Sam Bush
GRAMMY Award-winning multi-instrumentalist & King of Newgrass, Sam Bush. Bush and his Alliance mates – Walker, Courtney Johnson, and Curtis Burch – formed the New Grass Revival, issuing the band’s debut, New Grass Revival. Walker left soon after, replaced temporarily by Butch Robins, with the quartet solidifying around the arrival of bassist John Cowan. “There were already people who had deviated from Bill Monroe’s style of bluegrass,” Bush explains. “If anything, we were reviving a newgrass style that had already been started. Our kind of music tended to come from the idea of long jams and rock-&-roll songs.” Shunned by some traditionalists, New Grass Revival played bluegrass fests slotted in late-night sets for the “long-hairs and hippies.” Quickly becoming a favorite of rock audiences, they garnered the attention of Leon Russell, one of the era’s most popular artists. Russell hired New Grass as his supporting act on a massive tour in 1973 that put the band nightly in front of tens of thousands. A three-record contract with Capitol Records and a conscious turn to the country market took the Revival to new commercial heights. Bush survived a life-threatening bout with cancer, and returned to the group that’d become more popular than ever. They released chart-climbing singles, made videos, earned Grammy nominations, and, at their zenith, called it quits. “We were on the verge of getting bigger,” recalls Bush. “Or maybe we’d gone as far as we could. I’d spent 18 years in a four-piece partnership. I needed a break. But, I appreciated the 18 years we had.” Bush worked the next five years with Emmylou Harris’ Nash Ramblers, then a stint with Lyle Lovett. He took home three-straight IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year awards, 1990-92 (and a fourth in 2007). In 1995 he reunited with Fleck, now a burgeoning superstar, and toured with the Flecktones, reigniting his penchant for improvisation. Then, finally, after a quarter-century of making music with New Grass Revival and collaborating with other bands, Sam Bush went solo. He’s released seven albums and a live DVD over the past two decades. In 2009, the Americana Music Association awarded Bush the Lifetime Achievement Award for Instrumentalist. Punch Brothers, Steep Canyon Rangers, and Greensky Bluegrass are just a few present-day bluegrass vanguards among so many musicians he’s influenced. His performances are annual highlights of the festival circuit, with Bush’s joyous perennial appearances at the town’s famed bluegrass fest earning him the title, “King of Telluride.” “With this band I have now I am free to try anything. Looking back at the last 50 years of playing newgrass, with the elements of jazz improvisation and rock&roll, jamming, playing with New Grass Revival, Leon, and Emmylou; it’s a culmination of all of that,” says Bush. “I can unapologetically stand onstage and feel I’m representing those songs well.” There’s no more exciting or excitable a picker in acoustic music than Sam Bush.” NO DEPRESSION “When they wanted to, the musicians could pour on the razzle-dazzle, with Mr. Bush zooming around the mandolin fretboard…” THE NEW YORK TIMES “His legacy is secure in the history of our music.” BLUEGRASS TODAY “Bush helped bring bluegrass kicking and screaming into the modern world with long solos, longer hair and a repertoire which drew from outside its usual country, blues and folk roots.” DECIDER
The Ark Band – The Ark Band’s last concert of 2025!
