Downtownhecks Tap Room in Massillon becomes the Bluebird Cafe of Stark County

MASSILLON – Downtownhecks Tap Room was dimly lit as people drank, conversed, ate cheesecake and listened to the impassioned singing of Tawnya Reynolds.

Perched on a chair at the back of the venue, the country music artist strummed an acoustic guitar and fixed her eyes on the audience with a quiet intensity. In between songs, she chatted with those nearby, injecting humor before introducing the next tune.

Reynolds has performed at Nashville hotspots and outside the country. She also appeared on "The Voice" in 2013, advancing to the top 32.

But she seemed especially at home at Downtownhecks, a hangout at 43 Lincolnway E in downtown Massillon.

Once a month, the Nashville-based singer-songwriter performs at the Massillon bar. She'll return at 7:30 p.m. June 2.

"I'm so grateful because this has been such a cool connection," Reynolds said during a break in her three-hour set in late March. "And it's a corner of the world that I didn't know existed, and now I can't live without it."

Dori Heck owns Downtownhecks, and oversees it, while her husband, Matt Heck, a fellow music lover, helps curate the acts and bands, including those who perform at the adjacent Sangria Stand. Dori owns that business, too.

Downtownhecks features more than 100 Ohio craft beers, with 24 on tap, along with wine and craft sangrias. The full bar includes high-end bourbon and tequila.

Saturday nights feature guest food trucks; customers also can bring in their own food from partnering restaurants in downtown Massillon. Thursday nights feature locally made gourmet cheesecake and macarons.

Using a patio, guests can move back and forth between the tap room and sangria/boutique side.

Dustin Kines of Canal Fulton is another Nashville musician who performs in Massillon

Downtownhecks has become a hub for local and area musicians, as well as hosting a few Nashville artists. A cozy venue where music either can be the main draw for visitors or a pleasant backdrop.

Standing out among the musical guests is Reynolds, who impressed celebrity coaches Adam Levine, Shakira and Usher on "The Voice."

Dustin Kines is another Nashville-based talent who performs at Downtownhecks. The 34-year-old Canal Fulton native released his debut self-titled album last year. Kines recently performed at the North Canton Craft Beer Festival.

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Kines, who plays modern country, also will perform at 8:30 p.m. July 30 at the Balloon Classic on the campus of Kent State University at Stark during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival.

He compared Downtownhecks to venues in Tennessee, "where the people are really there to seek the music again."

"I recently was blessed enough to play The Bluebird Cafe (in Nashville), and I am glad to see that something like that is being inspired for recreation right here outside of my hometown," he said of Downtownhecks.

Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, Keith Urban, Trisha Yearwood and other country music stars got their start at the small but iconic Bluebird Cafe, including Taylor Swift, who returned to perform there a few years ago.

'Their voice just resonates through you, and you feel their feelings.'

Matt Heck seeks musical artists who are a good match for Downtownhecks.

"You sit there and you listen to someone sing live acoustic songs, and their voice just resonates through you, and you feel their feelings, and you feel their emotions, and the people around you have the same experience," Matt Heck said. "That feeling stays with you and you want to come again."

Downtownhecks regulars include the Stark County-based Hey Monea, a popular pop rock band with Americana and mainstream influences. Other performers are Patrick Masalko, Ben Gage, Josh Laird, Nick Bonner, Cody J. Martin, My Buddy Josh's Band and Josee McGee.

Hey Monea is scheduled for 7 p.m. on June 1.

For other upcoming show dates, visit www.facebook.com/Downtownhecks-Tap-Room-100446235133456

Matt and Dori Heck share passion for music

So how did Downtownhecks, which opened roughly two years ago, attract musicians from the Nashville scene?

Matt Heck is a music man by nature. In the '90s, he even made a run in the industry as a member of the hip-hop, pop music group Nu Groove.

"We just kind of took to music," he said of the four members. "We danced, we performed, we had a manager. We got very lucky — we got signed with Atlantic Records."

Nu Groove recorded music in Los Angeles, but an album was never released, and Heck, a 1994 Washington High School graduate, decided to pursue other interests.

Moving to New York, Heck worked as a financial advisor and stockbroker. New York is also where he met Dori; they both worked at a pub in Huntington. She's originally from California.

