Prine Tribute 2026

I come from a big musical family. From an early age, I watched my mother finger chords on an old Kay guitar. Taking what I learned from her, I started my journey and I’ve been lucky enough to be playing tunes for a long while now. Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, Jerry Jeff Walker are favorites of mine but there isn’t a day goes by that I don’t play the tunes of John Prine. … I sure do miss him.

He played real good for free. ( Apologies to Joni Mitchell ).

I’ve always been a lover of music , especially Americana music. Purchased several John Prine albums when I was in college in the early 70s and I’ve been singing his tunes ever since.  I’m a lyrics guy and John has some of the best. I also love that I can even play along with him.
I only began singing regularly in public a couple years ago, and I have met so many great  and talented people as a result. So thankful to have the opportunity to share a couple of John’s great songs with you tonight.

Akron native, Jim Ballard has long been a part of the NE Ohio music scene. He has recorded and released 19 albums and continues to write and record new music. Having traveled the country playing and singing his songs, Jim has worked with a diverse list of artists from Pete Seeger and Odetta to Gordon Lightfoot and Ten Thousand Maniacs. Joined by his band The Strangs, Jim brings a well-honed set and sense to the audience, graced by the playing of The Strangs, all seasoned musicians in their own right.
Be it a club, a concert opener or a feature, Jim Ballard and The Strangs’ mix of rock, indie, Americana and singer/songwriter will keep the audience there and bring them to their feet. From uptempo rockers to fiery topical songs to ballads where you can hear a pin drop, Jim Ballard and The Strangs should be seen…. And heard!

Lauren Brabson is a singer-songwriter and self-taught musician with roots in Barberton, Ohio. Her music is an unapologetic exploration of melancholy, weaving her narratives into each chord and lyric. Her songwriting serves as acceptance toward everyday life, drawing listeners into her emotionally charged narratives.

More than just a pretty face, Kevin G. Brosien has been making music in Northeast Ohio since he was a child. He started playing piano in kindergarten, but got frustrated that he couldn’t take his piano down to the creek where he liked to play. After a brief sting with a cornet, which really pissed off the neighbors, a guitar fell into his hands and it all went downhill from there. He has played with Eskimo Tailor, Rye Valley and the Brown Brothers and currently hosts the open mic every Wednesday at Divine Music and Spirits.

Adam Brown is the lead guitarist and singer in the Akron band The Brown Brothers and also a singer songwriter.  As an Akron native, Adam is thankful to give back by helping raise money for the community.

Ben Gage is a songwriter from Akron, OH, blending folk guitar and blues harmonica into a distinctive Americana sound. Since 2021, he’s toured across the US, Canada, and Europe, trading a corporate career for a life built on music, travel, and a whole lot more fresh air. His writing draws heavily from the places he explores and the people he meets, weaving road-earned stories with a deep love for the outdoors.
On stage, Ben invites audiences to settle in as neighbors, listen together, and maybe remember not to take life quite so seriously.
He has released three full-length albums since 2021, with songs reaching the top of folk charts, earning international recognition, and finding listeners around the world.

Zach Hamlin is a singer/songwriter of the SoulFolk genre, and a storyteller.  His songs intertwine heartfelt lyrics with metaphor, humor, and soulful delivery.  A lifelong fan of John Prine, Zach grew up singing his songs loudly in the car with his dad.  In fact, Zach’s first ever concert was a John Prine show that Zach saw in utero.  Zach also is the guitarist and singer for local band, Folk Paper Scissors.

My love for music goes back to having a musical family. Someone was always singing! So, I learned harmonies and lyric writing early.
When I joined a songwriters group, we became a non-profit organization and I ran the fund-raising, as we did many showcases and concerts.
This is my way of giving back for all the joy that music has given me.

Musician, community organizer, and a member of the band Rye Valley. A mainstay in the Akron music scene, Landon founded the Rubber City RockBank in 2026 to further bridge the gap between live performance and local philanthropy. His efforts have helped raise funds for Summit County non-profits, turning a shared love for music into tangible community support.
When he isn’t coordinating events at venues like Musica or the Jenks Building, Landon is a dedicated husband and a father of three. An avid outdoorsman, he finds his greatest inspiration in the natural beauty of Northeast Ohio. Whether he is hiking a local trail or hitting the road with his band, Landon remains driven by a passion for family, the outdoors, and the enduring power of a great song to bring people together.

I have been playing and performing music a great many years. I have served on the board of the Songwriters’ Summit (formerly the Summit County Songwriters’ Circle). I tend to write story driven songs, influenced by Guy Clark, Bob Dylan and , of course John Prine and others. Performances have typically been solo or in duo or trio groups, as in Nutz and Saddlez or Playz Well With Some. ROCK ON HUTCH!

