The Setlist: Portage County live music for Aug. 19-25

- Mike D

Hey Folks,

I hope you all are getting ready for the 2026-2027 school year. Summer is once again slowly moving to the rearview mirror of 2026.

As fall approaches, outdoor shows/concerts are starting to dwindle. But there still is time to enjoy a few more before the leaves begin to fall and the cold north winds start to blow.

The weather looks to be quite nice this coming week, with highs in the mid to upper 70’s through next week. Perfect temps to enjoy a few more outdoor shows this summer. 

 Here is the Setlist for August 19-25. Hope to see you out and about!

Mike D


AURORA

Orchid House Winery 155 Treat Road

  • Aug. 25: Dave Hermes


MANTUA


Los Venados 11697 Route 44

  •     Aug. 21: Two Kings Duo

NELSON

Nelson Ledges Quarry Park 12001 Route 282

  • Aug. 21-23: 90’s Fest 2026 (Flannel, Fuzz, Grunge, Alt-Rock, Nu-Metal). Click on link for details.

GARRETTSVILLE

Garrettsville Farmers Market 8119 Main Street 

  • Aug 20: Dexter 4-7 p.m.

STREETSBORO

Wild Eagle Steak & Saloon 9470 Route 14

  • Aug 22: Higher (tribute to Creed) 9-midnight

FREEDOM

Time Out Sports Bar & Grill 7160 Route 303

  • Aug. 22: Jukebox Junkies 8 p.m.-midnight

ROOTSTOWN

Dusty Armadillo 3147 Route 44

  • Aug. 23: Sunday Funday concert featuring Dustin Kines on the patio stage from 3-5 p.m. No ticket required.

KENT

Gigi’s Restorante & Market 210 S. Depeyster St.

  • Aug. 20: Art Michaud 6-9 p.m.

Water Street Tavern 132 South Water Street:

  • Aug. 21: John Doe 6-9 p.m.

The Kent Stage 175 E. Main Street Only purchase tickets through kentstage.org or at Box Office on West Main Street. Alternative ticket vendors may be overpriced and/or invalid.

  • Aug 22: Ghalia Volt & Kent Burnside 7:30 p.m. Doors open 6:30 p.m.
  • Aug. 23: Garrison Keillor 7 p.m. Doors open 6 p.m.
  • Aug. 24: The Wallflowers–Bringing Down the Horse: 30th anniversary tour with special guest Tyler Ramsey 7:30 p.m. Doors open 6:30 p.m.

Haymaker Farmers’ Market on Franklin Ave, just north of the Summit Street intersection. 

  • Aug 22: Celtic Rush 10 a.m.-noon

RAVENNA

TAVS Bar & Grill 106 E. Main St.

  • Aug. 22: Matt Coates 7-10

The Portage County Randolph Fair opens Aug. 25. Look out for daily live music:

Aug. 25:

  • 6 p.m. The Waterloo High School Marching Band just inside the Main Gate.
  • 7:30 p.m. Doug Kaufman Band Corner Stage

Open mics are an excellent way for aspiring musicians to gauge their progress as stage performers. Open mics also provide a great networking tool for current musicians who may need a temporary or permanent new band member for the projects they are involved in.

Here is a listing for open mics/open jams for the week of Aug. 19-25:


KENT

Aug 23: EuroGyro 107 S. Depeyster St., Kent. Host: Nick Fleming. 8-11 p.m. (330) 678-4976

Aug. 25: Kent Lanes: The 11th Frame 1524 S. Water St., Kent Host: Jesse Carter. 7-9 p.m. 330-673-1448

Aug. 26: Venice Cafe 163 Franklin Ave. Hosts: BC Hudson, Jesse Carter. Open Mic/Jam. 7:30-10 p.m. 

Aug. 26: Bell Tower Brewing Co. 310 Park Ave. Open Blues Jam. Host: Cleveland Blues Society. 6:30-9 p.m.


RAVENNA

Aug. 27: Tavs 106 E. Main St. Host: Jesse Carter. 7-9 p.m. 

CUYAHOGA FALLS

Aug. 23: Bailey Road Tavern 2920 Bailey Road. Acoustic open mic. All skill levels welcome. Host: Wendy Darling. 7-10 p.m.

Aug. 26: Divine Food & Spirits 2752 Hudson Drive, Cuyahoga Falls. Host: Kevin Brosein. 7-9 p.m. Signups start at 6:30. 234-334-4400 OPEN WEDNESDAY 4 p.m.

Aug. 26: Chestnut Beer Garden 503 Chestnut Blvd. Pickin’ Wednesdays: Bluegrass jam/open mic. Banjos, mandolins, guitars welcome 6-9 p.m.

Get The Portager for free

Join over 7,000 people reading our free email to find out what's going on in Portage County.

Three issues per week
Be the first to know about new tax levies, community events, construction projects and more.
100% local
We only cover Portage County. No distracting national politics or clickbait headlines.
Opinion

Op-ed: One meal. One child. One family at a time

By Op-Ed Contributor

2026 has been a challenging and difficult year for a lot of families in Portage County, with many living paycheck to paycheck, barely keeping up with the rising cost of, well, everything. But even in these trying times, it is important – and perhaps necessary – to celebrate some of the good that is happening, too.