First Congregational Church of Akron (First Church) will host Paul Kovac’s Big ’Grass Band in concert Thursday, Jan. 17, at 7 p.m. The performance, held in the acoustically rich and historic Meetinghouse, is part of the 2018-2019 Free Concert Series.
Paul Kovac caught the Bluegrass bug while in his teens, learning to play banjo, guitar and mandolin. Over the years, he has performed with Bill Monroe, Chubby Wise, Mac Wiseman, Vassar Clements, and others. These experiences have been the bedrock of his Bluegrass foundation.
His album, “Ohio Bluegrass: From the Appalachian Plateau,” was recorded in Akron, by David Mayfield, and all the musicians involved grew up within 50 miles of one another in Northeast Ohio. The Big ’Grass Band comprises seasoned, experienced players with decades of experience, including: Paul Kovac on banjo and vocals, David Mayfield on mandolin and vocals, Bill Lestock on fiddle, Ron Bonkowski on guitar and vocals, and Andrew Bonnis on bass.
All performances in the concert series are free and require no reservations. The church is located at 292 E. Market St. Parking is available on site.
The goal of First Church’s concert series is to enrich the life of the community through the performance of live music. A free-will offering is taken at the conclusion of each concert to support the series. Those that would like to make an additional contribution to help continue the legacy of music, call (330) 253-5109 email [email protected] or visit www.akronfcc.org.
