As previously reported, this year’s Brite Winter Festival, taking place in Saturday February 21, will be moving again for its 16th year. It’s the biggest move in the history of the event which began as an informal event on the East Bank of the Flats near Merwin’s Wharf, then moved up to Ohio City, and back down to the West Bank of the Flats, jumping back to the East Bank last year.
This year it’s moving all the way over to Cleveland’s northeast side, to the Waterloo Arts District in North Collinwood. The neighborhood, anchored by the Beachland Ballroom and Tavern, offers plenty of indoor spaces for wintertime concerts. But it will not, as rumored, be exclusively indoors: there will be two outdoor stages as well.
The festival has just announced its 37-act lineup, and as in recent years, it’s focused on some of the best area talent, leaning, as usual, toward diverse styles of indie rock. Headliners will be one of the area’s hottest up-and-coming young bands, the classic rock-influenced LoConti. Among the other highlights are the husband-and-wife band Hooked Like Helen, Columbus pop band Adam Paddock, Jenna Fournier’s dreamy-but-aggressive Kid Tigrrr, children’s performer Mr. Jeff, traditional country-influenced Country Honk, Americana artist Lea Marra, the Brit-influenced rock of Guy Snowdon & the Citizens, Black Voltron’s eclectic soul/jazz/global music, and Dreadlock Dave’s relentlessly sunny jam-influenced music.
Go here for the full lineup as well as tickets and updates on venues and other festival information.