Mark is a dynamic singer-songwriter whose heartfelt storytelling and captivating melodies have taken him across the United States and parts of the globe. He has shared the stage with a myriad of exceptionally talented and renowned musicians and artists. In 2016, he was selected as one of ASCAP’s up-and-coming songwriters. Nowadays, Mark is a “singing mailman”, and his greatest accomplishment is coming home to his fiancée and son.

Cindy Calle Ley from Wadsworth, Ohio, came to music late in life. She enjoys various music styles, but her main interest is alternative folk. Her current influences are Rhiannon Giddens, The Civil Wars, Abigail Lapell, and Gillian Welch. She considers herself primarily a singer, but also plays multiple instruments and has recently delved into songwriting. Calle has played various venues, both individually and with others. She especially enjoys the accompaniment of strings and mandolin. She is currently working on recording. You can find Calle on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Akron, Ohio based singer/songwriter Katy Robinson is a product of a large musical family, a thriving local music scene, and a lot of self-motivation. She started playing guitar at 13, and quickly began frequenting area open mics. Her biggest influences include songwriters and storytellers like Brandi Carlile and Tom Petty. Her folk-pop-rock blend and unique voice combined with her raw and relatable lyrics have landed her area gigs, and she is making waves on local radio. You can catch her performing solo, or with her band, The Wanderers.

Jamie Rhoades writes Americana folk songs grounded in real life and straight truth. Drawing inspiration from Townes Van Zandt, Blaze Foley, and John Prine, his music leans into working-class stories, open roads, and hard-earned perspective. His lyrics balance raw emotion with lived-in detail, shaped by years of experience rather than polish. With a weathered, steady delivery and a deep respect for the craft of songwriting, Rhoades creates songs that feel familiar the first time you hear them—honest, reflective, and built to stay with you.

Steve Wartko taught himself to whistle by the age of five. He proudly looked up to his musical parents, one older brother, and five older sisters. His Dad worked in construction and played upright acoustic bass then electric bass in a weekend polka band to help pay rent and feed the family of nine. In the evenings, Dad would gently lullaby the small four bedroom, one bathroom house to sleep with polkas and waltzes on one of his many full size piano accordions. With almost no musical theory, Mom could hear a song on the radio, then with little effort, she would sing while playing it on the living room organ (joking she played by ear ache). Mom could also play guitar while singing a two chord song called Pistol Packin’ Mama. 
(For a laugh, look at the lyrics: https://share.google/HDbquADDWMLNebVdD)
At age 11 Steve took music lessons, soon thoroughly mastering the very basics of the B flat clarinet also exploring several of dad’s saxophone collection. At age 13, gathering his allowance, he spent $15 acquiring his first secondhand guitar from his oldest sister. It was a vintage, 2 year old Decca 3/4 scale student model flat top parlor acoustic steel string guitar with a chrome stamped tailpiece and a floating pine bridge originally purchased from Kmart for nearly double the price. 
Half a century and many instruments later you may find Steve on stage and off stage producing music with friends, singing, while simultaneously playing acoustic guitar, electric guitar, electric bass, cajon, harmonica, and piano keyboard. Wow. Don’t let him play the violin/fiddle or trumpet if you know what’s good for you. Steve’s greatest accomplishment was in 1989 with the birth of his son Mike who now plays piano, writes and records amazing music. 
Oh wait! Steve also enjoys kayaking, bicycling, white water rafting, snow and water skiing, motorcycle riding and long walks on soft sandy saltwater beaches.

Raised in Newport News, Virginia, Bobby Wilson draws inspiration from a wide mix of sounds that shaped him growing up—’80s and ’90s rock, grunge, hip-hop, rap, and country. That blend of genres shows up naturally in his songwriting, where raw emotion meets honest storytelling.
Bobby stepped onto his first open-mic stage in August of 2019, a moment that sparked a deeper commitment to music. Shortly after, he picked up a guitar and began teaching himself, using songwriting as a way to process life, relationships, and the world around him.
Known for writing across multiple styles, Bobby isn’t confined to one lane. His music reflects the grit of grunge, the soul of country, and the rhythm of hip-hop—always driven by authenticity. Influenced by artists like Eddie Vedder, Chris Cornell, and Chris Stapleton, his songs lean into vulnerability, strength, and truth.
Whether stripped down and acoustic or rough around the edges, Bobby’s music is about connection—songs meant to be felt as much as they’re heard.