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.
Dark Side of The Moon
Beyond a tribute, Dark Side of the Moon is a testimonial to the unique music of Pink Floyd and the emotions they stir. Dark Side of the Moon recreates, to a higher degree, the mystic and terrestrial sounds of the phenomenon that is Pink Floyd. We offer a pleasant distraction from the mundane. Enjoy a pleasant encounter with those sights and sounds, while Dark Side of the Moon emulates the magical and emotional experiences that Pink Floyd created for so many years. Close your eyes; it’s like being there again. Let Dark Side of the Moon reawaken your authentic concert experience or create a new one.
AUGUSTANA
Dan Layus, the creative force behind Augustana, is a Platinum-selling American pop-rock artist celebrated for chart-topping hits like “Boston,” “Sweet and Low,” “Fire,” and “Steal Your Heart.” As a seasoned touring musician, Layus has shared the stage with iconic acts such as OneRepublic, Maroon 5, Owl City, and Counting Crows, among many others. In addition to his pop-rock success, Layus recently collaborated with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, composing original classical pieces and arranging Augustana’s songs for a string quartet. For his highly anticipated 2025 Midwest summer tour, Layus has assembled his world-class band again to perform a host of Augustana classics.
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. Palmetto Motel is… Johnny Stachela (guitar, vocals) Pedro Arevalo (bass, vocals) Vincent Fossett Jr. (drums) Max Butler (B-3 organ)
Donnie Iris & The Cruisers – King Cool is Back!
King Cool is Back – Fresh from his 82nd birthday party with Special Guest drummers;Joe Vitale and Joe Vitale Jr. Donnie Iris Donnie Iris found his early successes while performing with The Jaggerz ” The Rapper” and Wild Cherry. While with Wild Cherry in the late 70’s Donnie Iris found his identity as such, after performing under his birth name Dominic Lerace for the earlier part of his career. Struggling to build off the success of “Play that Funky Music”, Wild Cherry would break up in 1979. Nevertheless, Iris had already sunk his teeth into another project with fellow bandmate Mark Avsec. Their first release saw the disco-influenced single “Bring on the Eighties” in 1979; however, it failed to garner attention. Iris and Avsec decided to go in a harder direction for their next release and returned to the studio with guitarist Marty Lee, bassist Albritton McClain and drummer Kevin Valentine, who were in the band Breathless with Avsec, to record his first album. This line-up would form what would become – Donnie Iris and the Cruisers. They released the first album in July of 1980, “Back on The Streets” through Midwest Records based out of Cleveland, Ohio. Thanks to the track “Ah! Leah!” receiving airplay in Boston, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh, MCA Records signed Iris to a five-album deal then re-releasing the album nationally. Since then, Donnie Iris & The Cruisers have gone through line-up changes including current bassist, Paul Goll. They continue on – releasing eleven studio albums, two live albums, two compilation albums. and continue to tour throughout Pennsylvania and Ohio. Joe Vitale Born in Canton, Ohio, Vitale is a veteran musician and drummer whose career has spanned over 55 years of touring, recording, song writing, and producing with legendary and Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame artists. Along with vocals, he also plays percussion, keyboards and flute. A dedicated professional, his quality of performance is evident in his resume. He has recorded and toured with Buffalo Springfield, Ted Nugent, Joe Walsh, Dan Fogelberg, Peter Frampton, The Eagles, Crosby, Stills and Nash, and CSNY to name a few. In addition, he recorded with Rick Derringer, Ringo Starr, John Lennon, Keith Richards, Bill Wyman, Ronnie Wood, Van Morrison, Carl Wilson, Don Felder, Boz Scaggs, John Entwhistle and many others. Joe Vitale Jr. Music is in his blood. Maybe literally. This multi-instrumentalist is the son of legendary rock drummer Joe Vitale, and spent his early years cutting his teeth on the road with Joe Walsh, The Stephen Stills Blues Band, and Crosby, Stills and Nash. The revolution is expanding… His award-winning, self-directed video for “Never Look Back” has over 300-thousand YouTube views. Ravenwood / Joe Vitale Jr. is currently touring and working on a follow-up album.
Jethro Tull’s Martin Barre – Tull Unplugged Tour
Join Martin Barre for an intimate evening of acoustic music and anecdotes, as he is joined on stage with Dan Crisp and Alan Thomson. Martin presents a personal and thoughtfully curated show highlighting his favourite Tull moments, both musically and narratively. Engaging the audience in a special and intimate evening of acoustic playing and story telling. On the night enjoy a mix of Tull, Martin’s solo material plus a few surprises woven in along the way as the audience is invited to be part of the show with Martin opening the floor to questions. This intimate show will be a closeup experience with Martin, Dan and Alan that fans will love to experience. Expect acoustic guitars and basses, mandolins and flutes, all put together in a totally exclusive and unique performance with an addition of good humour! Not just a band unplugged, but a brand new show.
POSTPONED** Gangstagrass
Gangstagrass Comes to Northeast Ohio! A true example of the belief that we are better together, Gangstagrass combines great American traditions of bluegrass, hip-hop, and beyond to create a whole new musical genre that is more than the sum of its parts. Gangstagrass is a multi-racial collective of musicians who demolish every preconception you have about country music and hip-hop music. These string pickers and MCs create a shared cultural space for dialogue and connection between folks that usually never intersect. The boundaries are gone and Gangstagrass is out there doing things nobody thought would work but when you hear it you know, down in your soul, that it does work. Gangstagrass is here to help us party together with an irresistible blend of America’s rural and urban music traditions. Integrating banjo and fiddle with hip-hop beats and rapping may be something Gangstagrass does for the love of the music, but it has led them to face a history of racialized genres and deeply ingrained sense of cultural incompatibility. Creating music that turns what some would consider opposite musical styles into a rollicking party that suddenly makes sense, they found a byproduct of their disregard for traditional sense of genre was that they got people who normally would consider themselves to have nothing in common dancing to the same beat. Forget everything you thought you knew about our cultural divisions: when Gangstagrass starts playing, those preconceptions are relegated to the dustbin of history. Banjo and fiddle seamlessly meet verbal acrobatics from skilled MCs. High lonesome harmonies flow over block-rockin’ beats. “There are a lot more people out there with Jay-Z and Johnny Cash on their playlists than you think,” says Gangstagrass Mastermind Rench, who had previously made a name for himself as an in-demand Brooklyn country and hip-hop producer and singer/songwriter. He should know – he’s toured the country and abroad with a band of bluegrass pickers and hip-hop MCs to the delight of standing-room crowds everywhere. Initially known for the Emmy-nominated theme song to the hit FX Network show “Justified”, the band has become a formidable force in live performance, touring extensively in the USA, Canada, and Europe. When the band’s fifth studio album No Time For Enemies was released in 2020, Americana Highways proclaimed Gangstagrass “America’s Band” because they take so much of what’s amazing about this country — the ingenuity, creativity, the strength and struggles of such different people to forge a path into the unknown — and distill it into a message of common ground and unity across differences. The album quickly rose to #1 on the Billboard bluegrass chart, the first time in history that hip-hop MCs achieved that top spot. More recently, between appearances on America’s Got Talent and PBS’s The Caverns Sessions that made everyone’s highlights list, and a glowing full-page article in the New York Times print edition headlined “This Is the Music America Needs,” the band is geared up to get us all dancing on common ground for their national and international tours.