Roots of American Music continues its new Masters of American Music series—an ongoing concert and storytelling experience celebrating the artists who shaped the foundations of American music.

Held on the fourth Wednesday of each month, the series brings audiences into an intimate setting where music and storytelling come together, connecting the audience to the people who inspired the music we love today.

For the third event, the series continues with a tribute to Mississippi John Hurt, led by Ray Flanagan, one of Cleveland’s hardest working and musicians and songwriters. Ray has just released his debut LP on vinyl "My Mind is Burning Up" on April 3, 2026.

Mississippi John Hurt was a master of country blues guitar, known for his gentle fingerpicking style, warm voice, and timeless songs like “Candy Man,” “Spike Driver Blues,” and “Make Me a Pallet on Your Floor.” His music remains a cornerstone of American folk and blues traditions.

Flanagan will be joined by special guest Mary Frances Hurt—granddaughter of Mississippi John Hurt and founder and President of the Mississippi John Hurt Foundation—who will share stories and personal reflections alongside the music, offering a rare and intimate connection to Hurt’s life and legacy.

Together, they will bring Mississippi John Hurt’s music to life through performance, storytelling, and shared experience—continuing a series that invites audiences to listen, learn, and connect.

$15 cover at the door; all are welcome.

Proceeds from the event support the mission of Roots of American Music, which educates, inspires, and connects communities across Northeast Ohio through live performances and arts-integrated music education programs in schools, senior centers, and community spaces. To learn more about ROOTS and their programming, visit: https://www.rootsofamericanmusic.org/

Justin Gorski has been playing piano since the age of 5. His music has taken him throughout the US, Ireland, and Europe. He has performed and recorded music with Irish groups, Blues Bands, Americana and Singer/Songwriters to name a few. Justin has released 7 albums of his own material, his latest coming out in 2025 entitled "this, right now". He currently lives in Lakewood, Ohio, running a Vegan Cafe and raising his three wonderful, at times, children. In his small amount of spare time, Justin enjoys napping while "doing the crossword."

Spotify Link:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6E335YbKv0KiOGr8YokSmA
FB Link:
https://www.facebook.com/bighoke/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/bighoke1/
Website:
https://bighoke.com/

“What's better, the movie or the book?"

How does a novel change when it is adapted for the screen? What are the merits of each medium? Visible Voice Books invites you to the first meeting of our new Movie vs. Book Club, where we’ll discuss these very questions.

Join your host Isaac in discussing The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith, and its 2015 film adaptation, Carol, directed by Todd Haynes. We encourage you to purchase the novel from us and watch the movie prior to the meeting (available for streaming on various platforms).

Book picks for upcoming meetings:

• 7/1 - Passing by Nella Larsen

  This is a free event; all are welcome.
  Use the form below to sign up and stay connected for book club updates (or just show up!)

About the NEOMFA

The Northeast Ohio Master of Fine Arts (NEOMFA) is the nation’s only consortial MFA creative writing program. Combining the resources of three gateway institutions—The University of Akron, Cleveland State University, and Kent State University—the NEOMFA exposes students to a multi-campus network of faculty, peers, and opportunities. Find out more at neomfa.org.

Host

Lindsey Maple is a fiction writer born and raised in Akron. She’s currently working on revising material from her thesis Girl Art and works as the Associate Editor of Rubbertop Review. When she’s not writing, Lindsey is probably listening to Taylor Swift, hanging out with her dog Bella, and drinking red wine.

Readers

Carrie George is a co-editor of Light Enters the Grove: Exploring Cuyahoga Valley National Park Through Poetry (KSU Press). Her chapbook Unbecoming won the 2024 Flume Press prize. She is the recipient of an OAC award, and her work has appeared in Best of the Net, DIAGRAM, Hayden's Ferry Review, and elsewhere.

When Isaiah Hunt isn’t obsessing over 90s and Y2K culture, he is teaching at John Carroll University. His work focuses on commercialism, the entertainment industry, and transhumanist capitalism. He is a recipient of the OAC Award and is a Clarion West alumni. You can find his stories in Obsidian Lit and Earth 2100 Anthology.

Jessica Jewell is the author of four collections of poetry, including Tender, Tender (winner of the Charlotte Mew Prize) and Dust Runner. She is the co-editor of the collection I Hear the World Sing (KSU Press). Jewell is the senior academic program director for the Wick Poetry Center at KSU, where she earned her PhD and MFA.

Benjamin Anthony Rhodes is a queer and trans poet living in Northeast Ohio. His poetry is featured in the anthologies Light Enters the Grove from KSU Press and Let Me Say This: A Dolly Parton Poetry Anthology from Madville Publishing. You can find all of his published work at https://linktr.ee/ginger.benji. Free Palestine.

Alexandra Salata was born and raised in Arizona. Her stories appear in Witness, Black Warrior Review, Puerto del Sol, and elsewhere, and she was named a finalist for the 2024 Salamander Fiction Prize. She teaches at the Cleveland Institute of Art.

This is a free event; all are welcome.

OPUS 216 brings a night of reimagined jazz on strings, original compositions and improvised soundscapes to the stage of Visible Voice books on May 1. The ensemble is thrilled to fill the iconic acoustics at VV with violin, viola, cello, and upright bass for listeners for a memorable night of music-making.

$15 Cover at the door.

https://www.opus216.com/
https://www.instagram.com/opus216/
https://www.facebook.com/OPUS216/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9bzkgbwebnyOKUBFcgigzA

Join Cleveland author Tom Kaschalk for a look at the history of Ohio City—one of Cleveland’s oldest and most vibrant neighborhoods.

Ohio City’s story begins with conflict, including the dramatic 1836 “Battle of the Bridge,” and evolves into one of connection, growth, and resilience. Following its annexation to Cleveland in 1854, the neighborhood developed into a rich urban tapestry where immigrant workers’ homes stood alongside grand mansions. From the iconic West Side Market to a thriving brewing industry that helped shape the neighborhood’s identity and economy, Ohio City reflects the people and industries that built Cleveland. The neighborhood’s historic churches and architecture further tell the story of the diverse immigrant communities who made Ohio City their home.

Through a collection of historic photographs and storytelling, Tom will trace the neighborhood’s journey from its early immigrant roots through decades of change to the thriving community we see today.

Here is the Cleveland History Day link- (all events)- https://www.canalwaypartners.com/events/category/cleveland-history-days

Here is the event link- https://www.canalwaypartners.com/events/2026/06/26/clevelands-ohio-city-neighborhood-a-visual-history

Here is the registration - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/clevelands-ohio-city-neighborhood-a-visual-history-tickets-1988024491771?aff=oddtdtcreator

Books will be available for purchase and signing following the presentation.

“What's better, the movie or the book?"

How does a novel change when it is adapted for the screen? What are the merits of each medium? Visible Voice Books invites you to the first meeting of our new Movie vs. Book Club, where we’ll discuss these very questions.

Join your host, Isaac in discussing Passing by Nella Larson, and its 2021 film adaptation, Passing, directed by Rebecca Hall. We encourage you to purchase the novel from us and watch the movie prior to the meeting (available for streaming on various platforms).

Book picks for upcoming meeting:

• This is a free event; all are welcome.
  Use the form below to sign up and stay connected for book club updates (or just show up!)