Sat 11/9 @ 7PM
The Woodchopper’s Ball, now in is 23rd year, was organized by northeast Ohio finger-style guitarist Brian Henke to showcase a range of musicians in the style he himself performs and to raise money for charity.
Each year, he rounds up an all-star cast of players who are respected among aficionados of this genre, both veterans and up-and-comers, with many players returning year after year, along with some new names. This year, he’s got nine players for a star-studded evening across a range of musical styles.
Attendees from previous years will know Indiana’s Michael Kelsey, a virtual one-man band; Northeast Ohio retired high school teacher/guitar builder Jesse Smith; Indiana’s Patrick Woods; guitarist Tim Thompson who has performed in previous years with his fiddler son Myles; Dover, Ohio guitarist Atom Lax; and frequent returnee Mark Sganga out of New York. Gareth Pearson, who is described as “the Welsh Tornado” of fingerpicking guitar, joined the cast last year. Indiana-based guitarist Bryce Mullins is also on the bill. And of course, Henke himself performs, demonstrating what he’s picked up in more than three decades of playing acoustic finger-style guitar in Cleveland.
Once again, it takes place at the Kent Stage. This year, it’ll be raising money for the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH). Get tickets here.
Kent, OH 44240