Joan Osborne “The Songs of Bob Dylan”
Joan Osborne Joan Osborne is a multi-platinum selling recording artist. A native of Kentucky, she moved to NYC to attend NYU Film School, but dropped out after becoming involved in New York’s downtown music scene. Her 1995 album Relish was a critical and commercial success and spawned the international hit single and video “What If God Was One Of Us“. She has traveled the U.S. and the world for over twenty-five years performing in clubs, theaters, arenas and stadiums, with her own band and as a featured vocalist, In 2003 she was part of the reincarnation of The Dead. Later she toured with Phil Lesh & Friends as well a dozens of national and international tours with her band. She was featured in the 2002 documentary film Standing in the Shadows of Motown and toured with Motown sidemen the Funk Brothers. In 2017, Grammy-nominated artist released the critically acclaimed album, Songs of Bob Dylan. Her artistic and soulful reinterpretations of the selection of Dylan songs was an eye-opening moment in an already celebrated career. Eight years after milestone recording, Osborne released the stunning Dylanology Live on April 25th, 2025. The captivating recording finds the gifted vocalist performing in front of a live audience, with special guests Amy Helm, Robert Randolph and Jackie Greene. Songs include “Spanish Harlem Incident”, “Buckets Of Rain” “Masters Of War”, “Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You” and “High Water (For Charley Patton)”. Throughout her three-decade, multi-Grammy nominated career, Joan Osborne has never been an artist confined to one space as she continues to seamlessly blend into any genre. Her incredible and distinctive voice always shines through her own songs, while she has also become one of her generation’s finest interpreters. Dylanology Live is yet another testament to her artistic range.
Vincen Garcia
Hailing from Valencia, Spain, Vincen García has established himself as one of the most prestigious and electrifying bassists on the global jazz and funk scene. With over 14 years of professional experience, Vincen has crafted a signature sound modern, dynamic, and irresistibly gritty that captivates audiences around the world. Born into a family of musicians his mother a vocalist, his father a trumpeter, Vincen was immersed in music from day one. He picked up the bass in high school and, entirely self-taught, honed his craft into the powerhouse performance style he is known for today. Vincen is among the most streamed bassists worldwide, drawing hundreds of thousands of followers and millions of views across platforms. He has become a defining force in modern jazz and funk, performing at legendary stages such as the Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland), North Sea Jazz Festival (Netherlands), and Pori Jazz Festival (Finland). His debut album, Ventura, received critical acclaim and captivated audiences in cities across the globe. In addition to his solo work, Vincen tours with international heavyweights including Cory Wong and Jesús Molina, and has collaborated with artists such as Nuno Bettencourt, Steve Vai, and Eric Gales, further solidifying his status as a global ambassador of modern bass artistry In early 2026, he released his highly anticipated second album, VIVACE, accompanied by a world tour spanning every continent. Undoubtedly, it is one of the funk-jazz albums of the year. With his unique blend of technical mastery, infectious energy, and genre-defining innovation, Vincen García is not just a bassist he is one of Spain’s most influential artists on the international stage, shaping the sound of modern jazz and funk for a new generation More info on Vincen Garcia is available at vincengarcia.com
Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel
Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel Duane Betts ignites and brings an evolution to the Southern rock tradition. With a fiery legacy forged by his father, the legendary Dickey Betts, the second generation musician infuses it with his own soul-stirring blend of blues, raw passion, and six-string mastery. Backed by his band, Palmetto Motel, Betts delivers a dynamic live show filled with searing guitar solos, heartfelt storytelling, and a mix of classic influences with fresh energy. Fans can expect a blend of roots rock, blues, and some improvisational jamming, creating an electrifying yet deeply authentic experience. With top-tier musicianship, a connection to rock ‘n’ roll history, and the desire to make every performance a true experience, a Palmetto Motel show is an unforgettable journey that no music lover should miss. The son of co-founder and guitarist Dickey Betts of The Allman Brothers Band, holding the namesake of the band’s esteemed slide guitarist Duane Alllman, Duane grew up in the music industry. He has led bands like Backbone69 and Whitestarr, before eventually spending a decade playing guitar alongside his father for The Allman Brothers Band. Also planting their roots firmly in southern-rock, Palmetto Motel is known for it’s warm vintage sounding tone, and improvisational spirit. The band features Johnny Stachela driving the group’s sound with melodic vocals and impressive slide work. Anchor the low vocals, Pedro Arevalo brings the bass guitar adding a deep blues feel. Vincent Fosset Jr. seamlessly combines rock, soul, and jazz on the drums, while Max Butler solidifies the classic americana feel with his B-3 organ. For more information on Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel
