Live Music Venues in Cleveland, OH

Cleveland, OH, home to the Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame. You know there's got to be some good live music in a city that earned the distinct honor of being home to the hall. Besides, remember what Drew Carey said: "Cleveland Rocks!". Here are some live music venues in the…I don't even know what Cleveland's nickname is- but here are some places where live music can be heard.

House of Blues (303 Euclid Ave, 216-523-BLUE). A chain blues club, who'd have thunk it? The famous House of Blues operates in like, fifteen different places. The Cleveland Venue has a VIP room, is available for private functions and does a Gospel-Blues Brunch on Sundays.

Boulevard Blue (12718 Larchmere Blvd 44120 216-721-5500) according to it's website offers "an upscale urban atmosphere…contemporart American cuisine...& live blues bands." Food and blues. Always a good combination. Music at this venue includes jazz and blues, free of a cover charge. Acts which are slated to perform here include local artists and national acts like the Wallace Coleman Band.

Beachland Ballroom (15711 Waterloo Rd, 216.383.1124)
has a pretty happenin' website (www.beachlandballroom.com). According to the site, the Beachland Ballroom primarily books national acts "bands with a national following.' Hey, nice work if you can get it. A quick perusal of the calendar of performing acts than will surely leave me with names I totally know and recognize. Hmm, appearing in 2006: Hayshaker Jones, Vista Cruisers, Brent Kirby. Okay, so by nationally known, you must mean nationally known by people who follow this genre of music which is? Alternative rock? You know you're an adult when you don't even know (or really care)what the kids are calling their music anymore…The Beachland Ballroom seems to have two stages: the tavern and the ballroom. Ticket prices seem cheap, some are single digits. Some shows are all all ages, so, you youngesters into, whatever kind of rock music this is, join the fun.

The Odeon Club (1295 Old River Road, 216-574-2525) is located "on the East Bank of the Flats" which will no doubt mean something to people from Cleveland. Acts performing live include local and the nationally-known rockers. Aimee Mann was slated for a late 2005/early 2006 appearance. So was Yellowcard. There's a VIP balcony, a snack bar, a liquor bar. Tickets can be purchased at the venue or through Ticketmaster.

The Winchester Tavern And Music Hall (12112 Madison Ave, 216-226-5681):
According to its website, this venue is "committed to bringing quality music to an established music fan base." And don't think we don't appreciate it. Those who have performed at The Winchester before include Leon Russell, who wrote for Ray Charles, a Russian folk band, Gospel-Rock artists Ashley Cleveland (any relation to the city?) and one half of the group that brought us the song "I'd Really Like the See You Tonight", and Lisa Loeb I think The Winchester wins for most diverse acts. Thursday is musicians jam night. Every last Saturday is a songwriters circle night for those who write and sing.