Bent String performs a mix of early American roots music, including early jazz, acoustic blues, roots country, and originals. The quintet centers on the vocals of Kari Ann Rutushin and underpinned with the feel of jazz-age swing. With Reed Simon’s hot violin, Caroline King's sublime accordion, Kevin Richards' arch-top guitars, and Cleveland Blues Hall of Fame upright bassist, Raymond DeForest.
Come see us playing live at…
| DATES - 2026 | TIME | VENUE | ADDRESS | NOTES: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, March 13, 2026 | 12:00 | Irish music @ Westlake Community Center | 28975 Hilliard Blvd. Westlake, Ohio 44145 | Bent String - Caroline King joins us |
| Wednesday, March 25, 2026 | 7:30 | Roots of American Music workshop | Visable Voice, 4519 Lorain ave | Memphis Minnie workshop |
| Friday, April 10, 2026 | 7:00 | Lindy Hop Dance | Brownhoist Building, 4403 St Clair Ave | Bent String - Dave Sterner on sax |
| Sunday, April 26, 2026 | TBA | Beachland Ballroom | 15618 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110 | a tribute to Rachel Brown |
| Monday, May 11, 2026 | 11:30 | Fort Huntington Park | East 9th and Lakeside ave Cleve | Memorial Mondays |
| Friday, May 22, 2026 | 6:00 | The Sixty6 Music Lounge and Studio | 1966 East 66th Street, Cleveland, 44103 | Bent String 5 |
| Thursday, May 28, 2026 | 3:00 | South Franklin Circle | Chagrin Falls | Bent String 5 |
| Thursday, June 4, 2026 | 5:30 | Van Aken Market District | 3441 Tuttle Rd, Shaker Heights, Oh 44122 | Bent String - outdoor gig |
| Friday, June 12, 2026 | 6:00 | Sarah Benedict House (Cleveland Restoration) | 3715 Prospect, Cleve 44115 | Bent String |
| Saturday, June 20, 2026 | 3:00 | Wildwood Art & Wine FEST | Wildwood Cultural Center, 7645 Little Mountain Rd ,Mentor | Bent String |
| Sunday, July 12, 2026 | 6:00 | Lakeside, Chautauqua | 236 Walnut Ave, Lakeside, OH 43440 | Bent String 5 |
| Friday, July 17, 2026 | 2:30 | Painesville Party in the Park | Painsville | Bent String trio |
| Friday, July 24, 2026 | 7:00 | Barnegie Hall (The Barn) | 31950 Krebs Rd, Avon Lake, OH 44012 | Bent String + Caroline King joins us |
| Saturday, July 25, 2026 | 7:00 | Big Creek Park, Geauga Park District | 9160 Robinson Rd, Chardon | Bent String 5 |
| Sunday, July 26, 2026 | noon | Westside Bowl brunch | 2617 Mahoning Ave, Youngstown, OH 44509 | trio - Bowling + Brunch! |
| Friday, July 31, 2026 | 7:00 | Laleure Vineyards | 17335 Nash Rd, Middlefield, OH 44062 | Bent String trio + Bryan Thomas |
| Saturday, August 1, 2026 | 2:30 | Lakewood Arts Festival | Park Stage at Warren and Detroit rds | Bent SpYder |
| Sunday, August 2, 2026 | 5:00 | Rush Inn Bar and Grille | 35840 Chester Rd, Avon, OH 44011 | trio- hosted by Austin Walkin Cane |
| Saturday, August 8, 2026 | 3:30 | Jazz in Bentleyville - House Concert | 6311 Chagrin River Road, Bentleyville OH 4402 | Bent String trio |
| Thursday, August 20, 2026 | 7:30 | Treelawn Social Club | 15335 Waterloo ave. Cleveland, Oh 44110 | Bent String |
| Saturday, August 22, 2026 | 7:00 | The Carlyle on the Lake | Private event | Bent String trio |
| Saturday, August 29, 2026 | 5:30 | Van Aken Market District | 3441 Tuttle Rd, Shaker Heights, Oh 44122 | Bent String - outdoor gig |
| Saturday, September 5, 2026 | 6:00 | The Sixty6 Music Lounge and Studio | 1966 East 66th Street, Cleveland, 44103 | Bent String 5 |