Back To Black – Music Of Amy Winehouse
Back To Black – The Music Of Amy Winehouse The Kent Stage is happy to announce that Back To Black – The Music Of Amy Winehouse is coming to Kent, Ohio on Wednesday, July 15th at 7:30 P.M. Witness the UK’s premier tribute to Amy Winehouse on this comprehensive journey through the iconic artist’s music and legacy. Brought to you by Reine Beau, an internationally recognized performer and artist from the UK who has taken her interpretation of Amy’s music to three continents with sell outs and standing ovations worldwide. Amy Winehouse captured the world with her unique vocal stylings and unapologetic lyrics combined with a sassy, yet dark brooding personality. This show tells the story of Amy’s love of music and the influences that shaped her own writing and the ongoing legacy that will forever be imprinted on popular culture. Back To Black is brought to you by Night Owl Shows. Night Owl Shows bring you more than just the music with a new take on the tribute genre that has won them international acclaim and over 25 international awards. You won’t just hear the music, but you’ll learn the back story through Reine’s passionate story telling along-side her soulful interpretation and genuine connection to this classic back catalogue.
An Evening with Noel “Paul” Stookey
Noel “Paul” Stookey His performing career began in Birmingham, Michigan, where, as a lover of jazz, pop, and standup comedy, he formed a high-school R & B band called “The Birds of Paradise.” At Michigan State University he was a popular emcee at campus events and in 1959 he heading to New York City. Soon he discovered Greenwich Village, and landed a steady gig as a singer and master of ceremonies at the Gaslight Cafe. It was there he meet Albert Grossman, who was manager at the time of activist Peter Yarrow and was looking for two more singers to complete his vision of a trio. Noel agreed to take on ‘Paul’ as his middle name and ‘Peter, Paul and Mary’ soon became a popular music phenomenon. Releasing their first album in 1962 and with two more hit releases the following year, they energized the folk revival of the 1960s and brought songs of peace and social justice to a whole generation of rock ‘n rollers. Barely two years after their debut performance at the Village’s Bitter End, they were singing in front of the Lincoln Memorial to a crowd of 250,000 people, joining Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the historic March on Washington. When asked in a 2020 interview what his most memorable time was in his five decades with the trio, Noel cited that day in Washington all those years ago. “It awakened me,” he said. “It awakened all of us.” Noel, Peter and Mary became an iconic ‘family’ both on and off stage; the affection between the three of them palpable and present. Performing over 200 concerts a year, they brought both traditional and newly written songs of justice and peace to a global audience. During its now legendary career, the trio won five Grammy’s, produced 13 Top 40 hits, of which 6 ascended into the Top 10 – as well as eight gold and five platinum albums. In 1969, after nearly a decade of constant travel and performing, Noel had an even deeper calling, this one of the spirit, reawakening his Christian faith and shifting his focus from the world stage to matters closer to home. “My perspective on everything changed,” he recalls, “and I am immensely grateful for it.” The following year, the trio began their “seven years off for good behavior,” and he released his first solo album. It included the widely popular “Wedding Song,” penned for the occasion of Peter’s marriage to Marybeth McCarthy. Since 1978, (following PP&M’s reunion concert and nearly 5 decades of trio performances prior to Mary’s death in 2009 and most recently Peter’s passing in January of 2025) Noel’s own songwriting style has addressed world issues straight on: as in “El Salvador” and “In These Times,” and often more intimately, in “Jean Claude,” and “The Connection.” These songs are included in “Just Causes,” his 2020 CD. The 87 year old ‘folkie’ (as he often refers to himself), continues to live in Blue Hill with his wife Betty Bannard Stookey, an ordained Congregational minister, former chaplain and co-creator with Noel of “One Light Many Candles,” a multi-faith presentation of readings and songs. “To sing folk music is, ultimately, to live its ethic,“ Noel has stated often in interviews, “and, whether in the context of my family, Peter, Paul and Mary, the Bodyworks band, or my long and abiding respect for my friends and fellow folkies, I am continually amazed and thankful for all of the often surprising circumstances that continue to make up my life
