Michael Martin Murphey – 50th Anniversary of Wildfire
Join us at The Kent Stage on June 15 , as Michael Martin Murphey takes the stage to celebrate a monumental milestone in his career—the 50th anniversary of his classic million selling Pop-Country song, “Wildfire”. The worldwide success of “Wildfire” and his 4th album “Blue Sky Night Thunder” led Michael Martin Murphey on a journey as a singer-songwriter through multiple genres of music- pop, country, western, bluegrass, folk and jazz. The Wildfire Anniversary concert will feature other selections from Blue Sky Night Thunder such as “Carolina in the Pines” and “Desert Rat”; but will also include songs from award-winning albums COWBOY SONGS (“Cowboy Logic”), MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY (“What’s Forever For”), and BUCKAROO BLUE GRASS (“Jesse James Trilogy”) Whether you’ve followed him from the very beginning or are discovering his music for the first time, this concert is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It’s a celebration of music, life, and legacy, honoring an artist whose career has touched the hearts of millions. Get your tickets @ www.kentstage.org and help us celebrate 50 years of “Wildfire” with Michael Martin Murphey! Released in 1975, Michael Martin Murphey’s “Wildfire” became one of his most significant hits. The lead single from Blue Sky Night Thunder, it reached No. 1 on the Billboard Pop Adult Contemporary chart. Wildfire’s cultural impact endures, frequently appearing on classic radio and in country compilations.
Matteo Mancuso
Matteo Mancuso, born in 1996 and raised in the province of Palermo. A musical prodigy from an early age, Matteo’s introduction to the world of music was guided by his father, Vincenzo Mancuso, a well-known guitarist and producer in the industry, serving as both mentor and master during his formative years. Teaming up with his father, Matteo made waves in Sicily’s jazz scene, participating in local festivals at just 11 years old. The duo later explored a diverse repertoire, spanning from Django Reinhardt to contemporary jazz. As a teenager, Matteo pursued his passion by enrolling in a music high school, specializing in classical guitar. Post-high school Diploma, he founded the Snips trio, gaining widespread acclaim for their fusion take on classic standards, including his first viral YouTube video “The Chicken” In 2017, Matteo’s talent was recognized at the Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia, where he secured a scholarship to the esteemed Berklee College Of Music in Boston. With Snips, he continued to make waves, performing at renowned events such as the Musikmesse 2017 in Frankfurt, Les Nuits De La Guitare in Corsica, and Umbria Jazz 2018. As a collaborator with Yamaha Guitars, Matteo showcased his expertise at NAMM 2019 in Los Angeles and participated as a judge at the “Young Guitar Festival” in Bangkok. 2019 also marked his venture into Russia, conducting masterclasses in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Perm. In 2020, Matteo founded a new trio, featuring Stefano India on bass and Giuseppe Bruno on drums, showcasing his compositional prowess with original compositions. The following year, he embarked on a successful tour across Italy, gracing stages from Festivalle in Agrigento to the Blue Note in Milan. Between studio work and continued composition, Matteo solidified his position as a rising star in the music scene. The year 2022 saw Matteo’s European tour, including appearances at the International Festival in Bremen and Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome. In June, following the Jazz guitar graduation with honors and the highest distinction at the Conservatory of Palermo, he resumed touring, sharing the stage with Al Di Meola during the Eddie Lang Jazz Festival. In August 2023 he was also invited by the legendary PFM as a guest for their new live album “ The event ” which was recorded at the Lugano Estival Jazz. September brought an appearance on Stefano Bollani’s “Via dei Matti n°0 ” show, followed by shows at the Jazz Festival in Uppsala, Sweden, and opening the Jazz Festival in Spoleto on October 21. The momentum continued into 2023, with a special invitation from Tommy Emmanuel to join him on stage at the “Teatro Golden” in Palermo. May marked the kickoff of the summer tour, featuring previews of songs from Matteo’s eagerly anticipated debut solo album. On July 21, “The Journey” was released, capturing the essence of his diverse musical influences. It narrates the musical journey of a young artist absorbing, interpreting, and expressing his passion for music. The album pays homage to his roots, influential artists, and genres that have left a mark on his musical identity. September introduced a new chapter in Matteo’s musical journey, featuring a revamped lineup with Riccardo Oliva on bass and keyboards and Gianluca Pellerito on drums. Matteo’s YouTube channel is followed by over 180,000 international subscribers. Renowned musicians, including Dweezil Zappa, Joe Bonamassa, Eric Johnson, Al Di Meola, and Steve Vai, have praised Matteo’s talents, hailing him as the “evolution of fusion guitar”.
