The week of May 15 brings us 10 different choices for our open mic entertainment. It doesn’t matter where you live in the Summit/Portage County area, there is an open mic that you can attend. Come out and play or listen to this unique part of the area music scene.
We start off the week Sunday with a new open mic at the Outpost at 4962 state Route 43 in Brimfield. This open mic is hosted by the R & D Duo and will start at 2 p.m. and go until 5:30 p.m. Weather permitting, the Outpost’s new outdoor stage will be used.
In downtown Kent on Sunday, May 15 at the Euro Gyro found at 107 S. Depeyster St. The host is Nick Fleming. The action starts at 8 p.m. This open mic is for stand-up comedy and music (comedy seven minutes and music is three songs). There will be plenty of food, and drink is available. Always a great night of music and laughs.
On Monday, another new open mic will be taking place in the Highland Square area of Akron at The Matinee on 812 W. Market St. This open mic is hosted by Bert Stevens at will start 7:30 p.m. with signups beginning at 7 p.m.
Also on Monday, May 16 come on out to downtown Ravenna for the open mic at the Tavern 1888 located at 105 W. Main St. This week’s guest host is none other than the award winning Jesse Carter. Great food, drink and music will be on the menu on Monday night.
On Tuesday, travel a little bit to the west to Akron (1947 W. Market St.) for the open mic night at the Mercedes Tavern hosted by John Markovich. This event begins at 7 p.m. with signups at 6:30 p.m. Great atmosphere with good music and friends to meet or make.
On Wednesday travel to 3609 Houston Road in Norton. for the open mic at Houston Pub with your host Vince Paparella. Open mic from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. and then an open acoustic jam until 11 p.m.
Also, on Wednesday, May 18, travel to the historic Jilly’s at 111 N. Main St. in Akron. This open mic is hosted by Jen Mauer and Mike Lenz. Make plans for this once a month open mic.
On Thursday at the Divine Restaurant found at 2752 Hudson Dr., Cuyahoga Falls is an open mic hosted by Landon Kearns. The fun starts at 8 p.m. Food, spirits and music are all available. Please check this one out.
Also on Thursday, at 584 W. Tuscarawas St. in Barberton. Open mic night at the Kave Coffee Bar, where it is youth and novice friendly. Your hosts are Christopher Haught and Hansen Risley. The open mic starts at 6:30 p.m. and goes until 8:30 p.m.
Finally, on Friday travel out to beautiful downtown Cuyahoga Falls at 2704 Front St. for the Andrew Shepherd hosted open mic at the Silver Swan Tavern. Open mic starts at 8 p.m.
Host Spotlight
The R &D Duo is the combination of talents between Richard Weiner and Doug Bender.
Weiner is a retired trial attorney and Kent State paralegal law professor who could read music before he could read English. He’s an old NYC punk who brings punk sensibilities into acoustic blues guitar. The “Poppo” moniker is what his two grandchildren call him. If you’re not one of his grandchildren, go ahead and call him Richard.
Bender began exploring his musical curiosity by picking up his brother’s bass guitar back in 1969 and played along to Jimmy Hendrix and Cream albums. He decided to learn how to play six string guitar and took guitar lessons for a couple of years at Staff Music in Ellet in the early 70’s. His love of bass led him to play the bass for several oldies rock bands for about 15 years in the ’90s and 2000s.
Doug honed his bass playing skills by being the house bass player for the Barmacy open mic jam band. In 2017 Doug and Richard “Poppo” Weiner formed the R & D Duo. In 2019 Doug retired as an IT Systems Support Analyst.
Please join our Facebook group, Portage/Summit County Area Open Mics for all the upcoming open mics in the area.
