THU 06/19
Acute Inflections
This New York-based based jazzy R&B duo that’s been featured on HBO and Amazon delivers a sound that fans of Erykah Badu and Billie Holiday will appreciate. The concert takes place at 6:30 p.m. at Church of the Saviour in Cleveland Heights. Ticket sales support the P22 Youth Foundation’s Summer Spiritual Retreat for local teens.
2537 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights, 216-321-8880, cotsumc.org.
Cleveland History Days
This program features 11 days of events showcases Cleveland’s cultural institutions, historical societies, museums, and preservation organizations, which are all “working to preserve and promote the city’s unique heritage.” It all kicks off today with guided walking tours, lectures, panel discussions, open houses and special events that “delve into Cleveland’s industrial heritage, diverse populations and significant contributions to popular culture.” Find more information on the website. ClevelandHistoryDays.com.
Goose
The jam band’s popularity has steadily increased since it released 2016’s Moon Cabin, an album it recorded in a barn in northern New Hampshire. The summer tour that brings it to town tonight supports the new album, Everything Must Go, a collection of jazzy tunes that rely on both organic and electronic instruments. The group performs at 6 tonight and tomorrow night at Jacobs Pavilion.
2014 Sycamore St., 216-861-4080, jacobspavilion.com.
Hamilton
With book, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, the Broadway hit returns to the State Theatre. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30, and the play runs through July 6.
1519 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Steve Hoffstetter
Known as much for his writing as for his standup, Steve Hofstetter is more articulate than your typical comic. At one point, he was even a weekly humor columnist for Sports Illustrated. “I started doing standup to pass the time,” he has said. “I’m in the small percentage of people who started doing what they love accidentally.” A dorky guy who maintains he looks a bit like actor Michael Rapaport with glasses, Hofstetter tours “perpetually.” He performs tonight at 7 at the Funny Bone.
1148 Main Ave., 216-696-4677, cleveland.funnybone.com.
International Horror Hotel Film Festival and Convention
This annual event returns to the Crowne Plaza Cleveland Airport, where it continues through Sunday. It features screenings, panel discussions and lectures.
230 Engle Rd., Middleburg Heights, horrorhotelfilmfest.com.
Juneteenth Celebration — Genius of Freedom
This event at Hale Farm & Village will feature storytelling, music, and “thought-provoking discussions” that honor the ongoing journey toward freedom and equality. There will be a reenactment of Sojourner Truth’s iconic speech, “Ain’t I a Woman,” in the Meeting House.
2686 Oak Hill Rd., Newton Falls, 330-666-3711, halefarm.org.
Killers of Kill Tony
Ari Matti, David Lucas, Hans Kim and Martin Phillips will perform standup sets as part of this special tour based on the popular podcast, Kill Tony. The event begins at 7 p.m. at Connor Palace.
1615 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Night Terrors
Expect to hear gongs, the Aluphone, singing bowls and drums when the experimental local group Night Terrors performs tonight at 7:30 at the Treelawn.
15335 Waterloo Rd, 216-677-TREE, thetreelawn.com.
Sexy Black Genius
Tiffany Norwood, a self-described “global serial tech entrepreneur,” mixes comedy, poetry and storytelling in this special performance that takes place tonight at 6:30 at Globe Iron.
2325 Elm St., globeironcle.com.
FRI 06/20
At the Table: Conversations with Local Voices featuring Erik Piepenburg
New York Times journalist Erik Piepenburg talks about his new book, Dining Out: First Dates, Defiant Nights, and Last Call Disco Fries at America’s Gay Restaurants, at 6 p.m. at Jukebox.
1404 West 29th St., 216-206-7699, jukeboxcle.com.
Birdtalker
The indie/folk group performs tonight at 7 at House of Blues as it brings its tour in support of its third album, All Means, No End, to town. The album features harmony vocals and twangy guitars on Wilco-like tunes such as “Falling Forward” and “Creatures.”
308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com.
Holding Up the Mirror Opening Reception
Cincinnati-based writer and curator Maria Seda-Reeder, who has organized exhibitions at galleries and museums across the country, served as the 2025 Cleveland Institute of Art Alumni Exhibition’s visiting Roulet-Hernandez Family Curator. For the exhibit, dubbed Holding Up the Mirror, she selected 45 artworks from 38 CIA alumni artists. It opens today at CIA’s Reinberger Gallery with a reception that takes place from 6 to 8 p.m.
11610 Euclid Ave., 216-421-7461, cia.edu.
Modest Mouse
The veteran indie rock act from the Pacific Northwest performs tonight at 8 at TempleLive at the Cleveland Masonic. The group is famous for its 2004 hit “Float On,” a careening anthem that became a hit on commercial radio despite its indie rock sensibilities. Singer-guitarist Doug Martsch opens the show.
3615 Euclid Ave., 216-881-6350, masoniccleveland.com.
Moxie Events Presents: Magic of Motown
Expect to hear classic tunes by the likes of the Temptations, the Jackson Five, and Diana Ross & the Supremes at this tribute show that takes place at 7:30 p.m. at Mandel Concert Hall.
11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.
Jim Norton
Over the past decade or so, comedian Jim Norton has built quite a resume. He’s had acting gigs (Lucky Louie, Spider-Man), written a best-selling book (Happy Endings: The Tales of a Meaty-Breasted Zilch) and become a radio personality (Opie and Anthony’s XM satellite show). And he continues to work the standup circuit. His jokes tend to center on topics of a sexual nature and include countless references to the male anatomy. He performs at 7 and 9:45 tonight and tomorrow night at Hilarities.
