Better Kenmore CDC, in partnership with Kenmore Chamber of Commerce and the County of Summit ADM Board, is excited to announce the return of Kenmore First Friday to the historic Kenmore Boulevard business district (aka The BLVD). The events will kick off June 2 with live music from Akron favorite Detention – an energetic band who have been receiving airplay on Sirius XM and played three showcases at the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas this March.
Joining Detention on the main stage will be up and comers Funeral Proposals who have just finished tracking their first record with Chris Butler of Waitresses and Tin Huey fame. Emerging Akron bands FourShadow and Duplain will perform in the McCutchan Courtyard and additional live music will be programmed by Buzzbin Art & Music Shop, Juju Bonz Records, Akorn Jammers Open Mic, and the Kenmore Branch Library will host an indoor stage featuring hip hop and urban expression artists presented by First Glance, Glory In The Beat Radio, and Akron Dream Center.
Oddmall will also return in June with its “Great Grassman Gathering” market which will feature over 40 purveyors of art, games, toys, comics, and collectibles, while The Rialto Theatre hosts a Speed Dating event followed by live music from Jim Ballard & the Strangs.
Kenmore First Fridays will take place every first Friday of the month beginning June 2 and will continue through Sept. 1. The free events will run from 6 to 9 p.m. and will feature live music, vendors, family activities, food trucks and the Magic City Brewing Company outdoor beer garden. See the full schedule below:
June 2: Detention with Funeral Proposals, plus Oddmall: The Great Grassman Gathering
July 7: Yankee Bravo with Long Tall Deb & Colin John, plus 720 Market
August 4: The Labra Brothers with Anya Van Rose, plus Oddmall: Rubber City Rumpus, and filmmaker/comic book artist Ted Sikora
September 1: Church of Starry Wisdom with Glenn Lazear, plus Art On The BLVD featuring Trillium Schools of Music. Gum-Dip Theatre, Summit Artspace, Innes CLC, Cuyahoga Valley Art Center, Akron Art Museum Keith Haring Chalk Party, and more!
“Our staff, partners, and volunteers strive to consistently bring the best live music, vendors, and food trucks to Kenmore First Fridays,” said Corey Jenkins, Marketing and Events Director for Better Kenmore CDC, “and no two months are ever the same, so we really encourage the community to come down each month to see what’s happening!”
Kenmore First Fridays are FREE and presented by Better Kenmore CDC, Kenmore Chamber of Commerce and County of Summit ADM Board, with additional support from Akron Civic Commons, Peg’s Foundation, Apollo Supply Co., City of Akron, Kenmore Komics & Games, United Way, The Summit FM, Akron Dream Center, Akron Promise, Akron RubberDucks, Bi-02-Tek Services, Big Love Network, First Glance, Glory in the Beat, Innes CLC, Pierre’s Brooklyn Pizza & Deli, Primo’s Deli, Portage Path Behavioral Health, Regina’s Pizza, Rocco’s Pizza, Showcase Meats,Thomas C. Loepp Law Offices, and Trillium Schools of Music.
RSVP to the June 2 Kenmore First Friday on Facebook!
Event information will be posted as it becomes available at betterkenmore.org/first-friday.