Join us Saturday, June 6th in the Ballroom for a celebration of local country music. Talented songwriters from Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania are coming together in the Ballroom for the 4th Annual Cowtown in the Round event, performing all original songs. This event is FREE - no cover charge.
The format of a “round” has three songwriters on stage. One performs a song, followed by the next writer, and the next, and so on. Each songwriter can join in with the others, add harmonies, contribute a guitar riff, or just listen. Writers talk about how and why they wrote the songs, and there are always lively stories and interaction between the writers, and audience.
Here’s this year’s Cowtown schedule:
1:00 - 2:15 p.m. Ryan Blakeman, Carl Besece, Dave Smith
2:30 - 3:45 p.m. Taylor Borton, Cora Reef, Molly Maltempi
4:00 - 5:15 p.m. Leo D’Angelo, Carl Besece, Dave Smith
5:30 - 6:45 p.m. Ryan Blakeman, Taylor Borton, Cora Reef
7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Ryan Blakeman, Dave Smith
Several of the songwriters performing have written and performed extensively in Nashville, Tennessee.
We have 3 food trucks scheduled for the event: Bartell's Take on Tokyo House, Frytanic & Totally 80's Ice Cream will be setup on the patio all day serving from 12-9 p.m.
2026 Cowtown Poster designed by @mackkshaff_creative
Singer/Songwriter Bios:
Molly Maltempi is a singer-songwriter originally from Ohio. She is currently a freshman at Belmont University studying Commercial Music and Songwriting in Nashville, Tennessee.
Dave Smith is a singer songwriter from the band Okie Ross. He grew up loving John Prine and Guy Clark. He never liked the devils music or recreational drugs. But he does like writing songs about these things and many others.
Cora Reef is an energetic singer-songwriter and guitarist who is proud to continue the tradition of Midwest emo music with a touch of country flair. Her single "Wayward, Prodigal" gained popularity on TikTok, leading to covers and other fan works. When she is not on stage, Cora is teaching voice lessons or exploring Ohio's parks. You can follow her work on instagram @corareefmusic, Facebook @Cora Reef, and TikTok @corareef.
Ryan Blakeman is a Singer-Songwriter based in Youngstown, OH. Ryan plays a smooth blend of Americana, Folk, Southern Jam, Blues, Classic Country, and Pop influences that is best described as "Whiskey Rock"
Americana singer-songwriter from Northeastern Ohio, Leo D’Angelo’s music is steeped in elements of blues, folk and rock.
Taylor Borton is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter blending Country, Americana, and contemporary influences into a distinctive, story-driven style rooted in real-life experiences. She has written with multiple #1 songwriters and earned an honorable mention in American Songwriter for “Honky Tonk Hair,” co-written with Bill DiLuigi and Mary Zalla. In 2025, she sold out a ticketed acoustic showcase in her hometown of Youngstown, Ohio, and has been featured by outlets including WKBN, WKRN, and Today’s Country Magazine. Focused on her career in Nashville, Taylor is emerging as a compelling new voice in Country and Americana music.
Carl Besece writes songs about a life in Appalachia and Alaska. Not just a songwriter but a Song Catcher.