Fri 9/19-Sun 9/21
Once again, the Heights Music Hop, which debuted in 2013, returns to Cleveland Heights four main commercial districts over a period of three days, with a wide range of the area’s most outstanding musicians and bands performing in a variety of spaces, including businesses, bars, restaurants, libraries, parks, sidewalks and church lawns.
It will start in the Cedar-Fairmount district Friday afternoon, move to the Noble Road Library on Saturday morning, followed by a big evening of music in the Cedar Lee District. It ends up on Sunday in Coventry Village.
The range of music performed is vast, including pop, rock, funk, blues, folk, country, hip hop, punk, acoustic singer/songwriters, classical and kids’ music.
On Friday, bands such as Akron’s jazz/funk ensemble JT’s Elektrik Blackout, the Jazz Cats, hip hop group Red Rose Panic, string trio A Glass of Vino, noted jazz musicians Joe Hunter and Dallas Coffee, veteran blues artists the Alan Greene B and singer/songwriter Kate Kooser are among those playing at various Cedar-Fairmount eateries and pubs.
On Saturday, there’s acoustic folk music at the Noble Road Library from 10:30-11:30am. Then the Kids’ Hop starts at 2-3pm with a performance by Jesse Jukebox at S’il Vous Play Toys, the moves down the street at the lawn of the Church of the Saviour for a family-friends performance of old-time fiddle tunes by Mr. Haney & Friends from 3-4:30pm. There’ll also be other activities there for kids.
The music starts early on Saturday in the Cedar Lee district and continues well into the evening, with artists such as powerful neo-soul singer Charity Evonna (CLE Urban Winery @ 5:30-6:30pm), flamenco artist Sonny Mithell (Hexagon Books @ 4-6pm), folksinger Matt Harmon (Mitchell’s Chocolates @ 6-8pm), singer songwriters Ashley Brooke Toussaint (5-6pm) and Morgan Mecaskey (7-8pm) at Peace Lily Plant Boutique, electronic dance artist Wave Magnetik (Olie’s Gift & Ship, 4:30-5:30pm), and acoustic blues musician Austin Walkin’ Cane at Marotta’s from 6-8pm. The Tavern Company will really be hopping and you should probably get there early by the time quirky folk duo The Baker’s Basement takes the stage at 5:30-6:30pm. They’ll be followed by swing jazz/jump blues/soul/early rock ‘n’ roll band Blue Lunch (7:30-8:30) who tend to make dance floors crowded. And we expect one of the most packed shows to be their 9:30-11pm slot when soulful blues rockers Apostle Jones, one of the area’s biggest drawing bands, take the stage.
On Sunday there’ll be a full-on festival at Coventry Village with a sidewalk sale, maker vendors, yoga in the park, and even rides on the Euclid Beach rocket car. Music, ranging from reggae to hip hop to Chinese music to NewOrleans street music, will be happening in the P.E.A.C.E Park, Heights Theater, Grog Shop, B Side, B Side Patio, and Pekar Park as well as several pop-up stages. There’s also line dancing, Wizbang Theater performances, kids’ activities, poetry and screen printing. A bring-your-own instrument drum circle wraps things at P.E.A.C.E. Park from 5-7pm.
All of it’s free and all of it’s overwhelming so you might want to go here, get a schedule and plan ahead.