In 2021, Cleveland Rocks accomplished so much. Here are some of our amazing highlights from a busy year:
- Music Incubator Program: Cleveland Rocks launched this Incubator to support new work from local musicians. Currently, 15 artists, producers and bands are engaged, leveraging local resources and sparking collaboration to build new opportunities. We’re already seeing results, with increased earnings and exciting new projects in the works.
- NE Ohio Music Relief Fund: Through February 2021, Cleveland Rocks provided direct, essential support to 96 musicians and venue workers hard hit by the pandemic shutdown, totaling $38,900 in funds that helped these artists survive the crisis.
- Waterloo Makes Music: Our 5th annual summer concert series featured local musicians and production teams with both in-person and livestreamed performances that let us showcase local talent and develop new audiences.
- #SaveCLEVenues: Through June 2021, Cleveland Rocks were instrumental in both fundraising to provide direct support to independent venues as well as advocating for greater federal and local funding to support these businesses through unprecedented shutdowns industry wide.
If you celebrate live music, or love someone who does, now is the time to support your local music community.
Help Re-Launch the Cleveland Rocks Shop
The Cleveland Rocks Shop will be a retail space showcasing local music and honoring its past, present, and future located in the former Music Saves storefront in the Waterloo Arts & Entertainment District. The shop will curate and sell products that represent Cleveland music history and current bands and feature interactive listening stations. To bring this to life, funds are being raised to cover occupancy costs, moderate renovations and repair to both the interior and exterior, purchase fixtures, a point-of-sale register and inventory. Can we count on you? Learn More Here.
Music Support Programming in Northeast Ohio

The NIVA 2022 Conference Schedule is Officially Out Now!
The National Independent Venue Association comes together for its first national gathering of members from the independent live concert, comedy, promoter, and festival industry with NIVA ‘22. The two-day conference takes place in Cleveland, July 11th & 12th across multiple NIVA member venues and includes the first-ever Independent Awards Formal (Independent AF) at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Get all the details at https://nivassoc.org/conference

Cleveland.com – June 21, 2022 – Listen local: 15 recent releases by Greater Cleveland musicians and bands
This past spring season, plenty of new music arrived in Northeast Ohio’s music scene. Whether you like reggae, blues, heavy metal, punk, pop, emo or hip-hop, there’s a new tune or two that can fit right in on your favorite playlist, and it was created right here in Greater Cleveland.

WATCH: 6/12 Marketing and Advertising Workshop
Cleveland Rocks: Past, Present, Future hosted a free Professional Development Workshop focused on Marketing and Advertising for Independent Musicians on Sunday, June 12, 2022 at the Beachland Tavern.
The Cleveland Verses Foundation is a generous supporter of Cleveland Rocks programs and initiatives. Learn more about their mission.