Music has been a big part of the Kamm's Corners Farmers Market since it opened in West Park back in 2008. Joe Outlaw, a neighborhood guy who has professional relationships with local musicians, and Dan McMillan, who plays guitar in the band Brand New Hat, have been responsible for recruiting local artists to play while shoppers stock up on fruits and veggies. Now they've overseen Music of the Market, a compilation featuring some of the musicians who have performed at the market over the past three years, including singer-songwriter Alex Bevan, roots rockers Cats on Holiday, and bluesman Wallace Coleman. A CD-release party takes place at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Kamm's Corners bar Stir. Many of the 17 artists who appear on the album will perform short sets.
"We wanted to give preference to local musicians and the artists who live closer to Kamm's Corners and the market," says Outlaw. "We set a high bar for talent. We never have percussion beyond a set of bongos. It has to be market-appropriate, because people need to do financial transactions. And even then, we still get vendors requesting to turn the music down."
Outlaw encourages diversity among the artists. "While markets tend to get mostly folk singers, we have had jazz singers and a blues group and bluegrass," he says. "We try to span different cultures and genres." Tickets to the concert are $10. You can hear some songs from the album at outlawproductions.com/kcfm.
Roc Bar, the indie-rock club on the east bank of the Flats, hosts weekly Open Mic Thursdays featuring everything from live bands and comedy to performance art and poetry. It starts at 9 p.m. on (duh) Thursday. Admission is free. Go to rocbarcleveland.com for more info.
Acoustic rocker Reid Anderson, a senior at Case Western Reserve University, just released Sunday Dreaming, a collection of occasionally poignant ballads inspired by Dave Matthews. It's available as a free download at reid-anderson.bandcamp.com.
Singer-guitarist Scott Hanson — a former member of Slam Bam Boo, which also included a pre-Nine Inch Nails Trent Reznor — celebrates the release of his new album, Revival, with a show at 7 p.m. Monday at the Beachland Ballroom. Mary Mee opens. Tickets are $7, available at beachlandballroom.com.
Chimaira took a break from recording their new album (which is due later this year) to lay down a cover of "Wild Thing" as a tribute to Charlie Sheen (the song appeared in Sheen's 1989 movie Major League). Check it out at chimaira.com.
Local bluesman Wallace Coleman, who will celebrate the release of his new album later this month, will join singer-songwriters Jody Getz, John Lucic, and George Lee as a special guest when they play the Root Café in Lakewood at 8 p.m. Friday. Admission is free. Find more info at the-rootcafe.com.