| Friday, September 11, 2026 | 11:00 | Westlake Community Center | 28975 Hilliard Blvd. Westlake, Ohio 44145 | Bent String |
| Saturday, September 12, 2026 | 7:00 | Jenks Building | 1884 Front Street, Cuyahoga Falls 44221 | Bent String trio |
| Sunday, September 13, 2026 | 3:30 | Art in the Park | Fred Fuller Park 494 Middlebury Rd, Kent 44240 | Bent String trio |
| Friday, October 2, 2026 | 7:00 | The Flat Iron Cafe | 1114 Center Street, Cleveland, OH 44113 | Bent String Trio |
| Saturday, October 10, 2026 | 8:00 | Millard Fillmore Presidential Library | 15335 Waterloo ave. Cleveland, Oh 44110 | Kari + the Kabinet (every 2nd Saturday) |
| Friday, October 16, 2026 | 8:00 | Into the Hive / The Woodshed | 8200 East Washington St. Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 - 4508 | Bent String 5 |
| Thursday, October 22, 2026 | 7:30 | Treelawn Social Club | 15335 Waterloo ave. Cleveland, Oh 44110 | Bent String |
| Saturday, November 14, 2026 | 8:00 | Millard Fillmore Presidential Library | 15617 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110 | Kari + the Kabinet (every 2nd Saturday) |
| Friday, November 27, 2026 | 8:30 | Visable Voice Books | 4601 Lorain Ave. Ohio City (Cleveland) | Bent String 5 |
| Saturday, December 12, 2026 | 8:00 | Millard Fillmore Presidential Library | 15617 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110 | Kari + the Kabinet (every 2nd Saturday) |
| Saturday, December 19, 2026 | 7:00 | Holiday Party | Canton | Bent String 5 |
| Previous 2025 Dates | ||||
| Thursday, February 20, 2025 | 7:00 | Music Box Supper Club | 1148 Main Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113 | Bent String |
| Wednesday, March 12, 2025 | 8;30 | Beachland Ballroom - Kentucky Benefit | Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110 | Bent String |
| Friday, April 25, 2025 | 5:30 | Kent American Roots Festival | North Water Brewing Co, 101 Crain Street | duo |
| Saturday, April 26, 2025 | 2:00 | Mac's Back's Books | the book store in Coventry village, Cleve Heights | duo |
| Sunday, May 4, 2025 | 5:00 | Rush Inn Bar and Grille | 35840 Chester Rd, Avon, OH 44011 | Sunday Night - hosted by Austin Walkin Cane |
| Friday, May 23 | 5:00 | Magnetic North Studios | recording session with engineer Chris Keffer | Bent String |
| Thursday, May 29, 2025 | 7:00 | Jenks Building | 1884 Front Street, Cuyahoga Falls 44221 | Bent String |
| Friday, June 27th | 3:00 | 46th TRI -C Jazz Fest | Playhouse Square, SeibertKeck Insurance Outdoor Stage | Bent String |
| Saturday, June 28th | 2:45 | Larchmere Porchfest 2025 | East 128th street stage | Bent String |
| Saturday, July 5, 2025 | 7:00 | Bainbridge Swing Dance | 16349 Chillicothe Road, Chagrin Falls, OH | Bent String |
| Friday, July 11 | 3:30 | Cain Park Arts Festival | Cleveland Heights | Bent String |
| Thursday, July 17, 2025 | 7:00 | East Shore Park Club | Dorchester Drive, Cleveland 44119 | Bent String - Joe Hunter joins us on keyboards |
| Tuesday, July 29 | 11:00 | Dave's Market and Eatery | 1930 E 59th St, Cleveland, OH 44103 | Kari + Kevin duo |
| Saturday, August 9th | 7:00 | South Euclid Food Truck Park Concert, Rushton rd | Cleveland Rocks: Past, Present + Future | Bent String |
| Friday, August 15th | 8:00 | Beachland Ballroom | 15618 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110 | Bent String Trio, opening for Eilen Jewell |