Michael Martin Murphey
Michael Martin Murphey’s musical journey has taken many unpredictable paths over the past 50 years. Topping the Pop, Country, Western and Bluegrass charts, Murphey has never been one to rest on his laurels. A loyal American son from Texas, Murphey is best known for his chart-topping hits “Wildfire,” Carolina In The Pines,” “What’s Forever For,” “Long Line of Love,” “Geronimo’s Cadillac”, “Cowboy Logic,” and many more across his 35 albums released to date. Murphey’s long-running incarnation as a purveyor of the music, lifestyle, and values of the American West is one of many musical mantles he has worn over the years. To track his career path is to span the country itself, from coming of age in the Texas folk music scene, to Los Angeles to Colorado to Nashville and then back to his native Texas. Murphey’s original songs have been recorded by The Monkees, Kenny Rogers, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John Denver, Hoyt Axton, Johnny Cash, Tracy Byrd, Lyle Lovett, Jerry Jeff Walker, Dolly Parton, Johnny Rivers, Billy Ray Cyrus, and many others. During the early 1970s in Austin, TX along with artists like Jerry Jeff Walker and Gary P. Nunn, Murphey created the “Cosmic Cowboy” movement, which was pivotal in drawing artists like Willie Nelson to the scene and helped birth the “Outlaw” Country movement. In 1972, Murphey signed a major label deal. Discovered by renowned producer Bob Johnston (Simon & Garfunkel, Bob Dylan), Murphey released his pivotal debut, Geronimo’s Cadillac. “On the strength of his first album alone,” proclaimed Rolling StoneMagazine, “Michael Murphey is the best new songwriter in the country.” In 1975 he topped the pop charts with his hit singles, “Wildfire” and “Carolina In the Pines” from the RIAA Certified Gold album Blue Sky -Night Thunder. Then, in the early 1980s, Murphey recorded a watershed country album for Capitol Records produced by Jim Ed Norman. He topped the Country Charts with the “Still Taking Chances” single, which solidified his relationship with country radio as a hit singer-songwriter, and exposed him to an entirely new audience. Twelve years after his first hit in Pop music, Murphey was awarded “Best New Artist” by the Academy of Country Music (beating out George Strait).
An Evening with Richie Furay
After an astonishing 60-year career in music that included pivotal positions in Buffalo Springfield, Poco, the Souther-Hillman-Furay Band, induction in both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Colorado Music Hall of Fame, plus several solo albums, RICHIE FURAY is releasing his newest album, In The Country, where he focuses on his love of country music in a brand new way. Recorded with Grammy-winning producer/engineer Val Garay, who has worked with Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Kim Carnes, and many other iconic artists, it is the kind of collection an artist often waits their entire life to make. Focusing on country songs that Furay has been listening to, some for decades and others more recently, it captures his voice with such incredible depth and beauty that even those who have been long-time fans and followers will be caught with wonder. It is truly an artistic moment of reckoning that can come once in a lifetime. He describes it as an “inner optimism” that really took him into the heart of becoming a professional musician. It has been a career of constant progression and unending achievements. Once Stills and Furay joined with Neil Young, Bruce Palmer, and Dewey Martin, Buffalo Springfield instantly became one of America’s great bands. As they toured and recorded for the next three years, the group solidified their place in the history books. And when Furay left to form Poco with Jim Messina, Rusty Young, Randy Meisner, and George Grantham in 1968, his permanent influence in Country Rock became assured.
əkoostik hookah!
əkoostik hookah əkoostik hookah’s annual fall visit to The Kent Stage – hookah incorporates many genres of music into their own style, from folk to psychedelic rock, bluegrass to blues, extended jams to concise rock-n-roll, əkoostik hookah’s style includes many musical genres for a sound that in the end is distinctly “hookah”. With well over 100 original songs, and a large catalogue of cover songs to choose from, you will never hear the same show twice. The band is known for its live shows and its ability to feed off of the crowd’s energy, using it to fuel the improvised set lists that create unforgettable musical experiences.
