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

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.

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 2022 Cleveland Arts Prize winners represent excellence in dance, music, design and visual art. Established by the Women’s City Club in 1960, the awards recognize both artists and arts leaders in Northeast Ohio.

The recipe that goes into making a guy like Sean Watterson is anything but conventional. He’s one part businessman (when pressed, he estimates he’d be making more than $1 million a year if he’d stuck with his banking job in New York City), one part foodie (he co-owns Happy Dog in Gordon Square), one part enthusiast (have you been to Happy Dog?) and one part advocate.

Baldwin Wallace and Cuyahoga Community College are changing the game for students interested in music industry careers. Beyond all the traditional business, health, education and science degrees offered at Baldwin Wallace University, one degree has gained traction in recent years, leading graduates into unique music industry jobs.

For the second time in three years, Baldwin Wallace University has been named one of the top music business schools in the world by Billboard. The music industry magazine’s list of “2022 Top Music Business Schools” was put together after analyzing information provided by the schools, industry recommendations and alumni credentials, among other criteria.

To continue to make downtown livelier and unique, the Downtown Cleveland Alliance has started a Downtown Busker Program for musicians, dancers and artists alike. The DCA has created a street performance guide, scouted out locations for performers and is accepting applications from potential performers - ranging from musicians and mimes to comedians, puppeteers and balloon twisters.

I caught the end of Jimmy Kimmel Live in early November when IDLES, a band from England, made their American TV debut playing their newly released single entitled “The Beachland Ballroom,” named for the concert venue my partner Mark Leddy and I started nearly 22 years ago in a marginal neighborhood in Cleveland. As IDLES lead singer and songwriter Joe Talbot was screaming through my TV “DAMAGE, DAMAGE, DAMAGE,” I found myself wanting to join in.

"Cleveland, in fact, is better positioned to become “the next Venice” than Venice was to become the first Venice. Again, before scoffing, consider this. Cleveland’s art and culture infrastructure already exists at a world class level. The Cleveland Museum of Art is one of the 10 finest art museums in the country..."