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.
A Gift to Cleveland Rocks: PPF is a gift back to the community.
Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving to empower the people and organizations within your community and the world. It is through this day, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, and donations throughout the year that we are able to fulfill our mission, create connections, foster growth and provide support within the community, and fully execute all of our wide reaching programs to positively impact and empower our local community. We hope you will remember Cleveland Rocks in your year end giving and remember, that a donation to our organization is a donation back to your 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
CoolCleveland.com – Nonprofit Helping Local Musicians Hosts Benefit at the Beachland
It was nearly a decade ago that local music sparkplug/Beachland Ballroom co-owner Cindy Barber conceived of the nonprofit Cleveland Rocks: Past Present Future with the idea of protecting the areas music legacy while assuring it would be carried on by younger musicians. That nonprofit engaged in a number of small projects over the years, but unexpectedly, it was the pandemic — and the dire situation in which it put many musicians — that caused it to roar into action with programs designed to mentor musicians, and provide them with resources and gigs
Cleveland.com – Nov. 8, 2022 – Black Keys releasing recording of 20-year-old first-ever Beachland Tavern show
The Black Keys were a largely unknown quantity when the Akron duo played its first concert — March 31, 2002, at Cleveland’s Beachland Tavern — previewing the release of its debut album, “The Big Come Up,” in May of that year. Now a Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum concern, the group is releasing a recording of that first Cleveland show on Nov. 18.
Cleveland.com – Nov. 8, 2022 – Joe Walsh shows his Ohio heart by bringing James Gang, Black Keys, Nine Inch Nails, Dave Grohl to VetsAid benefit
Joe Walsh’s Buckeye heart is beating strong for his sixth VetsAid benefit concert this weekend. The show takes place Sunday, Nov. 13, in Columbus, after Walsh’s original plan to hold it there during 2021 was postponed by continuing pandemic concerns. Now he’s bringing it back home proudly — and, of course, loudly — with his own James Gang as well as fellow Ohio-rooted bands such as Nine Inch Nails, the Black Keys and the Breeders.
The Cleveland Verses Foundation is a generous supporter of Cleveland Rocks programs and initiatives. Learn more about their mission.