Steve Earle – 50 Years of Songs and Stories – Solo & Acoustic
About Steve Earle: Steve Earle is one of the most acclaimed singer-songwriters of his generation. A protege of legendary songwriters Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark, he quickly became a master storyteller in his own right, with his songs being recorded by Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Joan Baez, Emmylou Harris, The Pretenders, and countless others. 1986 saw the release of his record, Guitar Town, which shot to number one on the country charts and is now regarded as a classic of the Americana genre. Most recently, Earle’s 1988 hit Copperhead Road was made an official state song of Tennessee in 2023. Subsequent releases like The Revolution Starts…Now (2004), Washington Square Serenade (2007), and TOWNES (2009) received consecutive GRAMMY® Awards. Jerry Jeff, released in 2022, consisted of Earle’s versions of songs written by Jerry Jeff Walker, one of his mentors. Earle has published both a novel I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2011) and Dog House Roses, a collection of short stories (Houghton Mifflin 2003). Earle produced albums for other artists such as Joan Baez (Day After Tomorrow) and Lucinda Williams (Car Wheels on A Gravel Road) As an actor, Earle has appeared in several films and had recurring roles in the HBO series The Wire and Tremé. In 2009, Earle appeared in the off-Broadway play Samara, for which he also wrote a score that The New York Times described as “exquisitely subliminal.” Earle wrote music for and appeared in Coal Country, for which he was nominated for a Drama Desk Award. Earle is the host of the weekly show Hard Core Troubadour on Sirius Radio’s Outlaw Country channel. In 2020, Earle was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. And in 2023, Steve was honored by the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music. Steve’s latest album, “Alone Again (Live)”, released on July 12th, 2024.
Magpie: Terry Leonino & Greg Artzner w/ special guest Rolly Brown – Songs from the end the war movement & May 4th 1970.
From their beginnings in Kent, Ohio in 1973, for more than 51 years together now, Greg Artzner & Terry Leonino, known as the duo Magpie, have raised their voices to celebrate, inform and support struggles for a better world. Their music is a powerful force, uplifting and inspiring, always drawing on the historical roots that have nourished their artistic collaboration. From demonstrations in the streets of Washington, DC to schools to universities to festival and concert stages, their audiences have responded time and time again to their strong harmonies and the timeless message in their songs: that together we can break the barriers that separate us and build bridges of understanding, justice and peace. Originally from Canton, Ohio, Greg began to be inspired by the songs of the Civil Rights movement when his father joined that movement with the Urban League, fighting the “defacto” segregation afflicting northern cities. A lot of the popular music in the early sixties year were powerful folk songs that took aim at social injustices, and popular in the Artzner house. Greg, inspired by the likes of Harry Belafonte, Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Phil Ochs, Peter, Paul & Mary and many others, was soon performing songs of justice, freedom, against the war in Vietnam and songs of peace. Terry grew up in Cuyahoga Falls, but spent the summers throughout the 50s and 60s visiting relatives in Mississippi and Arkansas seeing southern racism “up close and personal.” She was in Grenada when Martin Luther King, Jr. led the March Against Fear through that small city. Her southern relatives were very musical and Terry grew up singing with them. On her father’s side, Terry was inspired by the union movement and music heard there as her father joined the organizing of the rubber workers in Akron. It was here that she first heard the songs of Joe Hill sung by Joe Glazer, known as “Labor’s Troubadour,” who later became her mentor and friend. In May of 1970, Terry was a student protester at Kent State when authorities engaged in extrajudicial execution on the campus there. On Monday the 4th she was a witness to the massacre of peaceful antiwar demonstrators. Kent was followed 10 days later by the shooting and killing of students in Mississippi at Jackson State, in the “backyard” of her southern family. These experiences along with the inspiration of the music of that era, have imbued Terry’s and Greg’s music with a sense of urgency as well as historical perspective. For this 55th anniversary commemoration of the killings at Kent State, Terry and Greg return to their roots for a special concert at The Kent Stage. The show will feature many of the most powerful songs from the late 1960s, songs that cried out for peace and justice and an end to the war. They will also sing some of their own songs about those times, songs depicting and expressing the tragedy, rage, and ultimate determination rooted in those experiences. For this special appearance, Greg and Terry will be joined by their long-time friend and legendary guitarist, originally from Kent, Rolly Brown, who was also a witness to the events at Kent State in May of 1970.