THE ARK BAND LAST CONCERT OF 2025!!!! THE ARK BAND was founded in St. Lucia in 1987 by The St. Lucian Riddim Twins, Terry and Eustace Bobb. Based in Columbus, OH, The Ark Band has continually shared their distinct style of Roots Reggae, Calypso, and Soca music across the United States, Canada, and the Carribbean. Combining heavenly harmonies with tight, crisp, performances, this powerhouse of talent captures audiences with the very first note. Their honed setlist combines originals with classic and current hits curated to entertain, educate and enlighten all people. THE ARK BAND continues to be a force expressing the love, peace, togetherness and spirituality so desperately needed in our world today! Doors & Box Office will open at 6:30!7:30 show!Advance Tickets – $15 Date of Show – $20Tickets are available at kentstage.org
The Lone Bellow with sg: William Matheny
THE LONE BELLOW The Lone Bellow’s upcoming sixth album, “What A Time To Be Alive” captures the band’s signature harmonies and heartfelt storytelling while boldly stepping into new sonic territory with their full touring ensemble. With their upcoming sixth studio album, “What A Time To Be Alive” , The Lone Bellow embarkson a bold new chapter while honoring the deep bonds that have defined their journey. Writtencollaboratively for the first time with their full touring band—founding members Zach Williams,Brian Elmquist, and Kanene Pipkin joined by drummer Julian Dorio and multi-instrumentalistTyler Geertsma—the album channels the raw, ecstatic energy of the band’s live show into adynamic collection of songs that pulse with warmth, honesty, and human connection. Recorded live in Muscle Shoals, AL, after a writing retreat in a converted Kentucky firehouse,the album is both a celebration and a reckoning: of friendship, loss, love, and resilience. Fromthe gritty, Stones-tinged opener “After The Rain” to the soul-stirring closer “What A Time To BeAlive,” the record captures the joy and vulnerability that have long defined The Lone Bellow’ssound—lush harmonies, heartfelt lyrics, and genre-blurring arrangements steeped in folk, rock,and gospel. The album’s creation was marked by setbacks, including the theft of early recordings, but theoutpouring of support from their fanbase reaffirmed what the band has always known: theirmusic is a shared experience. That spirit echoes throughout the album, whether in anthems like “Common Folk” and “I’m Here For You,” or in intimate reflections like “You Were Leaving” and “Night Goes Black.”Since their acclaimed 2013 debut, The Lone Bellow has appeared on The Tonight Show, Austin City Limits, and The Late Show, topped Americana charts, and headlined storied venues from Carnegie Hall to the Ryman Auditorium. But with their next album, they reaffirm their commitment not just to making music, but to building community—on stage, in song, and around the table.The Lone Bellow Pre-Show Experience One (1) Reserved Seat Meet & Greet with The Lone Bellow and photo opportunity Exclusive pre-show trio performance from the band Limited edition VIP poster Commemorative VIP laminate and lanyard Merch shopping before doors open to the public Early entry into the venue
Irish Christmas in America
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS of bringing Irish spirit to the holidays! The hugely popular Holiday show Irish Christmas in America returns in 2025, bringing a fascinating performance of music, song, dance and stories of seasonal Irish traditions. Produced by Sligo fiddler Oisín Mac Diarmada, this year’s show features an incredible line-up of talented artists including Cathy Jordan (vocals, bodhrán), Gráinne Hambly (Irish harp, concertina), Caoimhín Ó Fearghaíl (uilleann pipes, flute), Samantha Harvey (piano, dance) and Jack Warnock (guitar, vocals). Exceptional Irish music, song and dance combined with evocative photographic images, provide the perfect backdrop to a heartwarming celebration of the Christmas traditions of Ireland. The holiday show was first conceived in 2005 with past tours featuring such stellar guest vocalists as Caitríona Sherlock, Niamh Farrell, Séamus & Méabh Begley, Teresa Horgan, Lumiere (Pauline Scanlon & Eilis Kennedy), Karan Casey, Cara Dillon, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Cathie Ryan and Michael Londra. Performance highlights from 2005 – 2024 include Cerritos Performing Arts Center – Los Angeles, National Geographic Live – Washington DC, Fox Theater, Tucson, The Egg – Albany, Annenberg Center – Philadelphia, Kimo Theater – Albuquerque, The Classic Center – Athens, Stephens Performing Arts Center – Pocatello ID. Take a memorable glimpse into the enchanting spirit of Christmas, as the finest traditional artists from Ireland bring you on a fun-filled start to the holiday season of 2025.
The English Beat & The TwistOffs!
