Brent Kirby & Ray Flanagan
Cleveland Rocks: Past Present Future presents Wednesday Songs & Stages, a live stream concert series supporting 10 Northeast Ohio Music Relief Fund grant recipients and the local venues like The Grog Shop, that have historically provided opportunities for our Cleveland musicians. The series has been funded by the Ohio Arts Council, partially sponsored by Evergreen Podcasts, and made possible with generous support from Gotta Groove Records and Visible Voice Books.
Live Streamed from the Waterloo Sculpture Garden on September 16, 2020.
Here’s a little bit about the featured artists CRPPF has supported with the Northeast Ohio Music Relief Fund and continue to support with its Wednesday Songs and Stages programming:
Brent Kirby’s been called by many of his peers one of Cleveland’s hardest working musicians and his actions prove that. In 2013, Brent Kirby was voted “Best Singer” and also “Best Male Vocal” by the Cleveland Scene, and 2012, he was voted “Best Musician.” When he is not playing solo or with his band, called His Luck, he writes the tunes and fronts the Jack Fords (2007, 2009 Best Rock Band Cleveland Scene), leads the monthly revival of Gram Parsons with his band The New Soft Shoe, and plays drums for the talented Cleveland holiday band, the Ohio City Singers. His 10 x 3 Songwriter showcase weekly series at Brothers Lounge has created an encouraging, vibrant original music scene.
Ray Flanagan is a musical artist from Northeast Ohio. His songs translate subconscious visions of the soul into infectious melodies and phrases. Drawing on a rich line of roots music while simultaneously disregarding it, he is a thoughtful rock & roller who also understands that if it doesn’t make you want to move, it ain’t gonna work. Flanagan came up in Cleveland’s blues and songwriter scenes, and is currently under siege by something called a worldwide pandemic.
Ray and Brent are known for doing duo performances and co-writing so this pairing is very special to them and to all of us who know of their mutual support.
