THU 05/22
Fiddler on the Roof
Set in the Ukranian village of Anatevha, Fiddler on the Roof centers on Tevye, a poor milkman who struggles to support five unmarried daughters and a wife. His family troubles, however, become insignificant when the ruling regime turns against the Jews of Anatevka. The classic play comes to the Allen Theatre. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30. Performances continue through Sunday.
1407 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Janáček’s Jenůfa
The Cleveland Orchestra and the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus present this iteration of the opera about “forbidden love, desperation and reconciliation,” as it’s put in a press release. Tonight’s performance begins at 7 and another performance takes place at 3 p.m. on Sunday at Mandel Concert Hall.
11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.
Lettuce
The psychedelic funk band out of Boston has been a going concern since forming in 1992. The current tour supports 2022’s studio effort, Unify, as well as 2023’s live effort, Live in Amsterdam. The group plays at 7 p.m. at Globe Iron.
2320 Center St., globeironcle.com.
FRI 05/23
Jason Aldean
The country singer-songwriter out of Macon, GA returns to Blossom. His latest album, Highway Desperado, finds him co-writing three of the tunes and features the divisive “Try That in a Small Town.” The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Nate Smith, RaeLynn and Dee Jay Silver open.
1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, livenation.com.
Berea’s National Rib Cook-Off & Beer Fest
At this annual event that takes place today through Monday at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, ten rib teams from all over the country will compete in hopes of winning one of three major awards. Family activities include a rock-climbing wall a “super slide” and swings. Find hours as well as a schedule of musical performances on the website.
19201 East Bagley Rd., Middleburg Heights, 440- 243-0090, berearib.com.
A Cycledelic Motorhead Tribute
Iron Fist, Nine Layers Deep and Broton will perform at this tribute to the heavy metal band Motorhead and its late frontman Lemmy Kilmister. The Solar Fire Light Show will be on hand for the festivities as well. Doors open at 7 p.m. at the Beachland Ballroom.
15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.
Zack Fox
This guy does a bit of everything. A comedian, rapper, actor, illustrator and DJ, he’s made appearances on YouTube shows such as The Cave and released his debut album, Shut the Fuck Up Talking to Me, in 2021. He delivers a DJ set at 7 p.m. at Globe Iron.
2320 Center St., globeironcle.com.
Ryan Hamilton
Recent appearances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Conan and an opening spot for Jerry Seinfeld have helped introduce comedian Ryan Hamilton to a wider audience. The good-natured comic who grew up in rural Idaho comes to the Hilarities tonight and tomorrow night at 6:30 and 9:15.
2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com.
Hooked Like Helen Release Party
The regional rock act that has drawn comparisons to Queen and Tori Amos plays a special release party tonight at Mahall’s 20 Lanes in Lakewood. The band’s new single, “Quote Unquote Life,” serves as an anthem for trauma survivors, and the group recently visited San Diego State University and conducted a Q&A about mental health/rock show for about 300 students in a lecture hall.
13200 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-521-3280, mahalls20lanes.com.
Tremont Greek Festival
Held in Tremont every Memorial Day weekend at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, the annual Greek Festival features Greek music, Greek food, Greek drink and even antiques (Greek or otherwise). The crowd favorite is always the gyro, and they don’t get much better than they are here. Be sure to save some room for baklava or loukoumades (fried dough with honey). If you want something to wash it all down with, try the Greek beer Mythos or some Greek white wine. Hours are noon to midnight today, tomorrow and Sunday. Hours are noon to 8 p.m. on Monday.
facebook.com/TremontGreekFest/.
Vox Humana
At 7:30 tonight and at 8 tomorrow night at Mandel Concert Hall, the Cleveland Orchestra delivers a special program curated by conductor Franz Welser-Möst. The evening kicks off with Poulenc’s La voix humaine, a monodrama starring French soprano Sarah Aristidou. It concludes with Richard Strauss’s Symphonic Fantasy on Die Frau ohne Schatten, an opera he considered his “most important work.”
