Artists Making Progress

A little more love, a little less sleep, and a whole lot to be grateful for🤍🖤❤️

This August, we (Nick & Patty) welcomed our son Vox into the world!

His name is a nod to Nick’s favorite guitar amp, but it carries a bigger hope, too: that he’ll grow up helping to amplify the voices that deserve to be heard…which is basically the founding mission of Artists Making Progress (AMP😉)

In many ways, that’s the heart of what we’re building here. We believe in giving people the encouragement, connections, and opportunities to find their voice and share it with the world. And clearly, it’s a mission we take home with us.

To our incredible teachers who kept the music going while we’ve been away, and to everyone who has offered love, patience, and encouragement as our family has grown - thank you.

We’re settling into our new rhythm as a family of 4, and I’m excited to be back making progress with all of you. 🤗🍂
Thanks, friends🫂
With love,
AMP’d Haydu’s 🤘

This Friday!!

The next Kenmore First Friday is coming up Friday, September 4, and we’ve got an evening full of live music, food, family fun, and more on Kenmore Boulevard!

After a weekend of over a hundred bands playing on porches, we’re feeling pretty good about the fact that we already had these bands lined up for Kenmore. Sometimes the timing just works out. 😉

Join us for this month’s lineup:

6:00 PM — The Buffalo Ryders
7:30 PM — Massive Hotdog Recall

Come spend the evening on The BLVD with live music, good food, and plenty of reasons to stick around. No porch required.

This Thursday!!

🎶 Community Jam Session is THIS Thursday! 🎶
Bring your instrument, bring your friends, and come make some music with us! Our Soundscapes Jam is happening this Thursday from 7–8:30 PM at A Walk in the Park Cafe.
Whether you’re a seasoned musician or just love to play, all are welcome! No pressure—just good music, good people, and a chance to connect with your community.
📍 A Walk in the Park Cafe
1491 Aster Ave, Akron
🎵 First Thursday of every month | 7–8:30 PM
Come join the jam and make some noise with us!

Final First Friday - Bring your Friends!
Anyone can perform at the Youth Stage, just send us a DM to get plugged in with the details for your self, your child, your neighbor, your buddy 🌻 See you there!

School’s Starting. Summer’s Not Over Yet! 🎤

The backpacks are coming out, but there’s still time for one more summer spotlight!

We’re looking for youth performers of all experience levels to take the stage on Friday, September 4. Sing, rap, dance, DJ, play an instrument, perform spoken word—or bring a talent all your own!

18 or younger? Come share what you can do and help us send off the summer in style.

Email [email protected] to claim your spot!

Our love for Joe Speegle helped shape one of the core pillars of AMP: creating connections that bring musicians together giving access to performance space⚡️‼️
For decades, Coach has poured into the Firestone Park community by mentoring the youth through baseball, which has quietly been building relationships with many of those kids that will last his lifetime. His love for music inspired our mission: connect, perform, and build your community.

We’re honored to welcome INMAN to AMP for a special hometown performance.

📅 Friday, September 5
⏰ 6:00–10:00 PM
📍 Artists Making Progress
1015 Kenmore Blvd., Akron

🎟️ Free Admission
💛 A suggested $10 donation will help support future performances by Joe and his band at AMP.

If Coach ever impacted your life or if you simply love great local music, we’d love to see you there. Let’s pack the room and celebrate someone who has given so much to our kids⚾️🎸🤘

Friday night (7/10) is our FINAL Summer Concert Series performance!

Come spend your Friday evening with us at the beautiful Chestnut Ridge Park Stone Amphitheater as Back 2 Eden brings us 2 hours of classic rock favorites and original music.

📅 Friday, July 10
🕕 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 1926 19th St. SW, Kenmore!

This concert series has been made possible through a partnership between AMP, APC's Friends of Chestnut Ridge Park, and the City of Akron. It's been wonderful to see this historic stone amphitheater come alive again following major improvements, including upgraded sound capabilities.

Before you come...remember!
• 🪑 Bring a lawn chair or seat cushion. The amphitheater seating is stone.
• 🧺 Pack a picnic and make an evening of it!
• 🚗 Parking can fill up, so arriving a little early is encouraged.
• 🛝 Bring the kids! They'll have so much fun at the park's fantastic new playground

Start by supporting Kenmore Boulevard if you're grabbing dinner & dessert before the show:
Pierre's Pizza or Regina's per preferance, One Love Karibbean Kitchen, Rita's Italian Ice for the whole fam...Reeves Cake Shop, Srina Tea House, Hibachi Xpress, and so many other great locally owned businesses.

We hope you'll join us as we wrap up another great summer of live music in the park. See you Friday! 🎶

A spontaneous iteration of our AMP student band bravely stepped up to perform this FF! 🐦‍🔥🎸🤩

Tomorrow, 7/3! AMP partners with Better Kenmore and Akron Children's to provide entertainment & performances for Kenmore’s youth🏀🥁
Catch up with Rick Miller performing from 6:30-7:30, pull up with an instrument or use one of ours at Open Jam thereafter, and celebrate July’s First Friday on Kenmore Blvd. See you there!

🚨LOCATION CHANGE FOR TOMORROW EVENINGS PERFORMANCES

Due to the expected rain, the 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Chestnut Ridge Park Amphitheater performances have been MOVED INDOORS.

📍 NEW LOCATION:
Artists Making Progress (AMP Studios)
1015 Kenmore Boulevard
Akron, OH 44314
Join us at The BLVD BLOCK PARTY throughout the day, and stay at Artists Making Progress for after-hours performances by:
🎸 Velocity Stax
🎸 Drecking Crew

Please note: Kenmore Boulevard between 13th Street and 16th Street will be closed during the event. Plan to use nearby public parking lots or side streets.
We can't wait to celebrate music, community, and the arts with you—rain or shine! ☔🎶