The English Beat is a band with an energetic mix of musical styles and a sound like no other. The band’s unique sound has allowed it to endure for nearly four decades and appeal to fans, young and old, all over the world. When The English Beat (known as The Beat in their native England) rushed on to the music scene in 1979, it was a time of massive social and political unrest and economic and musical upheaval. This set the stage for a period of unbridled musical creativity, and thanks in large part to the Punk movement and it’s DIY approach to making music, artists like The Beat were able to speak out and speak their mind on the news of the day, as in “Stand Down Margaret”, things that mattered to them and the youth culture, as in “Get A Job”, and universal matters of the heart and soul, as in their classic hits “I Confess” and “Save It For Later”. The Beat first came to prominence as founding members of the British Two Tone Ska movement, with their classic first album “Just Can’t Stop It” fitting squarely in that genre. Along with their contemporaries The Specials, The Selecter, and Madness, the band became an overnight sensation and one of the most popular and influential bands of that movement. However, band leader Dave Wakeling never felt constrained by the movement. The band crossed over fluidly between soul, reggae, pop and punk, and from these disparate pieces they created an infectious dance rhythm. The band’s sound continued to evolve over their three studio albums, through the General Public era (a band formed by Dave with The Beat’s toaster, Ranking Roger), and it has continued its evolution with the forthcoming English Beat album “Here We Go Love”, a PledgeMusic crowd-funded album set for a 2016 release, the band’s first new album since 1982’s “Special Beat Service”. Consummate showman that he is, Dave Wakeling continues to keep The Beat alive and strong, touring the world as The English Beat with an amazing all-star ska backing band playing all the hits of The Beat, General Public, and songs from his new album “Here We Go Love”. You just can’t stop The English Beat!
Eric Gales
Eric Gales is a blues firebrand. Over 30 years and 18 albums, his passion for the music and his boundless desire to keep it vital has never waned, even when his own light dimmed due to his substance struggles. Throughout it all, he continued to reinvigorate the art form with personal revelation in his lyrics and bold stylistic twists in his guitar playing and songwriting. Five years sober, creatively rejuvenated, and sagely insightful, Eric is ready for the fight of his career. Aptly, he calls his masterful new album, out January 2022 on Provogue/Mascot label Group, Crown. Here, Eric opens like never before, sharing his struggles with substance abuse, his hopes about a new era of sobriety and unbridled creativity, and his personal reflections on racism. The songs are delivered with clarity and feature Eric’s personal experiences and hope for positive change. In addition, the 16-track collection boasts his finest singing, songwriting, and his signature guitar playing that burns throughout. Produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, this is Eric at his most boldly vulnerable, uncompromisingly political, and unflinchingly confident.
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. .
The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band plus Armstrong Bearcat Band
Known as “one of the greatest porch bands in the world”, they are led by Reverend Peyton, who in his own right, may be the world’s premiere finger picking style player. Determined to be a source for that rootsy, country blues style that captured his imagination as a kid, Rev. Peyton and his band took to Mississippi to train under the likes of T-Model Ford, Robert Belfour, and David “Honeyboy” Edwards. That training has shown to have succeeded with their last record Dance Songs for Hard Times found itself at #1 on the Billboard, Itunes, and Sirius XM Blues charts. The record produced by GRAMMY winner Vance Powell, was critically acclaimed by Rolling Stone, Relix, Popmatters, Guitar World, American Songwriter, No Depression, Glide, Wide Open Country, Paste, American Blues Scene and many more! Their new record “Honeysuckle” is a collaboration between Peyton and Powell. With Peyton recording and producing the record, while Powell had his hand in mixing it. The record features many special guests, including gospel music group The McCrary Sisters on the song “Manger,” Blues Music Hall of Famer and Grammy-nominated harmonica player Billy Branch who plays on the Blind Lemon Jefferson song “Nell (Prison Cell Blues),” Grammy award-winning and IBMA’s 10-time Fiddle Player of the Year Michael Cleveland plays on “Freeborn Man” and Colton Crawford from The Dead South plays banjo on “The Good Die Young.” Armstrong Bearcat Band to open! 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 tearing it up with their hard-driving instrumental version of Steve Ray Vaughan’s “Love-Struck.” The amazing Butch Armstrong played a Gibson double-neck the entire set, and made it obvious from the start that he tells that guitar what to do. “They Call Me Mr. Clean Head,” a slow blues, featured the prettiest/meanest guitar solo I have heard in a long time. The bass was almost too heavy during Robert Johnson’s “Crossroads,” and no one else could have pulled it off, much less made it dangerously close to perfect the way Stutz Bearcat did. I found myself wondering, ‘My God, what is his thumb made of ?’! I could write volumes about why I liked these guys so much, but simply speaking, while I was taking notes during the band’s original “Roadhouse Jam,” the guy standing next to me in the crowd leaned over and yelled, ‘Quote me: ‘they’re f**king good!’ And he was right. I could have listened to this band all night.