Dori loves music, too.

"What's great is because of our different backgrounds and our different likes on music, we'll lay in bed at night and we go through music on Facebook and ask each other, 'What do you think?' We're listening, and acting like fans."

It wasn't long before the couple was booking musicians at Downtownhecks. Reynolds path to Massillon was through a Nashville friend who knows Matt Heck.

During the earlier phase of the pandemic in 2020, when live performing was shut down in Nashville, Reynolds began performing at the Massillon bar.

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And she's been making regular visits to Downtownhecks since. Reynolds often shows up with her friend Tarynn Minegar of Akron, who helped connect Heck and the country music artist.

"It's a fun place to play," Minegar said. "Tawnya will go anywhere she can to play music. That's what she does; she's a singer-songwriter."

Matt Heck said he admires Reynolds' commitment to her craft.

"She's in it for the music," he said. "The thing that sets musicians apart in my opinion is you can tell what musicians are up there because they love to perform music, because it's their passion, and they're excited about it.

"When (guests) leave the bar that night, that memory stays with them rather than some background music with someone playing a guitar."

Downtownhecks isn't a music club in the traditional sense. There's no large stage, no theater seating. Tables, couches and comfy chairs maintain an intimate, casual atmosphere, where both regulars and first-time guests feel at ease.

Downtownhecks is a hybrid of a refined road house, hip brew pub and neighborhood gathering place.

'When I play here, no two shows are the same.'

Reynolds performs at venues in Nashville, other parts of Tennessee, Michigan, Akron and elsewhere. She's toured the country previously.

Blending classic and contemporary country, her last album was the 2019 release, "Watering Dead Flowers."

Before Reynolds was asked to audition for "The Voice"  in 2013, she had already released multiple records.

Highlight moments on the show included her rendition of "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys" and "The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac.

When she played at Downtownhecks earlier this spring, Reynolds embraced the relaxed vibe. She entertained the crowd with original material, plus renditions of Fleetwood Mac and Dolly Parton songs, as well as a spirited cover of the Whitney Houston song, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)."

"It's like snowflakes," she said after her first set. "When I play here, no two shows are the same."

"This is so nice because people are here for the music," Reynolds added. "And they love how it feels to be around the music."

Reynolds said she makes time to perform at Downtownhecks because the venue and its proprietors "are completely authentic."

"And they're in love with what they do," she said. "They let me be me."

Matt and Dori traveled to Nashville recently to visit the singer. Reynolds gave them a tour of the music scene.

"Every place we went with Tawnya ... she knew everyone playing (including Grammy-winning guitarists)," Matt said. "It was amazing to go into a bar with tons of people and the musician shout out to Tawnya and invite her on stage to sing."

Heck also was on the lookout for other musicians to bring to Massillon.

"I'm always scouting for musicians no matter where I am to hopefully be able to come to an agreement to play in Massillon," he said. "I am always trying to bring the best new musician and best beer here."

'Matt is trying to bring a piece of that songwriting original music magic here to Massillon.'

Heck considers Kines another prized musical discovery.

"Playing home will always feel the best," Kines said in response to emailed questions. "Mom and dad can make it front row, but most of all, Matt is trying to bring a piece of that songwriting original music magic here to Massillon, and moving away from the cover band scene is the best feeling in the world.

"When you see Nashville, you can see peoples' working hearts just being put to use nonstop," the Northwest High School graduate said. "Matt made me feel like I was something; a somebody who carries something people want to hear and be a part of."

'Any request I throw out, she'll play'

Downtownhecks patron Todd Fair is an avid country music fan.

"You name it," he said, "and I've seen them."

He rattled off big-time performers he's seen live. Garth Brooks. Willie Nelson. Brad Paisley. Keith Urban. Dierks Bentley. Travis Tritt. Toby Keith. Randy Travis

Fair hadn't heard of Reynolds before watching her at Downtownhecks.

"This is my favorite because you can see the artist," the 50-year-old Massillon resident said. "And you're 10 feet away. (Reynolds) plays so great — any request I throw out, she'll play.

"And while you're here, she'll come out and say hi to you, and remember you from last time."

Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and ebalint@gannett.com. On Twitter: @ebalintREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Downtownhecks in Massillon is local spin on Nashville's Bluebird Cafe