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: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, March 25, 2026 | 7:30 | Roots of American Music workshop | Visable Voice, 4519 Lorain ave | Memphis Minnie workshop |
| 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 |
| Saturday, August 1, 2026 | 2:30 | Lakewood Arts Festival | Park Stage at Warren and Detroit rds | Bent SpYder |
| Thursday, August 6, 2026 | 7:30 | Bop Stop | Detroit rd, Ohio City | |
| Saturday, September 5, 2026 | 6:00 | The Sixty6 Music Lounge and Studio | 1966 East 66th Street, Cleveland, 44103 | Bent String 5 |
| 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 | 8:00 | The Treelawn Music Hall | 15335 Waterloo ave. Cleveland, Oh 44110 | opening for Jason White |
| Friday, October 9, 2026 | 7:00 | Lindy Hop Dance @ Treelawn Music Hall | 15335 Waterloo ave. Cleveland, Oh 44110 | Bent String - Rich Roberts on drums |
| Friday, October 16, 2026 | 8:00 | 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 |
| Monday, December 28, 2026 | 3:00 | South Franklin Circle | Chagrin Falls | Bent String 5 |
| Tuesday, March 16, 2027 | 12:00 | Irish music @ Westlake Community Center | 28975 Hilliard Blvd. Westlake, Ohio 44145 | Bent String - Caroline King joins us |
| Saturday, March 27, 2027 | TBA | Lake Erie Folk Festval - eveing concert | Harkness Chapel 11200 Bellflower Rd, Cleve OH 44106 | Bent String - Caroline King joins us |
| Previous 2025 Dates | ||||
| Thursday, February 20, 2025 | 7:00 | Music Box Supper Club | 1148 Main Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113 | 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 |
| Friday, May 23 | 5:00 | Magnetic North Studios | recording session with engineer Chris Keffer | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 13, 2025 | 5:00 | Waterloo Arts Festival Sculpture Garden Stage | 15618 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110 | Bent String |
| Saturday, September 27th | 3:00 | Ingenuity Festival | 5401 Hamilton ave, Cleve | Bent String |
| Friday, October 30th | 8:00 | Swing Dance @ Cedars West End | 706 Steel St, Youngstown, OH 44509 | Bent String - Rich Roberts on drums |
| 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 |
| 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 |