Sam Grisman Project
Sam Grisman is a bass player, music appreciator, and bandleader who grew up in Mill Valley, California in a home where some of the great acoustic music of our time was being recorded on a regular basis. His father, legendary mandolinist, composer, and producer, David Grisman, was constantly having friends come over to his home studio for recording sessions and rehearsals. These friends, such as Doc Watson, Jerry Garcia, John Hartford, Mike Seeger, and Tony Rice all left an impression on the younger Grisman and inspired him to pursue a life making music with his many talented friends. Sam Grisman Project was created to shed light on the music that Sam grew up around, and highlight that music’s influence on the members of the collective and in the greater music community. The band’s shows create a safe space where the band and audience can bask in the shared love and reverence for the great music and musicians who continue to inspire us all. The friends who make up Sam Grisman Project are a rotating cadre of acousticians who are some of the brightest individual voices on their respective instruments. Members of this rotating cast of instrumental wizards include guitarists Max Flansburg, Logan Ledger, Sam Leslie, Henry Moser, Jesse Harper, and Jefferson Hamer, mandolinists Dominick Leslie, Joe K. Walsh, Matt Flinner, and Jesse Appelman, clawhammer banjo maestro Victor Furtado, fiddlers John Mailander, Alex Hargreaves, Nate Leath, Shad Cobb, and Phoebe Hunt, cellist Nat Smith, and Todd Livingston on the Dobro. The band also frequently collaborates with legendary singer, songwriter, and bluegrass pioneer Peter Rowan, a deeply meaningful connection for Sam and the band tying directly back to his father David Grisman and the Old and In the Way legacy. Over the years Sam Grisman Project has been joined by a wide range of spontaneous and exciting guests including David Grisman, John Sebastian, Tim O’Brien, Billy Strings, Maria Muldaur, Margo Price, and many more. This ever evolving collective of exceptional humans who happen to be incredible musicians is a testament to the abundance of joy, and wealth of experiences that growing up around this timeless music has brought into the younger Grisman’s life. Sam Grisman Project is committed to putting their love, gratitude, and individuality into the music that they share on stage each night, and to participating in the community effort of preserving, expanding, and appreciating great American acoustic music. To preserve the sonic integrity of their instruments and voices, SGP plays acoustic music into condenser microphones. The sound on stage is fully acoustic and sensitive, so we kindly ask that you save conversations for before and after the show or during the set break. Thanks for coming and thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the music.
Sister Sadie
Sister Sadie brings their All Will Be Well Tour To The Kent Stage February 20th, 2026 The Kent Stage is excited to welcome Sister Sadie for a stop along their All Will Be Well Tour in early 2026. The show is set to take place on Friday, February 20th at 7:30 P.M. Titled after their latest album, All Will Be Well, the show is all about Sister Sadie telling their truth – loud, fearless, and free. Expect the typical remnants of bluegrass, but with a much more raw and captivating country Americana feel with gospel grit and storytelling. Formed just over a decade ago at a Nashville Station Inn’s jam session in 2012, Sister Sadie has quickly risen to be one of the top groups in bluegrass, and don’t you dare label them all-female. It has never been about that label for Sister Sadie, it’s about the music, and in their case, that speaks for itself. The accolades have piled up for Sister Sadie, with 4 studio albums already, 2 Grammy nominations, and multiple IBMA wins. On top of becoming a Grand Ole Opry starring force, the band earned IBMA Vocal Group of The Year 3 years in a row from 2019-2021, while also taking home 2020’s IBMA Entertainer of The Year award. Sister Sadie’s Links: Website: https://www.sistersadieband.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sistersadieband Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sistersadiemusic/?hl=en Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWukLKbou-V4x0IXXhIPAWA TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sistersadiemusic X: https://twitter.com/sistersadieband?lang=mr