ZZ Ward

In a world where artists often produce a new album every two years or so to remain relevant, blues singer-songwriter ZZ Ward waited a cool five years to release her newest project The Storm. Between her first release in 2012 and this new one, Ward did keep busy. She offered up a handful of EPs and toured relentlessly. But taking her time paid off. The fresh record, packed with a torrent of soulful and heartbroken tunes, landed at No. 1 on the Billboard Blues Album chart this summer. Now the 31-year-old, who can't seem to stay away from hipster hats, comes to Cleveland tonight to show off her ridiculously effortless vocals. She's certainly an artist on the rise. (Laura Morrison)