Robert Earl Keen – Then & Now tour with Coleman Jennings
No two creative lives unfold the same way, and for Robert Earl Keen, the story was never going to end with a quiet retreat. After decades on the road, with 21 albums, countless shows, songs sung by legends like George Strait and The Highwaymen, and honors ranging from the BMI Troubadour Award to the Texas A&M Distinguished Alumni Award, he might have had every reason to slow down. But Keen has always seen the open road as a beginning, never an end. Rather than closing the book, Keen has turned the page to something vivid, unpredictable, and wide open. A new chapter not so much about winding down as it is about doubling down. And if the last year is any indication, he is just getting started. Keen’s calendar is fuller than ever, and the stages are getting bigger. This year alone, he made his Grand Ole Opry debut, joined Tyler Childers for a sold-out performance at the Hollywood Bowl, and helped his longtime friends Turnpike Troubadours bring the house down at Red Rocks Amphitheater. He continues to headline iconic venues across the country, host his Americana Podcast: The 51st State, write a forthcoming book, and currently working on a new studio album. This creative bloom is not a resurgence, but a renaissance. Keen moves through it with the clarity and confidence of someone who knows exactly what he wants to express, and precisely how to shape it. Long admired for his painterly approach to songwriting, Keen writes with a visual sensitivity that brings scenes and emotions into sharp focus. His songs unfold like carefully rendered portraits or landscapes, each line adding color, texture, and depth. He captures fleeting details—a gesture, a glance, a shift in light—and transforms them into something enduring. His ability to balance specificity with subtlety gives the listener a sense of place and presence. Keen’s songwriting creates a fine line between complex story-telling and audience appeal. Beneath it all is not just momentum, but a quieter, hard-earned joy, a rhythm that comes from moving forward with purpose and the steady confidence of someone who has found his true pace. But even as he looks ahead, Robert Keen keeps his roots close. His Annual Homecoming Weekend—an ever-growing celebration of friends, family, fans, and music—culminates in the free Fan Appreciation Day concert at John T. Floore’s Country Store, a beloved Texas institution. The event reflects Keen’s signature combination of authenticity and altruism, and his enduring connection to the people who have walked alongside him throughout his journey. This year, he also led Applause for the Cause, a major benefit concert raising over three million dollars for flood relief in the Texas Hill Country. It was a testament not just to his influence, but to his commitment to the community that has nurtured him for over two decades. Onstage, Keen and his band are sharper, and more alive than ever, not to prove anything, but to celebrate everything. And every night, one truth becomes unmistakably clear: the road goes on forever, the party never ends, and Robert Earl Keen is still at the center of it all. Coleman Jennings has created a vigorous and distinct sound. Resembling that of traditional outlaw country paired with the upbeat progressions of classic rock, folk, and blues
The James Hunter Six
The James Hunter Six returns with their first album on Easy Eye Sound, delivering another dose of timeless rhythm & soul. British singer, songwriter and GRAMMY-nominated James Hunter has been a legendary fixture in the scene for over three decades with his gritty voice and sharp songwriting earning him acclaim around the world. This new record features a rare duet with longtime collaborator Van Morrison (‘Ain’t That A Trip’), marking a full-circle moment for the artist hailed by MOJO magazine as “The United Kingdom’s Greatest Soul Singer.”Hunter and his six-piece band have toured the world for decades from tiny clubs to large festivals, with Hunter also sharing the stage to support legends including Mavis Staples, Aretha Franklin, BB King, Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, and Van Morrison. Whether belting out up-tempo R&B or crafting candle-lit ballads, James Hunter is a must-see artist who effortlessly draws from the depths of his musical well, leaving audiences captivated and craving more. Set for release January 16th, ‘Off The Fence’ is a landmark album for James Hunter himself for a number of different reasons. In many ways it represents his past, his present and his future. The new album is the perfect amalgam of everything that is great about James Hunter’s songwriting, delivery and outlook. It also marks a fresh start. His first release on Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys) Easy Eye Sound label, 2026 is going to be a big year for Hunter, striking the world with music that matters. Get ready to ride with The James Hunter Six. Socials:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheJamesHunterSixInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jameshuntersix/