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 - 2025 | TIME | VENUE | ADDRESS | NOTES: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, April 12, 2025 | 8:00 | Millard Fillmore Presidential Library | 15617 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110 | Kari + the Cabinet |
| Monday, April 21 | 6:00 | Magnetic North Studios | recording session with engineer Chris Keffer | Bent String |
| Tuesday, April 22 | noon | Magnetic North Studios | recording session with engineer Chris Keffer | Bent String |
| Thursday, April 24 | 7:30 | Treelawn Social Club | 15335 Waterloo ave. 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 |
| Saturday, May 10, 2025 | 8:00 | Millard Fillmore Presidential Library | 15617 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110 | Kari + the Cabinet |
| Thursday, May 22, 2025 | 5:30 | Van Aken Market District | 3441 Tuttle Rd, Shaker Heights, Oh 44122 | Bent String |
| Friday, May 23, 2025 | 12:30 | Benjamin Rose Lakeshore | 16600 Lakeshore blvd | Bent String |
| 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 |
| Saturday, June 14, 2025 | 8:00 | Millard Fillmore Presidential Library | 15617 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110 | Kari + the Cabinet |
| Wednesday, June 18 | 7:30 | Treelawn Social Club | 15335 Waterloo ave. Cleveland, Oh 44110 | Bent String |
| Friday, June 27th | 3:00 | 46th TRI -C Jazz Fest | Playhouse Square, SeibertKeck Insurance Outdoor Stage | Bent String |
| Saturday, July 5, 2025 | 7:00 | Bainbridge Swing Dance | 16349 Chillicothe Road, Chagrin Falls, OH | Bent String |
| Sunday, July 13, 2025 | 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 - Chris Burge joins us on saxophone |
| Saturday, August 2, 2025 | TBD | Lakewood Arts Festival | Lakewood, Ohio | Bent String |
| Saturday, August 2, 2025 | 7:00 | House Concert | Cleveland Heights | Bent String |
| Saturday, August 9th | 7:00 | Cleveland Rocks: Past, Present + Future | 15617 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110 | Bent String |
| Thursday, August 28 | 7:30 | Treelawn Social Club | 15335 Waterloo ave. Cleveland, Oh 44110 | Bent String |
| Thursday, August 29th | 8:00 | Jenks Building | 1884 Front Street, Cuyahoga Falls 44221 | Bent String |
| Saturday, October 11, 2025 | 8:00 | Millard Fillmore Presidential Library | 15617 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110 | Kari + the Cabinet |
| Saturday, October 18, 2025 | 7:00 | Barnegie Hall (The Barn) | 31950 Krebs Rd, Avon Lake, OH 44012 | Bent String returns to the Barn |
| Saturday, November 8, 2025 | 8:00 | Millard Fillmore Presidential Library | 15617 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110 | Kari + the Cabinet |
| Saturday, December 13, 2025 | 8:00 | Millard Fillmore Presidential Library | 15617 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110 | Kari + the Cabinet |
| Tuesday, December 30, 2025 | 6:00 | Myers Apartments | Cedar rd, Beachwood, Oh | Bent String - Chris Burge joins us on saxophone |
| Previous 2025 Dates | ||||
| Monday, 1/6/2025 | 3:00pm | South Franklin Circle | Chagrin Falls | Bent String |
| Thursday, February 20, 2025 | 7:00 | Music Box Supper Club | 1148 Main Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113 | Bent String |
| Saturday, March 8, 2025 | 8:00 | Millard Fillmore Presidential Library | 15617 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110 | Kari + the Cabinet |
| Wednesday, March 12, 2025 | 8;30 | Beachland Ballroom - Kentucky Benefit | Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110 | Bent String |
| Thursday, March 13, 2025 | 11:00am | Westlake Community Center | 28975 Hilliard rd, Westlake 44145 | Bent String - pre St Patrick's Day |
| Wednesday, March 26 | 7:30 | Treelawn Social Club | 15335 Waterloo ave. Cleveland, Oh 44110 | Bent String |
| 2024 Dates | ||||
| Saturday, December 14,2024 | 8:00 | Millard Fillmore Presidential Library | 15618 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110 | Kari and the Cabinet. Xmas show |
| Saturday, 12/28/24 | 8:00 | The Jenks Building | 1884 Front Street, Cuyahoga Falls 44221 | Bent String |
| Friday, November 1st | 7:00 | Market Garden Brewery | West 25th street, Ohio City | |
| Saturday, November 2nd | 7:00 | Market Garden Brewery | West 25th street, Ohio City | |
| Saturday, November 9th | 8:00 | Millard Fillmore Presidential Library | 15617 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110 | Kari and the Cabinet ... with Caroline King |
| Saturday, October 12th | 8:00 | Millard Fillmore Presidential Library | 15617 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110 | Kari and the Cabinet ... with Caroline King |
| Saturday, October 26th | 8:00 | The Jenks Building | 1884 Front Street, Cuyahoga Falls 44221 | Bent String |
| Sunday, September 8th | 2:15 | Art in the Park (Kent) | Fred Fuller Park, Middlebury rd, Kent 44240 | trio on the Main Stage - Outdoors |
