When three of America's most successful drum & bass DJs formed Planet of the Drums, their goal was to raise the style's popularity to rival that of house or trance music. For the past two years, the Kru -- made up of Dieselboy, Dara, and AK1200 -- has kept ramming away at a tried-and-true formula, churning out mind-numbing bass lines and blistering beats, with tempos that keep creeping higher and higher. Dieselboy has always had a soft spot for the ravey stabs of early 1990s hardcore techno; Dara (pictured) often throws down records that feature jazz, reggae, and dub accents; and AK1200 leans toward the jump-up side of the music, spinning tracks full of hip-hop samples and b-boy attitude. When all three come together in track-by-track-by-track rotation, it's hard to know what to expect. But it's always an adrenaline rush of beat-laden euphoria. Planet of the Drums Kru plays at 9 p.m. Tuesday at Peabody's (2083 East 21st Street). Tickets are $10 and $15, available by calling 216-241-5555. -- Steve Boughton
Cheese Factor
SAT 7/19
Who cut the cheese? The town of Wellington raises its hand at the Cheese Festival, a celebration of crafts, rides, and live entertainment. There are also oodles of kids' activities: the Cheese Olympics (including a cheese shot put), Cheese Fest (mold chunks of Velveeta into . . . anything), and the Young Chef's Challenge (cook a dish that includes, you guessed it, cheese). And don't miss the cheesy grub: cheese on a stick, cheese hot dogs, and cheese popcorn -- all of which must be imported. Though 19th-century Wellington was known as the country's Cheese Capital, the 40 cheese factories that earned its rank are long gone. "That's our biggest challenge -- finding cheese," admits organizer Patti Young. The Cheese Festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the intersection of State Routes 58 and 18 in downtown Wellington. Admission is free; call 440-647-3987. -- Keith Gribbins
Different Strokes
Art & the Park
SAT 7/19
Art & the Park doesn't skimp on the paintings, but there's also plenty going on for kids. The celebration features chalk-drawing, seed-planting, and puppet shows, as well as jazz and blues music, country and R&B line dancing, neo-hippie tie-dyeing (bring your own shirt), and a magician performing amid the artwork on display and for sale. It takes place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at North Chagrin Nature Center (off the Sunset Lane entrance of North Chagrin Reservation, at SOM Center Road/ Route 91, in Mayfield Village). It's free. Call 440-473-3370 for more information. -- Michael Gallucci