The Wailers
THE WAILERS The Wailers emerged as a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae band noted for songs such as “Simmer Down”, “Trenchtown Rock”, “Nice Time”, “War”, “Stir It Up” and “Get Up, Stand Up”. The founding members, in 1963, were Bob Marley (Robert Nesta Marley), Peter Tosh (Hubert Winston McIntosh), and Bunny Wailer (Neville Livingston). In May 1970, the band recorded with renowned reggae producer Leslie Kong; producing The Best of the Wailers, which they released later in 1971 as their fourth album. Over the rest of 1970 and 1971, the band worked with Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, producing the bands second and third albums, Soul Rebels (1970) and Soul Revolution Part II (1971). During this time, the Upsetters members Aston “Family Man” Barrett (bass) and his brother Carlton Barrett (drums) were recruited as instrumental backing for The Wailers. They released four albums before signing to Island Records in 1972. Two more albums were created before Tosh and Wailer left the band in 1974, citing grievances over label treatment and ideological differences. Marley carried on with a new line-up, including the I-Threes that put out seven more albums. After the death of Bob Marley in 1981, the Wailers continued, led by Aston Barret. The band continued to play a heavy worldwide touring schedule, and recorded with several singers. Carlton “Carly” Barrett, 36, was murdered at his Jamaica home in 1987. In 1989, Aston Barrett released the album I.D., and continued using the Wailers name when collaborating with other artists. Under the guidance of Aston Barrett Jr, son of the legendary “Familyman”, The Wailers continue to preserve the legacy of their iconic sound. Their culture-defining music, embodying the spirit of the 70s reggae movement, has left an indelible mark on the industry. In 2017, Aston Barrett Jr. received a Grammy certificate as co-producer with Damian Marley for the track The Struggle Discontinues, featured in the Album “Stony Hill” which won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album. Aston Barrett Jr. is a co-owner of BAD Lions Productions, LLC. who operates a studio in Pompano Beach, Florida. He can be heard playing guitar, drums, bass, and organ for Stephen Marley, Junior Reed, Julian Marley, Kwame Bediaco, Aka Beka, Jessee Royale, Reggae Force, and many more. His sponsors include Rupert Neve (whose pro audio gear is heard on every album he has played on and every live Wailers show), as well as Fender, Mannabasso, Black Lion Audio, and Pigtronics. In 2020, The Wailers made a comeback with their new album, “One World,” produced by Emilio Estefan. The first single, “One World, One Prayer”, is a powerful anthem for unity, love, and inclusivity, and features a blend of Jamaican reggae and urban Latin music. The track includes international sensation Farruko, Jamaican icon Shaggy, and members of the Marley family, including Cedella and Skip Marley.The Wailers’ long-awaited album, “One World”, earned a 2021 Grammy® nomination for Best Reggae Album, marking the band’s first recording in 25 years. In 2022, The Wailers welcomed a new vocalist, Mitchell Brunings, adding even more dynamic energy to their already electrifying live shows. Brunings is a talented vocalist who has made a name for himself with his soulful voice and powerful stage presence.The Wailers continue to captivate audiences with their unique brand of reggae, blending the sounds of the past with a fresh, contemporary flair. Brunning’s addition to the band has been widely praised by fans and music critics alike, solidifying The Wailers’ status as one of the most exciting live acts in the world.
H.R. of Bad Brains plus Land of Panda
HR of Bad BrainsHR is best known as the front man for the iconic punk band Bad Brains. HR and his brother, Earl, together with friends Gary “Dr. Know” Miller and Darryl Jenifer, began as Mind Power, a jazz fusion band, then formed Bad Brains in 1977. With unprecedented speed and precision, Bad Brains took the Washington, DC music scene by storm and quickly became the most influential band in American punk history. They created music that was about closing the racial divide and maintaining a positive mental attitude (PMA). This concept of PMA continues to inspire fans to this day. Early in his career, HR became interested in reggae and the Rastafarian movement. These pursuits transformed him and he began to focus more on the spiritual nature of reggae than the fast lifestyle of the punk scene. Together with Al “Judah” Walker, he formed the short-lived group called Zion Train. He then moved on and formed Human Rights with his brother in 1984.
Harvest – Ultimate Neil Young Tribute
Harvest celebrates the timeless songwriting, electric jams and acoustic artistry of classic-era Neil Young. The band performs 2 long sets of classic Neil Young, from the dynamic vocal harmony and harmonica-driven acoustic stunners to the sizzling extended electric jams & stompers – covering Neil’s career from Buffalo Springfield, CSNY, solo and with Crazy Horse, thru to Harvest Moon.Since 1987, founders Jim Tigue & Eroc Sosinski have been performing Neil Young music for fans all across the Midwest, in the bands Harvest and Tie-Dye Harvest and as the Jim & Eroc Duo, and formed the popular Pink Floyd tribute Wish You Were Here. Members Peter Telari (also of WYWH), Keith Chelm & Tim Hamman are also veteran NEOhio musicians.For 3 years in a row since 2022, Jim & Eroc have been chosen to perform as part of the official May 4th Commemoration Ceremony at Kent State University. In 2022 Harvest also performed as part of the Kent State Music Festival, an on-campus Commemoration Week event leading up to May 4th ceremony. The band is honored to be commemorating the Neil Young/CSNY/“Ohio” connection at the venerable Kent Stage this coming May 4th weekend. .
