From Record Stores to Dance Floors, Cleveland’s Music Scene Rocks On
Planning a trip to Cleveland? Music fans should be. Make a musical pilgrimage to the town where an integrated audience turned out in droves in March of 1952 for the first official rock n’ roll concert--The Moondog Coronation Ball. Explore the plentiful bars, clubs, outdoor amphitheaters and theatres where local artists and national acts play live nightly. And, shop the vintage stores and record shops that dot the city immortalized by Ian Hunter’s classic “Cleveland Rocks.”
Cleveland offers a slew of events, performance venues, museums, sporting events and outdoor activities, but that’s just a bonus track for travelers with a musical agenda.
+Rock History Why is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum located in Cleveland, Ohio? Find out, plus other Cleveland rock trivia. +more
+Rock and Roll Hall of Fame See the handwritten lyrics, stage costumes, rare recordings, childhood memorabilia and more of your rock idols. +more
+Hipster Hangouts Here are some vintage and record shops, bars, restaurants and other hotspots that are appropriately rock and roll. +more
+Concert Clubs + Amphitheaters For the size of the city, there is a large number of clubs and, for music lovers, that's a great thing. There’s live music every night. +more
Use the Visiting Cleveland section of our website for more vacation planning information.
Traveler's Tips
Some clubs and venues (Beachland Ballroom, Grog Shop, Blossom Music Center, The Winchester, etc.) are not right downtown and getting a cab can take some time. Be sure to map your trip if you are driving or make early arrangements to call a cab for the return trip if you need a ride home.
Shops around the Beachland Ballroom are open late. "This Way Out," the vintage store inside the club, is open till midnight and other stores in the vicinity of the club ("Music Saves" record store and "Shoparooni") also keep later hours to accommodate the concertgoers in the neighborhood.
Remember to feed your meter if you are at the Grog Shop. Many of the Cleveland Heights' meters are enforced seven (7) days a week.
Plan an evening out on Coventry if you go to the Grog Shop. You'll find plenty of restaurants (Mint Cafe, Tommy's, Winking Lizard, Pacific East) and shops (Big Fun, City Buddha, Mac's Backs Books, American Apparel, Revolution Records) in walking distance of the club.
The Schwartz Brothers do a free show every Thursday at Major Hoopples River Bed Cafe. Glenn (founding member of The James Gang and former member of Pacific Gas and Electric) and his brother, Gene, have been together for decades and perform high-energy blues/rock. Not for the casual tourist, this show is loud, edgy and unpredictable. Hooples, a blue collar bar, offers a unique view of the city.
Every year, festivals at the Time Warner Cable Amphitheater at Tower City include concerts. You can see local entertainers and big-name touring acts while attending the Great American Rib Cook-Off + Music Festival or the Taste of Cleveland. Best of all, for those willing to stand and listen, the show is included with the price of your general admission ticket.
Pats in the Flats bills itself as a working man's bar by day and a indie/punk/rock club at night. This worn looking bar is tucked away in the industrial area below the Tremont neighborhood and is not a) easy to find, b) recommended to travel to by cab, c) something most tourists would enjoy and d) equipped with the most convenient restrooms. That said, true rock fans will find an eclectic schedule of cutting edge bands at this Cleveland staple.
If you are headed to Blossom Music Center, bring a GPS or pay close attention to signage. You'll go by farms and parks to get to the scenic outdoor amphitheater where rockers and the Cleveland Orchestra come to play. Also, if you are coming down from the north, consider stopping in Peninsula on your way. You can buy a brew there way cheaper than the venue (Winking Lizard or Fishers Cafe and Pub) and visit some independent shops like Blue Heron Bookstore, Crooked River Herb Farm Shop or Elements Gallery.
Check the Rock Hall's schedule. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum regularly sponsors lectures and concerts--some free to the public, like the "Summer in the City" outdoor afterwork shows.
Find out who is being honored and make plans to attend the star-studded American Masters Series. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum pays tribute to a seminal artist each year. After a week of educational and entertaining events, there is a history-making tribute concert featuring a host of notable artists.
Can we have a "Hallelujah?" The House of Blues Gospel Brunch feeds the soul and the hungry traveler with a gospel performance/buffet combination that cannot be beat. Get there early and have a mimosa for us.