| Sunday, August 17th | 5:00 | Hiram Picnic in the Park | Reign Hadsell Park, 6745 Bancroft St, Hiram, OH 44234 | Bent String |
| Sunday, August 24th | 2:00 | Jazz on the Patio @ McGregor Home | 14850 Private Drive, Cleveland 44112 | Bent String trio |
| Friday, August 29 | 8:00 | Cat in the Cream Coffeehouse | Oberlin college 180 W Lorain St, Oberlin, OH 44074 | Bent String - Rich Roberts on drums |
| Friday, September 5th | 4:00 - 5:45 | Youngstown Festival - Federal Stage | West Federal Street (West End) Youngstown | Bent String - Rich Roberts on drums |
| Saturday September 6th | 1;15 | ART in the PARK | Fred Fuller Park, Middlebury rd, Kent 44240 | Bent String trio outdoor Main Stage |
| Saturday, September 13, 2025 | 5:00 | Waterloo Arts Festival Sculpture Garden Stage | 15618 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110 | Bent String |
| Sunday, September 14th | noon | Westside Bowl brunch | Mahoning Ave, Youngstown | Kari + Kevin duo |
| Thursday, September 18th | 7:30 | Music Box Supper Club | 1148 Main Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113 | Bent String opening for Jason White |
| Sunday, September 21st | 4:00 | Fundraiser for Akron Canton Food Bank | 1427 Sand Run Rd, Akron, OH. | Bent String |
| Saturday, September 27th | 3:00 | Ingenuity Festival | 5401 Hamilton ave, Cleve | Bent String |
| Saturday, October 4th | 5:30 | Reithoffer (Hoff's) Wild Maple Fest | 17711 Ravenna Rd | Kari + Kevin duo |
| Saturday, October 18, 2025 | 7:00 | Barnegie Hall (The Barn) | 31950 Krebs Rd, Avon Lake, OH 44012 | Bent String + musical guest Chris Burge |
| Friday, October 24th | 7:00 | The Sixty6 Music Lounge and Studio | 1966 East 66th Street, Cleveland, 44103 | Bent String |
| Friday, October 30th | 8:00 | Swing Dance @ Cedars West End | 706 Steel St, Youngstown, OH 44509 | Bent String - Rich Roberts on drums |
| Saturday, October 31st | 6:30 | Laleure Vineyards | Nash rd, Parkman, Ohio | Kari Ann Rutushin + friends |
| Wednesday, December 31, 2025 | 8:00 | CBG - Chestnut Beer Garden | 503 Chestnut Blvd, Cuyahoga Falls | Duo |
| 2024 Dates | ||||
| Wednesday, November 29th | 7:00 pm | The Bop Stop | 2920 Detroit rd. Cleveland | a very cool jazz and roots club. |
| Sunday, October 15,2023 | noon - 1pm | Hessler Street Fair | Hessler rd, Cleveland | hosted by Northeast Ohio Music Heritage Association |
| Thursday, October 26th | 7:00 - 9:30 | 1/2 Acre Farm House Concert | 3033 Edgehill rd, Cleve Heights | with the SpYder Stompers Shore Acres |
| Saturday, September 9, 2023 | 7:30pm | The Paris Room | 7 N. Franklin St, Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022 | a French Bistro, indoor and outdoor seating. entrance in back |
| Saturday, August 12, 2023 | 3:00 - 4:00 | Raccoon County Music Festival | 14653 East Park Street Burton, Oh 44021 | Always a blast to perform at RCMF -3 pm -special guest keyboard Joe Hunter |
| Sunday, August 27 | 4:00 -7pm | Barnegie Hall (The Barn) | 31950 Krebs Rd, Avon Lake, OH 44012 | The Barn features many styles of roots music |
| Saturday, July 15, 2023 | 7:30pm | Kent Blues Festival | Belleria Pizza Restaurant 135 E Erie St, , Kent 44240 | with special guest Dan Bode |
| Thursday, July 20 | 7:00 -10pm | Forest City Brewery | 2135 Columbus Rd, Cleveland, OH 44113 | Trio performing in the outdoor beer garden |
