Ah, that wonderful warm weather that we have all been waiting for is finally here in Northeast Ohio. Along with baseball, cookouts, camping trips, and swimming holes, it brings with it the classic outdoor music season.

There’s nothing better than a warm summer evening, a blanket to sit on, and listening to your favorite band as the sun sets, marking the end of a beautiful summer day. 

Well, that's what we all hope for, but here in Northeast Ohio, sometimes the weather doesn’t always cooperate like we wish it would. To be honest, as a musician, outdoor gigs can be met with a degree of trepidation. As the show approaches, we watch the weather like a new mother would, anticipating a child's first day school riding the bus. Rain can wreak havoc on an outdoor show, and being prepared can make quite a difference in the final outcome.

Water and electrical equipment obviously don’t work well together— I have watched as a friend’s new keyboard got soaked to the point that water was dripping out through the vents in the bottom. (And after properly drying out, it amazingly emerged unscathed)! I have scrambled to grab a tarp as rain drops started to fall, and I have watched as my volume pedal sat on the stage with puddles of water approaching it, hoping for the best. 

So next time you are out enjoying a summer concert on a beautiful evening, please remember to be thankful for mother nature’s cooperation that night.

The Setlist is transitioning to a weekly feature you’ll see every Wednesday. If you are a musician with a gig planned in Portage County, please let me know at miked@theportager.com. I’ll need the information by the Monday before the gig. Also, if you own or manage a venue that I haven’t included in Setlist, please let me know.

You can catch me playing at the Kent Heritage Fest on July 3rd with Guy Pernetti & The Flat Earth Ramblers on the Dan Smith Stage from 5:00 - 7:00. I hope to see you there. 

Aurora

July 4 City of Aurora Independence Day Concert
Moonshine Grove 7-9 p.m. @ Kiwanis-Moore Park, 35 W. Pioneer Trail

Orchid House Winery, 155 Treat Road. Call Orchid House at 330-562-9245 to find out when performances begin as times vary and are unavailable by publishing date.
July 7th: Dolinar Spahija

Garrettsville

Garrettsville Farmers Market — 8119 Main St., Thursdays 4–7 p.m.
July 2: Tom Quinn

Kent

July 3: Kent Heritage Festival, downtown Kent.
Live music all day at Dan Smith Community Park and Hometown Bank Plaza

Standing Rock Cultural Arts — 300 S. Water St.
July 3: Old Time Jams, 6 p.m.

Water Street Tavern, 132 South Water Street
Live music from 6-9 p.m. every Friday. See ad in The Portager. Thanks for supporting live music, Mike!

Gigi’s Ristorante & Market, 210 S. Depeyster St. #100 All performances 6-9 p.m.
July 2: John Gall

Haymaker Farmers’ Market, on Franklin Ave, just north of the Summit Street intersection.
July 4 Triplets of Belleville 10 a.m. - noon

North Water Brewing Co. — 101 E. Crain Ave.
July 3: Feral Company with Susan Wojnar 7-9 p.m.

Nelson

GrassFire 2026 — July 3-5, Nelson Ledges Quarry Park. See website for details and cost.

Rootstown

Dusty Armadillo — 3147 Route 44
Sunday Funday concerts 3-5 p.m. on the patio stage. No ticket required.
7/5 Ashley Gula

A new Setlist addition: Open mics

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 for July 1-7. I'm including some in eastern Summit County because we know the scene crosses county lines:

Kent

July 1: Venice Cafe, 163 Franklin Ave., Kent. Hosts: BC Hudson, Jesse Carter. Open Mic/Jam. 7:30-10 p.m.

July 3: Kent Heritage Festival. Live music all day at Hometown Plaza Stage and Dan Smith Community Park Stage

July 5: EuroGyro, 107 S. Depeyster St., Kent. Host: Nick Fleming. 8-11 p.m.

July 7: Kent Lanes: The 11th Frame, 1524 S. Water St., Kent Host: Jesse Carter. 7-9 p.m.

July 7: North Water St. Brewing Co., 101 E. Crain Ave., Kent. Host: Mick Rogers. 6:30-9 p.m. Signups start at 6 p.m.

Ravenna

July 2: Tavs, 106 E. Main St., Ravenna. Host: Jesse Carter. 7-9 p.m. 

Cuyahoga Falls

July 1: Divine Food & Spirits, 2752 Hudson Drive, Cuyahoga Falls. Host: Kevin Brosein. 7-9 p.m. Signups start at 6:30.

July 5: Bailey Road Tavern, 2920 Bailey Road, Cuyahoga Falls. Acoustic open mic. All skill levels welcome. Host: Wendy Darling. 7-10 p.m.

Twinsburg

July 3: Sassy’s Bar & Grille, 10755 Ravenna Rd., Ste. 7. Host: Billy Capuana. Open Jam 8-11 p.m.