Sat 10/25 @ 6PM
The Halloween Balls hosted by Cleveland State University radio station WCSB-FM 89.3, going back 2009, are legendary. They’ve featured significant out-of-town headliners, as well as an array of outstanding locals, in a variety of genres, all in keeping with the station’s eclectic and historically deep musical offerings.
The one this year booked at the Beachland Ballroom and Tavern will be going on, despite Cleveland State University’s abrupt cancellation of the station at noon on Friday October 3, when the school handed it over to public broadcasting’s ideastream to install Jazz NEO, a 24/7 mainstream jazz format. The blowback has been intense. It now includes a unanimous resolution from Cleveland City Council, condemning the abolition of the college station’s student-led, freewheeling programming after nearly 50 years, programming that has played a key part in helping to keep the area’s small club scene vibrant. City Council said it has ever received so many public comments — around 250! — on any issue.
This year’s big headliner is Juanita and Juan, the duo of Alice Bag and Kid Congo Powers, two underground music legends who have known each other since 1977. Bag founded Los Angeles-based punk band The Bags, one of the first (and few) punk bands to foreground women. Guitarist Powers is known for his own band Kid Congo, as well as works with the Cramps and Nick Cave.
Other bands include Cleveland’s Hello! 3D who bring their own twist to irresistible Latin rhythms and sound, garage rockers King Buu, alt country band Cowboy Princess Brigage, the surf rock-influenced Mooks, hardcore band What Counts, “queercore gothpunk” Pretty Pretty Awful and Black female punk trio Skwerm.
The event is still free! Come down and party with former WCSB staffer members (now calling themselves XCSB) and learn how you can join the movement to advocate for the restoration of the station.