2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com.
The Squidling Brothers Circus Sideshow Rubber Chicken Roadkill Tour
The Squidling Brothers Circus Sideshow features acts such as Jelly Boy the Clown, Insectavora, Clown Babe Mackenzie Moltov and Matterz Squidling. They’ll deliver “death-defying stunts, grotesque delights, and absurd comedy—with special guests joining along the way,” as it’s put in a press release. The show begins at 8:30 p.m. at the Wizbang Theatre & Spirit Room Cocktail Bar in Cleveland Heights.
2134 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights, 216-534-9482, wizbangtheatre.com.
The Thing With Feathers
The Nashville-based indie rock band brings its headlining tour to the Beachland Tavern. The grunge-y new single, “Catching Your Eye,” features driving guitars and Eddie Vedder-like vocals. The band promises to play previously unreleased tunes on this stretch of dates.
15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.
Third Friday
From 5 to 9 p.m., many of the 78th Street Studios resident artist studios and galleries will be open as part of this monthly event. There will be live music, and Local West, a Gordon Square sandwich shop, will serve food. BARneo will have a selection of adult beverages as well. Admission is free.
1300 West 78th St., 78thstreetstudios.com.
Reggie Watkins
The Pittsburgh-based trombonist celebrates the release of his new album, Rivers, with tonight’s show at the Bop Stop. The release marks Watkins’s first LP to feature all original compositions. Based in Pittsburgh since 1998, Watkins is a key part of the city’s music scene (he has recorded and toured for the last eight years with Orrin Evans and his Captain Black Big Band).
2920 Detroit Ave., 216-771-6551, themusicsettlement.org.
SAT 06/21
Disfunktional with Special Guest Demuir
Having done remixes for Elrow and A-Trak’s label Fools Gold, DJ and producer Demuir has a growing catalog of music that includes EPs on Classic Music Company as well as Jesse Rose’s imprint Play It Down and multiple releases on the I’m a House Gangster label. He performs tonight at 9 at Crobar. Andre Leone, Le Mew, MIKEONE and Red Tailed Hawk Luna share the bill.
3244 St. Clair, 216-771-4727, crobar1921.com.
The Early November
The indie band plays a special acoustic show that will also feature storytelling. Singer-guitarist Ace Enders launched the group some 20 years and continues to be at the helm. Last year, the group returned with a self-titled album of carefully crafted emo-ish tunes. The show begins at 6 p.m. at Mahall’s 20 Lanes in Lakewood. Window Dogs open the show.
13200 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-521-3280, mahalls20lanes.com.
Gangrene: The Dink Documentary
This documentary film about the rise and fall of a popular alternative rock band that emerged from Kent in the 1990s screens at 6:30 tonight at the Kent Stage.
175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-677-5005, kentstage.org.
Mx. Juneteenth — A Queer and Black Liberation Celebration
This event that Rock Hall aims to cultivate a space for “reverence, remembrance, and radical joy.” It takes place today from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
1100 Rock and Roll Blvd., 216-515-8444, rockhall.com.
Outlaw Music Festival
The traveling music festival featuring Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan returns to Blossom. Nelson, now 92, somehow continues to tour and record and the same goes for Dylan, who’s now 84. Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats and Bruce Hornsby round out the lineup. The show begins at 5 p.m.
1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, livenation.com.
Plush Party
Every third Saturday of each month between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., Cleveland Museum of Art hosts this event that offers a firsthand look at the art-making process. Each session provides the opportunity to “engage and interact” with a different Northeast Ohio maker during pop-up demonstrations and activities. Admission is free.
11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org.
Solstice 2025
Da Land Brass Band, Balkan Paradise Orchestra, El Laberinto del Coco and Mexican Institute of Sound will perform as part of this annual world music concert/party that takes place tonight at 7 at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org.
TRUSS Album Release Show
Led by powerhouse singer Hannah Crandall, the local hard rock act celebrates the release of its latest album, Fluorescence, with tonight’s show at the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the Rosies and Cherry! open.
2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-321-5588, grogshop.gs.
The War and Treaty
The terrific country/soul duo comes to Globe Iron. The two met about ten years ago when singer Michael Trotter Jr. moved from Cleveland to Maryland after he came out of the military. He and singer Tanya Trotter make a dynamic force stage. The show starts at 7 p.m.
2325 Elm St., globeironcle.com.
SUN 06/22
43rd Annual Free Yiddish Concert in the Park
The Workmen’s Circle hosts this special concert with pianist George Foley, Schmaltz Klezmer, and Elizabeth Schwartz and Yale Strom. It begins at 3 p.m. at Cain Park.
14591 Superior Rd., Cleveland Heights, 216-371-3000, cainpark.com.
Josh Gates Live! An Evening of Legends, Mysteries, and Tales of Adventure
The explorer extraordinaire brings his live show to the Akron Civic Theatre, where he’ll tell stories about some of his top expeditions. The show begins at 8 p.m.
182 South Main St., Akron, 330-253-2488, akroncivic.com.
Reggae Sundays
This special Reggae Sunday Happy Hour Concert series is a summer highlight. The indoor/outdoor concert series will take place rain or shine with live music from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Music Box. The venue will also offer food and drink specials exclusive to the series.
1148 Main Ave., 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com.
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This article appears in Cleveland SCENE 06/05/25 Best of Cleveland.
