Downtown Kent was set ablaze with live performances in multiple venues, ranging from local restaurants to small businesses in the area. From 3 to 11 p.m., the streets were packed with individuals looking for music and a great time.
The Kent Rocks music festival marked its fourth anniversary and featured a set of up-and-coming musicians from the Kent area. There was no admission fee for attendees; only donations were accepted for charities.
The Crooked River Arts Council, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that facilitates multiple music festivals for Kent residents each year, produced the event.
According to the official Kent Rocks website, the council’s goal is to raise money for local charities, most of which focus on music education and children. In the past, these charities consisted of Akron Children’s Hospital, Akron City Theater, Ben Curtis Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Portage County and several others.
Each venue started Kent Rocks at a different time. Songwriter Danny Rocks kicked off the festivities in The Pub on Franklin Avenue before performers like Messmaker, Eric Noden, Vincent Ruby and Steakhouse performed at their respective venues after. It was not until the evening that the streets of downtown Kent blew up with fun tunes.
Over 30 performers showed up, and venues from the Barflyy to Last Exit Books and Coffeehouse participated in the fun. From soft acoustic performances to nostalgic rock blitz, there was a performance for every individual to enjoy.
Businesses like Last Exit enjoyed offering their storefronts as makeshift concert venues for the day, said manager Cassidy Schnippel.
“It is a great opportunity to be a part of. We have live music every year for it, and it’s always been a huge hit,” she said.
Kent Rocks also serves as a way to expose people to small businesses they potentially did not know about prior to the event.
“Not everyone is buying something, but it still does help people out on the town and witness all the other local businesses because there are a lot of participating businesses,” Schinipple said.
Ava Dunn is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].