Best Places To Discover New Music In Cleveland

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Cleveland is the Home of Rock ‘n’ Roll and continues to maintain a rich musical heartbeat. Every night of the week, live music is available in any way, shape or form you could possibly need. Whether it’s to see national acts or aspiring locals, this area has you covered. These are some of the best places to discover new music in Cleveland.

Drive By Truckers perform at The Beachland Ballroom (photo by Danielle Andes)

The Beachland Ballroom & Tavern
15711 Waterloo Road
Cleveland, OH 44110
(216) 383-1124
www.beachlandballroom.com

The Beachland Ballroom & Tavern maintains two venues in one building, enabling it to bring a variety of artists to the music fanatics of Cleveland. The Tavern provides a small, intimate setting for local and traveling groups just starting to get their names out there. The Ballroom provides a wide-open space, able to host much larger crowds. Bands that have flown a little under the radar thus far, or who are looking to not deal with the commercial bureaucracy of better-known venues, may be found on the schedule at The Beachland Ballroom & Tavern. The music heard from either stage is as eclectic as they come, with groups of every imaginable genre and style.

The Winchester Music Hall is located just over the border from Cleveland on the east edge of Lakewood. This incredible venue is a hidden gem on Cleveland’s west side. Focusing on all styles of rock and blues, the Music Hall stretches out from behind the front bar area. The bar is open to all with no admission fees, but if you want to truly enjoy the show, pay the ticket price to enter the concert area. The Winchester hosts traveling bands as well as local artists. It celebrates some of the older classic musicians that no longer bask in the shine of the limelight, as well as newer artists that are just carving out their places in the industry.

Nestled in the background of University Circle and the Case Western University Campus is a small, yet amazing, music venue. Hosting live music seven nights a week, without charging a cover for shows, the Barking Spider Tavern promotes a friendly and fun atmosphere. An eclectic range of music can be heard at “The Spider,” ranging from folk to reggae, rock to blues. This is the perfect spot to meet a group of friends and check out a name you haven’t yet heard on the local music scene.

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Rachel Roberts performs live at Wilbert’s (photo by Danielle Andes)

Located in the Gateway District in downtown Cleveland, Wilbert’s Food & Music is a great place to discover something amazing on stage that you may never have seen before. Wilbert’s has played an integral role in the Cleveland music scene for more than two decades, but has fallen off of many people’s radar since it moved to its current location directly across from Jacob’s Field. Proprietor Mike Miller’s eclectic appreciation for music of all styles shows in the line up on stage, with styles options from indie to soul and pop to folk. One of the greatest things about Wilbert’s Food & Music is that along with delicious, made-from-scratch meals, this venue serves up music that can span three genres in a single evening. It’s also almost always cover free.

The Grog Shop has been the resident live music venue on Coventry Road for two decades. In that time, while moving down the street to expand in 2003, the Grog has maintained an intimate environment and a dedication to exposing Clevelanders to music of all types and genres. Plenty of bands have graced its stage only to return to Cleveland later with fan bases far too large to contain within the Grog. Be it punk, reggae, rock or rap, The Grog Shop is a great place to check out the up-and-coming local, national and international acts as well as old-time favorites that hang on to that local, intimate feel.

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