Page 21 - Kent Parks Recreation Guide Winter 2025-2026

Gadan
Thursday, February 12 • 7:30 p.m.
Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center
Friday, February 27 • 7:30 p.m.
Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center
Friday, March 6 • 7:30 p.m.
Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center
Register for Winter 2025 - 2026 programs at MyKentParks.com/Register or call 253-856-5100
Tickets: $32 general, $30 senior, $22 youth
Gadan is a storming new band blending the drive of Irish Traditional Music
and Celtgrass with the soul of folk and Appalachian music… all spiced with
unmistakable Italian seasoning!
Gadan is a fresh project created by four seasoned musicians from the Irish
trad and European folk/rock scene, all with years of experience performing at
major traditional and alternative folk music festivals across Europe and the US.
In 2024, they were joined by Enda Scahill, a tenor banjo master, award-winner,
All-Ireland champion, and founder of We Banjo 3.
Their high-energy repertoire has a powerful live appeal, reminiscent of
new-trad acts, but with a unique identity. With three banjos—tenor and
clawhammer—fiddle, mandolin, and guitar, they create a distinctive “strings-
only” sound, enhanced by subtle electronics and driven by a powerful
rhythmic pulse. Just ask all these great Celtic Fests – Milwaukee Irish Fest, La
Crosse Irish Fest, Dublin Irish Fest, Iowa Irish Fe.
Women of Americana – A Celebration of
American Music from Bob Dylan to Bonnie Raitt
Tickets: $35 general, $32 senior, $25 youth
Sponsored by the Curran Family and Kent Community Foundation
Performing Arts Fund
A Celebration of American Music from Bob Dylan to Bonnie Raitt brings together
some of today’s most accomplished and expressive female artists for an exuberant
exploration of this expansive and singular American genre. Featured vocalists
and instrumentalists, Cristina Vane and Brennen Leigh, will interpret iconic songs,
including “This Land is Your Land” (Woody Guthrie), “This Train” (Sister Rosetta
Tharpe), “Just Like a Woman” (Bob Dylan), “Angel From Montgomery” (Bonnie Raitt
and John Prine), and “Car Wheels On a Gravel Road” (Lucinda Williams).
Coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the United States’ founding, Women
of Americana will entertain and inspire audiences at a historic moment in our
nation’s history.
Yesterday and Today:
The Interactive Beatles
Tickets: $35 general, $32 senior, $25 youth
Sponsored by Judy Woods and the Haffner Family
This amazing band, anchored by brothers Billy, Matthew, and Ryan McGuigan
perform as themselves and leave the song choices completely in the hands of the
audience. Audience members fill out request cards prior to the show, offering only
three pieces of information. Their name, their favorite Beatles song, and the reason
why they chose that song.
The cards are collected and minutes before the show beings, a set list is created
based upon the songs chosen by that particular audience. As an added treat, the
audience members’ reasons for choosing the songs make up the narrative of the
evening.
Every show is different, every show is interactive, and every show proves that The
Beatles’ music truly is the soundtrack to our lives.
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