves bestow their laid-back highs.” -Michael Molenda, Guitar Player Magazine
Crooked River Stompers
5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
North Water Brewing Co.
101 Crain Ave.
Kent, Ohio 44240
The Crooked River Stompers perform old time rags, blues, medicine show, and jump jazz tunes, as well as other esoterica.
The Whiskey Drinks
8:30 PM - 11:00 PM
North Water Brewing Co.
101 Crain Ave.
Kent, Ohio 44240
Like any skillfully-crafted cocktail, The Whiskey Drinks is a band made of high-quality components whose recipe comes together to make something greater than the sum of their parts. Featuring well-seasoned jam, bluegrass, and folk musicians from the Cleveland area, the noted instrumental skill, stage presence, and musical intensity of The…
Rubber City Rednecks
8:30 PM - 11:30 PM
Panini’s Bar & Grill
295 S Water Street
Kent, Ohio 44240
Bill Poston
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
The Pub
401 Franklin Avenue,
Kent, OH 44240
Just a man and his guitar performing Traditional Country Music, Americana, and more.
Hiram Rapids Stumblers
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
The Pub
401 Franklin Avenue,
Kent, OH 44240
The last 100 years of American music are dripping from their whiskey flavored flannels….
Flat Earth Ramblers
8:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Rays Place
135 Franklin Ave.
Kent, Ohio 44240
Where the hippies meet the cowboys, in the early 70’s Austin tradition. Images of beer soaked bar stools, and empty Lone Star beer cans litter the horizon of burnt memories and a forgotten music genre…
Cory Grinder and the Playboy Scouts
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Venice Cafe
163 W. Erie St.
Kent, Ohio 44240
Cory Grinder and the Playboy Scouts, a 2023 nominee for Ameripolitan Honky Tonk Band of the Year, more than exemplify their Playboy Scout oath of “On my honor I will do my duty to Two Step Dancers and Honky Tonkers everywhere.” The band, who play original country tunes inspired by…
Whiskey Throttle
9:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Water Street Tavern
132 S. Water St.
Kent, OHIO 44240
Whiskey Throttle is a country band from Cleveland, Ohio, bringing country favorites such as George Strait, Hank Williams and Johnny Cash to you with classic twang and stomp you know and love, with their own mood and hype to boot. This band features two fantastic hype men out front, and…
Country Honk
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Zephyr Pub
106 W Main St.
Kent, Ohio 44240
Country Honk is a talented four-piece band hailing from Cleveland, OH. The band has been making waves in the Ohio music scene with their unique blend of traditional country and Country-Rock. Drawing inspiration from classic artists such as Hank Williams, Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, and Willie Nelson, Country Honk infuses…
The Applewhites
9:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Zephyr Pub
106 W Main St.
Kent, Ohio 44240