Jimmie Vaughan & The Tilt-A-Whirl Band
When it comes to the blues today, there are a handful of guiding lights to make sure the music stays true to its history. For Jimmie Vaughan, he’s dedicated his life to making sure the blues not only stays alive, but remains full of life and an inspiration to all who listen. It’s a spirit he holds close to him, and for almost 60 years, Vaughan isn’t about to stop now. As a bandleader, singer and guitarist, the four time Grammy Award winner, Jimmie Vaughan is a master of how everything is captured for posterity. “Playing what you feel has always been my main goal,” Vaughan says. Considering the Texas guitarist and singer has had the kind of career that makes him a living legacy, those are no idle words. His first group when he was 13 years old played Dallas’ Hob Nob Lounge six nights a week, learning the kind of lessons that can’t be taught, they have to be lived. Getting the chance to open for Jimi Hendrix when he was 16 years old along with being heavily influenced by B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Albert King, Freddie King and so many more, convinced the young Vaughan it was time to find a way to play the music he felt the strongest about: the blues. That took him to hitchhiking to Austin in the early 70’s and carving out a new crew of blues players who shared his musical excitement. He formed The Fabulous Thunderbirds and their debut album “Girls Go Wild” on Takoma Records was released in 1979. After worldwide success with The Fabulous Thunderbirds during the 80’s, it came time to leave the band and build his own path in exploring different approaches to the blues. He and his brother Stevie Ray Vaughan collaborated and released “Family Style” to great acclaim and recognition in the music industry. He then released his first solo album on Epic Records in the early 90’s and what Vaughan discovered was that he could take it anywhere; there were no boundaries. “I wanted to find out what I could really do,” he says, “and when I started singing it gave me a whole new side to explore. When I was young I didn’t really pay much attention to categories of music. I just heard what I liked and decided to explore that and that’s really what I‘m still doing.” Jimmie is continuing his love affair with and staying spiritually connected to the American music he loves.
California Dreams
An immersive trip through California in the late 60’s, early 70’s when a collective of musical legends changed the world. Hits by The Mamas and The Papas, Eagles, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Linda Ronstatd, Jackson Brown, The Byrds, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and many more. Brought to you by Dan Clews & Phoebe Katis. Dan has been seen performing The Royal Albert Hall and was championed by Sir George Martin who described Dan as “Too great a talent to ignore.” Phoebe, a UK artist now based in NYC who has collaborative credits with Grammy nominated Cory Wong, Grammy Winning Mr Talkbox, Scary Pockets, Dave Koz, Sam Greenfield and many more. Produced by award-winning group Night Owl Shows who have garnered critical acclaim with converted performances Edinburgh Fringe (Scotland), Perth Fringe (Australia), Brighton Fringe (England) Adelaide Fringe (Australia) and Bear Valley Music Festival (California) as well as numerous tours throughout the UK and US. Since its inception Night Owl shows has picked up a staggering 26 awards at afore mentioned international festivals as well as selling out over 200 shows and over and over 150,000 ticket sales since 2017.
The Baldassarre Orchestra presents Classic Rock Rewind
Led by award winning guitarist/composer Carl Baldassarre and his scintillating rock band, this TBO concert will leave you wanting more. This show will be a night to be remembered beginning with the first set featuring incredible renditions of some of the most iconic classic rock songs from the Moody Blues, Beatles, Rolling Stones, James Gang, Alice Cooper and more. The second set is a rare chance to see Led Zeppelin aficionado Carl Baldassarre present rock orchestra arrangements of some of Led Zeppelin’s most legendary tracks including some deep cuts. If you’ve never seen TBO, you must come and experience this exhilarating fusion of rock power and symphonic grandeur. An Ohio native, Baldassarre (pronounced bal-dah-Sar) found early success as the guitarist for the rock band Abraxas and the internationally recognized progressive rock group Syzygy. Over his storied career, he has worked with a diverse array of legendary musicians from both the classical music and rock worlds, including the London symphonic chamber orchestra, members of Tower of Power, Tears for Fears, Genesis, Chicago, and many more. Baldassarre studied composition at the Cleveland Institute of Music and is a product of both the Cleveland Music School Settlement and John Carroll University. For more information go to carlbaldassarremusic.com and be sure to visit Carl’s YouTube channel where he has garnered over 5 million views as The Professor of Classic Rock.