| Friday, September 13th | 11:00am | Westlake Community Center | 28975 Hilliard Blvd. Westlake, Ohio 44145 | Senior gig |
| Saturday, September 14th | 6:00 | Waterloo Arts Festival | 15617 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110 | Blue Windmill stage - closing set |
| Sunday, September 21st | 4:30 | Outdoor Yard Concert (open event) | 2440 Edgehill rd, Cleve Hts 44106 | with Caroline King, and guest Marc Paige on sax and clarinet |
| Friday, September 27th | 6:30 | The Barn at Walden | 700 S. Bissell Rd, Aurora 44202 | Private Event |
| Saturday, September 28 | 8:30pm | Ingenuity Fest | 5401 Hamilton ave, Cleveland 44114 | Trio |
| Saturday, August 3rd | 11:15am | Lakewood Arts Festival | 15300 Detroit Rd. + Belle Ave. | a morning concert |
| Saturday, August 10, 2024 | 1:00 - 2:00 | Raccoon County Music Festival | 14653 East Park Street Burton, Oh 44021 | special guest keyboard Joe Hunter |
| Saturday, August 17th | 6:00 | Ben Franklin Garden Concert Series | 1905 Spring rd, Old Brooklyn, OH 44119 | Outdoor community concert |
| Wednesday, August 21 | 6:00 | The Paris Room | 7 Main Street, Chagrin Falls | performing as the SpYder Stompers |
| Thursday, August 22nd | 5:30 | Van Aken Market District | 3441 Tuttle Rd, Shaker Heights, Oh 44122 | Outdoors, or indoors if it rains |
| Saturday, July 13th | 7:00 | Big Creek Park - Geauga Park | 9373 Ravenna Rd, Chardon Township, OH 44024 | summer evening concert - with Joe Hunter on piano |
| Sunday, July 14th | 4:00 | Lakeview Cemetery | 12316 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106 | summer afternoon concert - with Joe Hunter on piano |
| Wednesday, July 24th | 7:30 | Treelawn Social Club | 15335 Waterloo ave. Cleveland, Oh 44110 | |
| Sunday, July 28th | 4:00 | Barnegie Hall (The Barn) | 31950 Krebs Rd, Avon Lake, OH 44012 | Carolyn King joins us on accordion |
| Monday, July 29th | 6:30 | The Paris Room | 7 Main Street, Chagrin Falls | special guest Marc Paige on Clarinet and Sax |
| Saturday, June 8th | 8:00 | Millard Fillmore Presidential Library | 15617 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110 | Kari and the Cabinet. |
| Monday, June 10th | 6:30 | Paris Room | 7 N. Franklin St, Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022 | Jazz Mondays - Bent String Trio |
| Sunday, June 30th | 5:00 | Rush Inn Bar and Grille | 35840 Chester Rd, Avon, OH 44011 | Sunday Night Blues gig hosted by Austin Walkin Cane - trio gig |
| Saturday, May 11th | 8:00 | Millard Fillmore Presidential Library | 15617 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110 | Kari and the Cabinet. |
| Monday, May 13th | 11:30am - | Fort Huntington Park | West Lakeside and West 3rd, downtown Cleveland | Bent String trio - Memorial Mondays concert series |
| Thursday, May 16th | 7:00 | Stocker Arts Center | 1005 Abbe Rd N, Elyria, OH 44054, (Lorain Com College) | Cirigliano Studio Theatre |
| Wednesday, May 22nd | noon | Westlake Community Center | 28975 Hilliard rd, Westlake 44145 | |
| Thursday, May 30, 2024 | 5:30 | Van Aken Market District | 3441 Tuttle Rd, Shaker Heights, Oh 44122 | Bent String trio |
| Saturday, April 6th | 5:00 | The Bottle House | Lee Rd, Cleveland Heights, Oh 44118 | Musicologie party - open event |
| Saturday, April 13th | 8:00 | Millard Fillmore Presidential Library | 15617 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110 | Carolyn King joins us on accordion |
| Tuesday, March 26th | 11:30 | Notre Dame College | 2525 College Rd, South Euclid | |
| Saturday, March 30th | 8:00 | The Jenks Building | 1884 Front Street, Cuyahoga Falls 44221 | |
| Sunday, February 25th | 1:00 | American Croatian Lodge | 34900 Lakeshore Blvd #301, Eastlake, OH 44095 | |
| DATES - 2023 | ||||
| Saturday, 12/9/23 | 8:00 - 11 pm | Millard Fillmore Presidential Library | 15617 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110 | Kari and Kevin and friends |
| Friday, 12/22/2023 | 5:30 - 7:30 | Van Aken District / Market Hall | 3441 Tuttle Rd, Shaker Heights, Oh 44122 | BS Quartet performs holiday music |
| Friday, November 3rd | 1:30 pm | The Rocky River Senior Center | 21100 Hilliard Rd. Rocky River | Harvest Festival |
| Sunday, November 5th | 7:00 pm | Market Garden Brewery | 1847 West 25th Street, Ohio City (Cleveland) | Joe Hunter on keyboards joins Bent String |
| Friday, November 10th | 8:00 - 11 pm | Millard Fillmore Presidential Library | 15617 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110 | with guest Dan Bode - It is Dan's Birthday |
| 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 | 1:00 - 2pm | Art in the Park (Kent) | Fred Fuller Park, Middlebury rd, Kent 44240 | Main Stage - Outdoors |
| 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 |
| Sunday, July 23 | 1-4pm | Cain Park Evans Amphitheatre | Cleveland Heights, Oh 44118 | Sunday Afternoon Concert Series |
