In 2022, Cleveland Rocks accomplished so much. Here are some of our amazing highlights from a busy year:
Music Incubator Program: Cleveland Rocks, in collaboration with Neighborhood Connections, launched this Incubator program to support new creative projects from local musicians. In 2022, we funded six local projects including mixing and mastering a record, a tour from Cleveland to Texas and back, logo/web design and equipment, video production, apparel and recording needs and creation of a physical map highlighting locations in Cleveland for music creation, venues, etc.
Cleveland Rocks Shop: The Cleveland Rocks Shop will be the future home of local music – a retail space showcasing local music and honoring its past, present and future with curated products that represent Cleveland music history as well as current music. At year end, we have raised more than $13,000 through fundraising efforts, record sales and a generous donation from the 10,000 Watts of Holy Light fund bringing us to 44% of our goal.
Waterloo Makes Music: Our free concert series and livestream music presentations, grew from 2021’s three live events to 2022’s fifteen live events featuring thirty bands and solo artists. A total of 89 musicians were engaged for these performances. We also cultivated more performance spaces in the Waterloo Arts District in 2022, engaging audiences in Praxis Fiber Workshop, on The Tower Stage, The Beachland Ballroom and Tavern stage, and our newly opened Cleveland Rocks Shop Stage.
Professional Development Workshops: The Professional Development Workshop series offers resources for artists to help move them forward in their career by programming educational sessions with professionals in the music industry or related field. In 2022, we held 4 free workshops at the Beachland Tavern, which were also livestreamed through the Cleveland Rocks Facebook page.
If you celebrate live music, or love someone who does, now is the time to support your local music community.
Programs and Initiatives
Greater Cleveland Music Census
A community-led initiative to gain a better understanding of the current needs of the Cleveland-area music community.
Waterloo Makes Music
A free bi-monthly concert series showcasing Cleveland-area musicians, held at various venues in the Waterloo Arts & Entertainment District.
Workshops & 2x4s
A free monthly music education series with discussions centered around the music business, technology, legal, marketing and more. Our 2×4 songwriter showcases directly follow workshops and showcase single or duo acts performing 2 songs each.
Cleveland Rocks Shop
A retail store for local music – past and present – and community gathering space located in the former Music Saves storefront, at 15801 Waterloo Rd.
Music Incubator Program
The Music Incubator program offers low-interest loans to artists to help fund creative projects such as touring, recording recording, merchandise, and more. Participants gain valuable insight and guidance from their peers and mentors through the program.
Soul City Cleveland
A culturally responsive community arts pilot project designed to connect youth participants residing in under-resourced communities to elder Black artists through generative immersion. A documentary is in the works to highlight soul music in Cleveland and the city’s unheralded elder musicians.
Livestreams
For events you’ve attended or those you’ve missed, Cleveland Rocks: Past, Present, Future is dedicated to capturing Cleveland music history. Watch some of the best acts in town from our archive of live event streams.
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Upcoming Events
CR:PPF Merch
Giving Tuesday: November 28, 2023
For Giving Tuesday this year, we are raising funds to support our 2023-2024 Music Incubator/Accelerator artists! In 2024, we will be hosting 7 free concerts with these artists that will be live streamed and also recorded, edited and released to help them gain exposure and develop marketing content to grow their audiences and advance their music careers. Each of these artists have a unique story to tell and CR:PPF wants to help share those here in Cleveland! Please consider a donation to support these efforts. All funds received will be matched up to $2500 through ioby.
Get Involved
Call for Musicians
Local Resources
Volunteer
Music HEADLINES in and NEAR Northeast Ohio
Waterloo Arts District working to put Cleveland ‘arts scene’ on the map
November 6, 2023 // Fox 8’s Kenny Crumpton visits the Waterloo Arts District to learn about the efforts underway to preserve Cleveland’s music history, launch new artists and create a strong economic foundation for the future. [Fox8.com]
NEO resident David Spero to be inducted into Personal Managers Hall of Fame
Cleveland native David Spero is humble and unassuming, despite recently being inducted into the Personal Managers Hall of Fame after a successful career as a music-oriented personal manager. [FreshWaterCleveland.com]
Billboard Magazine names Baldwin Wallace a top music business school
October 11, 2023 // For the third time, Baldwin Wallace has been touted as a music business leader by Billboard magazine — a prestigious nod to the innovative courses, industry connections and successful alumni that put BW at the forefront of a dynamic and ever-changing music industry. [bw.edu]
The Cleveland Verses Foundation is a generous supporter of Cleveland Rocks programs and initiatives. Learn more about their mission.
