Brent Kirby

The New Soft Shoe show schedule for May, June, July, and August!

The New Soft Shoe, Cleveland's own Gram Parsons cover band will be playing these wonderful venues for the next bunch of months. Put them in your calendar and let all the Grampires know. Please come out and support these wonderful venues and establishments. Thanks for your continued support of the New Soft Shoe

May 10- Forest City Brewery 8pm $5 cover

June 14- GAR Hall Peninsula, OH 8pm

July 12- Beachland Ballroom and Tavern 8pm

August 9- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 8pm

Brent Kirby Residency at Midview High School Songwriting Class

The TeachArtsOhio program brings schools together with teaching artists to provide specific, immersive experiences that enrich the existing curriculum. Brent Kirby brings a unique musical background to the choral program that focuses on the creation of original music. Students in each choir are engaged in an eight to ten week process that will culminate in the performance of a class song written by the group in collaboration with Kirby and choral instructor Justin Caithaml. Students selected topics for their song by creating a list of ideas as a class and then narrowing that list to one theme through a class vote. The themes that were chosen include: love, standing up against bullying, what music means to me, and equality. Each of these original songs will be performed at the spring choir concerts at each school. In addition, Kirby is serving as a mentor and coach to the twenty students in Songwriting class at the high school, a new course offering for the 2017-18 school year. Students in this class will receive one-on-one writing lessons and performance masterclasses with Kirby during his time at Midview. We are excited to welcome Brent Kirby to Midview this spring!

Brent Kirby writes with veterans for Project D.R.E.W.

http://wksu.org/post/shuffle-project-drew-helps-veterans-heal-through-song

Brent Kirby’s 10 x 3 Songwriter Showcase expands to Jilly’s Music Room in Akron

Brent Kirby, the curator of the popular 10 x 3 Songwriter/Band Showcase in Cleveland will be expanding the 10 x 3 Songwriter/Band Showcase on the first and third Wednesdays from 8-11pm at the Jilly’s Music Room in Akron. Jilly’s Music Room is located at 111 North Main St. Akron, OH 44308. The first show will take place on Jan. 3 2018 with Brent Kirby as the host. 

The 10 x 3 Songwriter/Band Showcase was started by Cleveland based musician Brent Kirby in June of 2011, modeled after the showcases Kirby had played in Nashville when he lived there. Brothers Lounge in Cleveland has been the home of the showcase, with shows presented every week for the last six and half years. Over that time, there have been over 1500 individual northeast Ohio, regional and national touring acts who have performed their original songs. “This is about original music.” Kirby states “There has been a huge investment in sports, food, and breweries, but music has not found the same level of support. It’s time for that to happen in Northeast Ohio. “

The 10 x 3 a pre-arranged open mic, with the performer requesting a time slot, and the schedule posted before the event happens. Ten performers play three songs each, two required to be original, and the third can be an original or cover. Originals are the focus, with collaboration encouraged. “It’s a performance opportunity, a place to try new songs, invite others onstage, and create some musical moments that are the whole reason us musicians write and play.”

Networking and connecting with other musicians, creative types and fans is another goal of the 10 x 3. “Over the years, I have seen relationships made at the 10 x 3 between musicians and supporters that have spilled over into other aspects of what people do.” Kirby says, “It’s about connecting people, which is why I think the Akron/Cleveland kinship is so important.”

Kirby will be hosting the Akron 10 x 3 on the first and third Wednesday’s while Cleveland based songwriters Jason Meyers and Ray Flanagan will trade off hosting the Cleveland 10 x 3.

To sign up to perform at the 10 x 3, email Brent at THE10X3@GMAIL.COM or visit www.brentkirby.com and fill out the time slot submission form on the 10 x 3 page.

Brent Kirby plays a set for the Great Lakes Burning River Fest

Brent Kirby will play a solo set at the 16th Annual Great Lake Burning River Fest from 8:05-8:45pm. The festival features all original homegrown music from Northeast Ohio, The Burning River Foundation is dedicated to improving, maintaining and celebrating the vitality of our regional freshwater resources. The event takes place at the historic Coast Guard station overlooking the Cleveland city skyline.