BRENT KIRBY
One of the Plain Dealer's "25 Acts to Watch"
Brent Kirby’s music has been called "Main Character" music, which is reflective of the personal emotion and collective perspective he offers in his songs. His performances are reflective in nature, with the listeners often finding themselves as a catalyst in the song. Kirby's universal lyrics are on the surface specific and at the same time deeply layered, where the audience can find a common and personal point of relation and entry into the song. His soulful voice is both unique and soothing, colored with weathered age and experience. In 2022, Brent was voted “Best Folk” by the Cleveland Music Awards and nominated for “Best Songwriter” by the Cleveland Scene. Kirby was especially proud of the "Best Folk" award, saying "I try hard to be a good example, and treat people with respect".
Brent Kirby’s been called by many of his peers one of Cleveland’s hardest working musicians and his actions prove that. In addition to the 2022 Cleveland Music Awards and Cleveland Scene Awards, he was voted in 2013, the “Best Singer” and also “Best Male Vocal” by the Cleveland Scene, and 2012, he was voted “Best Musician”. When he is not playing solo or with his solo band, he writes the tunes and fronts the Jack Fords (2007, 2009 Best Rock Band Cleveland Scene), leads the monthly revival of Gram Parsons with his band The New Soft Shoe, and plays drums for Doug McKean and The Stuntmen, and the talented Cleveland holiday band, the Ohio City Singers. His 10 x 3 Songwriter showcase weekly series at the Bop Stop has created an encouraging, vibrant original music scene.
In addition to all of the awards garnered by all the other groups Kirby has been a part of, he has been individually nominated multiple times by the Free Times and Cleveland Scene for Best Male Singer/Songwriter and Best Male Vocalist. This has led to sharing the stage with Squeeze, Elizabeth Cook, Edwin McCain, Jorma Kakounen, Ellis Paul, Michael Stanley, Will Hoge, John Eddie, Band of Heathens, Southside Johnny, Blind Boys of Alabama, Bottlerockets, Augustana, Devon Allman, The Yayhoos, James Gang, Marah, The Trews, Dave Alvin, Paul Thorn, Elephant Revival, American Aquarium, Bobby Keys, Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys, Raul Malo, The Waco Brothers, among many others.
“Pop songs with catchy hooks, incredible
instrumentation, and lyrics with soul”
- Jason Burcharski
52 Weeks in Cleveland