Spring Sounds Like This
By Greg Cielec
Great stuff all around… I love going to Nighttown, and over the years have seen every genre of jazz performed there. But I think the place is at its best when there’s a great vocalist surrounded by stellar players. You’ll have that chance to see two of the best in May as Helen Welch does two nights on Fri 5/11 and Sat 5/12. She’ll be doing songs from her recent Beatles tribute album, and then the legendary Freddy Cole comes in on Mon 5/14 and Tue 5/15. I’ve seen both of these great singers perform at Nighttown and it is always special. For those of you who like a touch of rock with your jazz, former Journey drummer Steve Smith brings his band Vital Information to Nighttown on Mon 6/18 and Tue 6/19. Cleveland’s best jazz club has all sorts of great things going on in the next few months.
As you head to Progressive Field this summer to see the Tribe, don’t forget Wilbert’s, right outside centerfield on Huron Avenue. The club will feature almost every genre of popular music over the next few months. I have not seen her yet, but I have heard very good things about Australian folk singer Marta Pecek who plays the club on Fri 6/1. Thu 6/14 will be a special night at the club with a tribute to the recently deceased blues DJ “Fitz” Fitzpatrick, with a who’s who of the local blues scene playing including “Moon Child” Haddix and Wallace Coleman. Longtime Cleveland favorite Norm Nardini from Pittsburgh will play for two nights Fri 6/15 and Sat 6/16.
Don’t forget to head out to the west side soon and check out all the good things happening at the Winchester in Lakewood. Fri 5/4 slide guitarist Chris Duarte from Austin, Texas; Glen Philips from Toad the Wet Sprocket plays Sat 5/19; and local favorite Bowie tribute band Diamond Dogs returns on Sat 6/16. Lots of other great shows, plus Phil Keaggy in July.
Down in Kent the Kent Stage is continuing its tenth anniversary celebration with some terrific shows, including Asleep at the Wheel and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on Fri 5/18; blues guitarist Robert Cray on Sat 6/2; and making a rare northern Ohio appearance on Fri 6/8 is Rickie Lee Jones.
The Beachland Ballroom as always will be going strong over the next few months with blues guitarist Sonny Landreth on Thu 5/17; the Punch Brothers [pictured] on Sun 6/3; Jonathan Richman on Wed 6/6; and one of my favorites, Paul Thorn and his Band on Wed 6/20. Don’t forget about the club’s rock and roll brunches on Sundays and its record/vintage clothing store in the basement.
Downtown at the House of Blues things will be rocking with local products Rosavelt along with Don Dixon and Marti Jones on Fri 5/18; local favorites the BoDeans on Sun 6/24; and Collective Soul on Tue 6/26. Don’t forget about their Mother’s Day Brunch, and Brandi Carlisle and Rufus Wainwright are coming in August.
[Photo of the Punch Brothers by C. Taylor Crothers]
Greg Cielec is a local writer who covers mostly music and sports for a variety of publications and websites. He is also a full time English and creative writing teacher at Streetsboro High School; an adjunct professor at BGSU Firelands College and Lakeland Community College; and a football coach at John Carroll University. He has published two books of fiction, My Cleveland Story (1998) and Home and Away Games (2006), and the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Michael Heaton has called him “the Mark Twain of Cleveland.” Check out his website and blog at http://www.GregCielec.com.
Cleveland Heights, OH 44106
Cleveland, OH 44115
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Kent, OH 44240
Cleveland, OH 44110
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One Response to “Concert Picks to Take You Into Summer”
Chris Gammell
In the same vein as the Punch Brothers (who are awesome) and at the same venue (Beachland) on the 30th, the Infamous Stringdusters will be in town. That same “new bluegrass” sound. Quite good, I’ll be there.