Seven performances will be featured during the 2025-2026 Spotlight Series in Kent presented by the Kent Arts Commission and Kent Parks Department.
The series begins Oct. 11 and runs through March 6.
Tickets are on sale at kentwa.gov/departments/kent-parks/arts/spotlight-series or by calling 253-856-5051.
Robin Spielberg
• Saturday, Oct. 11
• 7:30 p.m.
• Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center, 10020 SE 256th St.
• Tickets: $30 general, $28 senior, $20 youth
Spielberg performs enchanting pieces for solo piano from her vast repertoire of popular American melodies and original favorites. Known around the globe for her expressive style and concert rapport, Spielberg’s career at the piano has taken her from coast to coast. She has performed on PBS and CBS-TV, as well as in Carnegie Hall.
Uptown: A Celebration of Motown and Soul
• Friday, Oct. 24
7:30 p.m.
• Kentwood Performing Arts Center, 25800 164th Ave. SE, Covington
• Tickets: $35 general, $32 senior, $25 youth
Fusing Bruno-Mars-caliber stage presence with top-tier vocals and wall-to-wall choreography, the men of Uptown combine the smooth stylings of R&B with the fresh hits of today in a unique and modern show that gets every crowd on their feet! Born in New York City (the epicenter of contemporary pop and soul music), the group exudes unparalleled energy with their blend of contemporary radio hits and classic Motown music.
Magical Strings 39th Annual Celtic Yuletide Concert
• Sunday, Dec. 7
• 3 p.m.
• Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center, 10020 SE 256th St.
• Tickets: $30 general, $28 senior, $20 youth
The Boulding Family’s musical celebration of the holiday season is a treasured tradition in Kent. Once again, Pam and Philip Boulding are joined by their children, grandchildren, and guests for an afternoon of enchanting Yuletide music. The Bouldings perform on Celtic harps, hammered dulcimers, whistles, strings, percussion, and harp-like instruments from around the world. Guests add Irish step dancing, drumming, and storytelling for a festive and memorable performance.
International Guitar Night – The World on a String
• Friday, Jan. 30
• 7:30 p.m.
• Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center, 10020 SE 256th St.
• Tickets: $35 general, $32 senior, $22 youth
International Guitar Night, North America’s longest running mobile guitar festival, is celebrating its 26th anniversary. As always, the show will bring together the world’s foremost acoustic guitarists. Classical virtuoso Stephanie Jones (Australia) is heading an all-star lineup with three newcomers, including Brazilian sensation Lucan Imbiriba, Russian fingerstyle innovator Alexandr Misko, and IGN’s first ukulele maestro, Taimane from Hawaii.
Gadan
• Thursday, Feb. 12
• 7:30 p.m.
• Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center, 10020 SE 256th St.
• Tickets: $32 general, $30 senior $22 youth
This storming new band blends the drive of Irish traditional music and Celtgrass with the soul of folk and Appalachian music… and spices it 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 U.S. In 2024, they were joined by Enda Scahill, a tenor banjo master, award-winner, All-Ireland champion, and founder of We Banjo 3.
Women of Americana – A Celebration of American Music from Bob Dylan to Bonnie Raitt
• Friday, Feb. 27
• 7:30 p.m.
• Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center, 10020 SE 256th St.
• Tickets: $35 general, $32 senior, $25 youth
Early folk, gospel, and Western swing musicians laid the groundwork for Americana, extending back to the founding mothers and fathers of country music, including Hank Williams, Woody Guthrie and the Carter Family. From the mid-20th century through the present day, more singer-songwriter luminaries followed: Bob Dylan, The Band, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Bonnie Raitt, Lucinda Williams, Rosanne Cash, Emmylou Harris and Brandi Carlile. Coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the United States’ founding, 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.
Yesterday and Today: The Interactive Beatles
• Friday, March 6
• 7:30 p.m.
• Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center, 10020 SE 256th St.
• Tickets: $35 general, $32 senior, $25 youth
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. 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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