It is if you like culture, because it seems like all our artists and institutions are back in high gear, with the Akron Art Museum offering a look behind the scenes, CVNP hosting a local jam at Happy Days, the Akron Symphony exploring diversity, BAYArts opening their holiday show, WordStage Theatre taking on Thurber, BlueWater Orchestra performing an all-American program, CPT in partnership with Masrah Cleveland Al-Arabi, B movies at the Grog Shop, a panel on architecture at Art House, and a 2-day artisan market at Yellowcake Shop.CoolCleveland’s arts correspondent, Bruce Checefsky has been following the developments at Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, and this week he reports that Fred Bidwell, chair of the CAC’s committee in charge of the campaign to renew the CAC’s funding, announced, “Unfortunately, I cannot see a path for successfully launching this campaign…” We suggest you attend the CAC board meeting today at 4PM at CPL Louis Stokes. If things are falling apart, it might be time to get involved.
Another reason we love this season is the special show we’re planning that puts Vanity Crash together with the newly formed Akron band the Crones, led by Tracey Thomas of Unit 5, with an all-female, over 50, outfit performing women-led 1980s music. Catch the fun this Fri 11/17 at Jilly’s and bring a dance partner. Up and away.
Acclaimed pianist, author, and Oberlin alumnus Jeremy Denk ’90 curates a program that unites female composers from the 19th to the 21st centuries with pieces by Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms. Denk pulls these works and composers together to tell a story of women’s genius—both recognized and neglected in their times, and remembered and forgotten in ours.
His performance on Wed 11/30 at 7:30 includes works by earlier composers Louise Farrenc, Clara Schumann, Cécile Chaminade, Amy Beach, and Ruth Crawford Seeger that sit alongside works by acclaimed contemporary composers Tania León, Meredith Monk, Phyllis Chen, and Missy Mazzoli. Tickets: $10-$35. Read more.
Catch this all-female, over 50, power pop band with an edge from Akron that’s been turning heads since their Summer 2023 debut: The Crones, sharing a stage for the first time with Cleveland glam punk heroes Vanity Crash, as they crash land at Jilly’s Music Room in Akron this Fri 11/17. The dance floor will be on fire!
Tracey Thomas first made waves in the late 1970s/early 1980s with Unit 5, lauded by Buzzbin magazine: “Another band the likes of Belinda Carlisle and Susanna Hoffs should tip their cap to is the Tracey Thomas-fronted Unit 5.” Her new group the Crones returns the favor with their popping versions of songs by Blondie, Sinéad O’Connor, Patti Smith, B-52s, Pretenders and more. Vanity Crash continues to premiere new original songs as they collect material for their upcoming 6th release, while preparing a final set of covers via Velvet Underground, Mott, T.Rex, Zombies and Bowie. Read more.
Two part story: First: Philanthropist/arts leader/FRONT founder Fred Bidwell dropped a bombshell this week in a Plain Dealer editorial. He had been expected to lead the fundraising for the campaign to renew the arts tax which expires in 2027. CoolCleveland arts reporter Bruce Checefsky reports that Bidwell now he says he will not do so until major changes are made at Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, the organization tasked with distributing the tax money, which has been leaving a trail of mistrust and questions, especially among artists, for years.
Next: CoolCleveland arts reporter Bruce Checefsky spoke with Bidwell after the editorial appeared. While he said it’s essential to renew the levy, he doesn’t see a path forward if the status quo is maintained. “Right now, we do not have enough support to lead to successful fundraising,” he said. “We cannot move forward without that campaign support. We need the arts community to advocate, including individual artists together with small, medium and large arts organizations. They are the ones that have to get out the vote. We need to have a team on board, and right now, we do not have our team on board.” Read the statement and interview with Bidwell.
Cleveland-based vocalist/songwriter/guitarist Moises Borges is a native of Bahai, Brazil. And on his new album, Baiano, he pays musical tribute to his musically renowned state and country in 10 original songs. He’ll celebrate its release at the BOP STOP this Saturday 11/18. Read more.
Once again, the Panza Foundation, founded by local musician John Panza and his wife Jane in 2014, is hosting its annual benefit at the Happy Dog Fri 11/17 to showcase last year’s grantees and announce the new group of bands who’ll get funding for something they need — studio time, gear, a record pressing — to move their career forward. Read more.
Steve Presser closed his popular shop Big Fun a while back, but it turns out he still has a few(!) of his delightfully curated, one-of-a-kind, gotta-have-it collectibles and nostalgic goodies lying around in some secret, underground location somewhere. So he thought he would crack open those boxes and make them available to the public in a pop-up shop located in his previous store on Coventry. Catch him while you can. Read more.
The first of its kind census of the local music scene launched last week, and so far, according to organizer Sean Watterson, Cleveland’s responses are outpacing our peer cities. But to date, respondents have been 80% white, and about 66% male. If you or anyone you know works in any related music fields (production support, music marketing, venue workers, agents, publishing, media, medical, manufacturing, recording, retail, etc.), encourage them to complete this important survey to determine future funding and support to grow the industry. Read more.
MON 11/20 Behind the Scenes The Akron Art Museum program shares with visitors what goes on in putting together an exhibit and answers questions about what they’d like to know about the art.
WED 11/22 Icy Beauty Cleveland Botanical Garden opens a revamped holiday show called Frost with new displays and old favorites such as the gingerbread houses. It runs through December 31.
