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August 10, 2023 // Some cities carry nicknames that nod to their impressive musical roots, like Nashville’s Music City or New York City’s the Big Apple (a nod to jazz musicians). But, famed musicians can hail from all around the country, and many smaller towns have massively impressive roots in music that may not be widely known. From iconic recording studios to birth and resting places for musical innovators, check out these eight eight cities with underrated music scenes. [Redbookmag.com]

August 16, 2023 // Austin has one. Nashville has one. Cleveland’s music scene, venue owners say, should be next. [CleveScene.com]

August 9, 2023 // A mental health awareness nonprofit organization is using hip-hop to bridge the gap between mental health struggles in Black and Brown communities and music as a healing tool. [GoodMorningAmerica.com]

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and EarthQuaker Devices have teamed up again in collaboration of a second set of limited-edition guitar pedals. The pedals feature new and exclusive artwork from the legendary Cleveland artist, Derek Hess and come in a variety of colorways.

June 28, 2023 // From securing nonprofit status to bands buying the actual clubs, anything and everything seems to be on the table for indie live-music operators. [RollingStone.com]

June 20, 2023 // Downtown Cleveland Inc., is bringing back the Downtown Busker Program for its second year.The official street-performance program features 20 pre-selected “pitch” (the area buskers perform) locations and guides for potential buskers to help them find their perfect “pitch.”Each pitch location was selected by Downtown Cleveland Inc. to maximize pedestrian visibility near hot spots and offer room for creative freedom in performing. [Cleveland.com]

June 15, 2023 // When Music Saves, the record store next to the Beachland Ballroom and Tavern, closed its doors in 2017, Cindy Barber had a plan to revive the space. Barber’s nonprofit bought the storefront in 2018, and after launching a fundraising campaign, is now turning it into a retail space for local music called Cleveland Rocks Shop. [Ideastream.org]

April 28, 2023 // Young creatives ages 15 to 25 are working on Hollywood-style recording projects as members of Northeast Ohio’s Kaboom Collective. Students work with a variety of industry professionals in the arts, from musical composition to script writing to digital animation. But at the collective’s center is its studio orchestra led by Kaboom Collective Co-Founder and Cleveland Arts Prize winner Liza Grossman. [Ideastream.org]