An entrepreneur at E19 Creative, an innkeeper at Airbnb and a content provider at Apple Computer Inc. who once worked at Akron-based indie label DreamSTATE Records, singer-songwriter Jakob Ward continues to be a strong advocate for local music.

He has just announced that he’ll host an album release party for Hey Zane, an iTunes/Apple Music compilation that includes songs from Akron area artists such as Half Mile Home, Time Cat, Jakob Ward, Vanity Crash,Brian Lisik, Nerille Hill, Frontline Militia, Sean Larson, Keith Burnette, Corey Jenkins, arMar, Call to the Spirit and ctrl+alt+disco.

The event, which takes place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 8, at Ohio Brewing Company ( 804 W Market St, Akron), will include performances by singer-songwriters such as arMar, Corey Jenkins, Ward and Brian Lisik. Acts such as Half Mile Home, Vanity Crash and Frontline Militia will also perform.

This article appears in Nov 30 – Dec 6, 2016.

Jeff has been covering the Cleveland music scene for more than 25 years now. On a regular basis, he tries to talk to whatever big acts are coming through town. And if you're in a local band that he needs to hear, email him at jniesel@clevescene.com.