11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.
SAT 05/24
A Fundraising Canine Cookout
The Beachland Ballroom hosts this special event that will raise money for Axel’s K9 Rescue. It begins at 12:30 p.m. and goes until 5 p.m. Dogs on corrective collars are welcome. Uncle Gnarly and Sara Smiles & the Mars Express will perform.
15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.
October London
The singer-songwriter brings his tour in support of his new album, October Nights, to Jacobs Pavilion. He artfully blends R&B with elements of funk, blues, and soul on slow jams such as “Slander My Name” and the percussion-driven “Touch On Me.” Tamar Braxton and Ro James open. Doors open at 7 p.m.
2014 Sycamore St., 216-861-4080, jacobspavilion.com.
One Night Live
Independent artists Ellie Williams, Sofia Lafuente, and Farayi Malek perform tonight at Jilly’s Music Room in Akron as this special tour rolls into town. Williams is a 23-year-old singer-songwriter based in L.A., LaFuente is a Spanish-American artist and Malek embraces music from a range of different cultures.
111 N Main St., Akron, 330-576-3757, jillysmusicroom.com.
Reggae Fest Cleveland
Today’s performers at this annual two-day event include Lake Erie, the Flex Crew, JR Blessington, Mighty Mystic and Roots of Creation . Tomorrow, Jah Messengers, the Ark Band, Shākē Ground Band, Carlos Jones and Pato Banton will perform. Food trucks will be on hand as well. The event takes place at Voinovich Park. The music starts at noon.
reggaefestcleveland.com.
Smoking Popes
Ironic that in 1994, Smoking Popes released an album called Born to Quit, and nearly 20 years later, the guys are still going at it. While they’ve just released a new studio album just recently, for this tour, they’re revisiting their glory days and will play Born to Quit, the album that got them their major-label deal, in its entirety. The show begins at 7 p.m. at Mahall’s 20 Lanes in Lakewood.
13200 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-521-3280, mahalls20lanes.com.
SUN 05/25
Diesel Boy
The punk band out of California performs tonight at the Beachland Ballroom. The concert begins at 8. Nerf Herder, Keep Flying and the A-10s open.
15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.
Jokes on You
Inspired by crowd work clinicians like Dave Attell, Ian Bagg, and Big Jay Oakerson, Jokes On You makes the audience the center of the show by “pushing comics to avoid prepared material or written jokes and instead focus on organic interaction with the audience,” as it’s put in a press release about this event, which takes place tonight at 7 at Hilarities. John Bruton and Jimmie Graham host the event.
2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com.
Sessanta V 2.0: Primus, Puscifer, A Perfect Circle
Tool/A Perfect Circle/Puscifer singer Maynard James Keenan curated this show that features Primus, Puscifer and A Perfect Circle playing one continuous set. Clocking in around three hours in total, the Sessanta show features multiple mini sets that morph into the next band’s set, with the groups shifting members as the night goes on (so you might get Keenan singing with singer-bassist Les Claypool when Primus plays, and Claypool playing bass with APC). The concert begins at 8 p.m. at Blossom.
1145 W Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, livenation.com.
Tennis
The indie band that just released Neutral Poetry: First Recordings, Unreleased Demos 2009-2010, a new EP of previously unheard tracks from the very beginning of its career, performs at 7 p.m. at Globe Iron. The group draws from rock and synth-pop; it has said this tour will be its last.
2320 Center St., globeironcle.com.
MON 05/26
Guardians vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
The reigning World Champs come to Progressive Field for their one-and-only regular season visit to Progressive Field. The big-budget team is stocked with superstars like Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Tyler Glasnow and Freddie Freeman. First pitch is at 6:10 p.m.
2401 Ontario St., 216-420-4487, mlb.com/guardians.
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This article appears in Cleveland SCENE 05/08/25.
