The Cloud Nothings will come home to celebrate Credit: Photo by Emanuel Wallace

The Grog Shop opened in 1992 when Kathy Blackman and two other business partners took over a Cleveland Heights bar on the corner of Coventry and Mayfield roads. They all lived near the space and thought it would make for a good rock club.

They were right.

Artwork for the Grog Shop’s upcoming anniversary. Credit: Courtesy of the Grog Shop

The first show featured local garage-rockers Quasi Modo, and the place was packed. It served as a compliment to the now-shuttered Euclid Tavern, which featured indie and underground concerts too.

Thirty years on, the club is still going strong.

To celebrate 30 years, the Grog Shop will present a series of special shows in September. On Thursday, Sept. 22, local favorites  Colin Miller & the Brother Nature, Hello! 3D and Red Rose Panic will perform.

Then, on Friday, Sept. 23, indie rockers Cloud Nothings, a local band that’s become a national act, will perform along with the Missed and Little Lions Den. Frayle, Relaxer and Rebreather take the stage on Saturday, Sept. 23, and sludge rockers the Melvins will perform on Sunday, Sept. 25 with We Are the Asteroid.

Tickets to the Grog Shop’s 30th Anniversary concerts go on sale at 10 a.m. tomorrow. 

This article appears in Jul 27 – Aug 9, 2022.

Jeff has been covering the Cleveland music scene for more than 25 years now. On a regular basis, he tries to talk to whatever big acts are coming through town. And if you're in a local band that he needs to hear, email him at jniesel@clevescene.com.