Arts
Concert & Festival Season
No Excuse to Stay Home
By Breanna Mona
Summer may just be getting started, but it’s already sizzling with these red hot shows and festivals.
Whether you prefer your outings big or small, your seasonal calendar just got a bit fuller. Check out these sensational headliners and something-for-everyone festivals — and good luck picking just one.
Star-Studded Lineup
Quicken Loans Arena is hosting a couple of major milestone performances this season. First up, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Neil Diamond celebrates the big 5-0 with his 50th anniversary 2017 world tour May 30. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers are on what may be their final tour, celebrating 40 years. Petty recently confessed to Rolling Stone Magazine, “I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was thinking this might be the last big one. We’re all on the backside of our 60s. I have a granddaughter now I’d like to see as much as I can. I don’t want to spend my life on the road.” They’re coming June 10.
Other concerts: It’s always hip to be square with Huey Lewis & The News. Check out their Hard Rock Rocksino performance June 10. Paul Simon’s 2017 tour proceeds will benefit the Half-Earth Project, an initiative of the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation. Be a part of the effort June 13 at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica.
Billy Joel knows how to fill a stadium, after breaking records with over 33 consecutive shows at Madison Square Garden. Perhaps the most anticipated show of the summer, Joel is up to bat at Progressive Field on July 14. Rod Stewart & Cyndi Lauper will make quite a pair at Blossom Music Center on July 28, right before James Taylor & Bonnie Raitt hit the same stage Aug. 9.
Out in the Country
What Michael Buble does for the Christmas season, country music seems to do for summer. Roll down the windows and grab your cowboy hat for these shows.
The Country Fest at Clay’s Park and Resort in Canal Fulton is a three-day country music festival. Camp at this all-general admission seating venue or stay at a nearby hotel. This year’s lineup includes Jake Owen, Blake Shelton, Justin Moore, Lee Brice, Randy Houser and more. June 22-24.
Jamboree In The Hills is a four-day country music festival located in Belmont. Camp or pick out individual day passes to see your favorite artists. Hotel packages also are available. This year’s big names are Jason Aldean, Thomas Rhett, Lady Antebellum, Chris Young and more. July 13-16.
If you’d prefer to see your artists without the festival vibe, there’s still time to pick up your 2017 Cintas Country Megaticket. The package-priced ticket gets you into multiple shows at Blossom Music Center to see Jason Aldean on May 12, Luke Bryan on July 15 (at Progressive Field in Cleveland), Lady Antebellum on July 21, Dierks Bentley on July 27, Florida Georgia Line on Aug. 11, and Brad Paisley on Sept. 22. (Individual tickets are available if you don’t need all six concert dates.)
I Can’t Believe It’s Not The Beatles
Tribute and cover bands are a fun way to kick back with your favorite tunes without blowing your wallet wide open. Bask in Beatlemania with A Hard Day’s Night Beatles tribute band at the House of Blues on May 19. See Brit Floyd (you guessed it, a Pink Floyd tribute band) at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica on May 20.
If you haven’t been to the Music Box Supper Club downtown yet, now may be a good time to check out the popular brunches and shows they offer. (Always call ahead for reservations; these seats are snatched up quickly.)
- May 14: Patsy Cline Mother’s Day Brunch with Rachel & The Beatnik Playboys
- May 28: Janis Joplin Brunch with Ball & Chain
- June 1: Fleetwood Mac Tribute with TUSK the Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band
- June 25: Billy Joel Brunch with 52nd Street Stranger
- July 8: Elton John Tribute by Madmen Across the Water
- July 14: Tom Petty Tribute by Shadow of Doubt
The Music Box also features a monthly Beatles Brunch. Keep up with their calendar at musicboxcle.com/schedule.
The Best of the Fests
Arts
Water’s Edge Art Festival, Novelty, May 27-28, insidetheeyephotography.com/waters-edge-art-festival.html
Little Italy Summer Art Walk Festival, Cleveland, June 2-4, clevelandlittleitaly.com/events
Art by the Falls, Chagrin Falls, June 10-11, valleyartcenter.org
Cain Park Art Festival, Cleveland Heights, July 7-9, cainpark.com
26th annual Willoughby ArtsFest, Downtown Willoughby, July 15, willoughbyartsfest.com
Eats
Downtown Willoughby Rib Burn Off, Downtown Willoughby, May 20-21, dtwribburnoff.com
Berea’s National Rib Cook Off, Berea, May 26-29, www.berearib.com
Taste of Tremont, various locations, Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood, July 16, www.tasteoftremont.com
Vintage Ohio Wine Festival, Kirtland, Aug. 4-5, visitvintageohio.com
National Hamburger Festival, Akron, Aug. 12-13, hamburgerfestival.com
Little Italy’s Feast of the Assumption, Cleveland, Aug. 12-15, clevelandlittleitaly.com
Culture
Cleveland Asian Festival, Various locations, St. Clair-Superior neighborhood, May 20-21, clevelandasianfestival.org
Tremont Greek Festival, Tremont, May 26-29, tremontwest.org
Riverfront Irish Festival, Cuyahoga Falls, June 9-11, riverfrontirishfest.org
Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival, Berea, July 21-23, clevelandirish.org
Cleveland Dragon Boat Festival, Cleveland, Aug. 12, www.cledba.org
Family Fun
Blossom Time Festival, Chagrin Falls, May 25-28, cvcc.org/events/details/blossom-time-festival-18393
Family Fun Day & Canine Carnival, Cleveland, June 10, pawsohio.org
Bedford Strawberry Festival, Bedford, June 9-11, bedfordohiohistory.org
Tri-C Jazzfest, Cleveland, June 22-24, tri-c.edu/jazzfest
Fairport Mardi Gras, Fairport Harbor, June 30-July 4, fairportmardigras.vpweb.com
Lakewood Summer Meltdown, Lakewood, July 8,
lakewoodalive.org/event/lakewood-summer-meltdown
Downtown Willoughby Cruise-In, Downtown Willoughby, June 17, willoughbyfrontierdays.com/willoughby-cruise-in
The 17th Annual Family Friendly Festival: The Fest, Wickliffe, Aug. 6, thefest.us
Jot It Down
Music Box Supper Club, Cleveland, 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com
Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, 216-420-2000, theqarena.com
Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, 330-920-8040, blossomcenter.net
Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, Cleveland, 216-622-6557, nauticaflats.com
Cain Park, Cleveland Heights, 216-371-3000, cainpark.com
Hard Rock Rocksino, Northfield, 330-908-7625, hrrocksinonorthfieldpark.com
Progressive Field, Cleveland, 216-420-4487, indians.com/billyjoel, indians.com/lukebryan
