Going Downtown

Minneapolis, New York, Los Angeles and Houston are among the cities hosting “Downtown Festivals” at local venues. The fun begins in September in Cleveland with The War On Drugs, Islands, RJD2, Justin Townes Earl and more.

Presented by Downtown Events, only the Cleveland lineup has been revealed.  Starring top-flight acts along with up-and-comers, participating Cleveland venues are Grog Shop, House Of Blues and Beachland Ballroom.

This year marks year No. 4 for the Downtown Festival series that launched in 2011 to commemorate Downtown Records fifth anniversary.  Expect lineups and locations for Minneapolis, New York, Los Angeles and Houston to be announced in the weeks to come.

Here are the dates:

Sept. 19-20 – Cleveland
Sept. 26-27 – Minneapolis
Oct. 3-4 – New York
Oct. 17-18 – Los Angeles
Nov. 14-15 – Houston

Cleveland is shaping up to be one fantastic party weekend.  Sept. 19 includes The War On Drugs and Califone playing House Of Blues.  Islands, TEEN and Extra Spooky will perform in an early show at The Grog Shop.  That same venue will host Com Truise, Marcus Alan Ward and Survive in a late show.  Pomplamoose will be at the Beachland Ballroom.

Sept. 20 includes Justin Townes Earle, Crash (from Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros) and American Aquarium at House Of Blues; RJD2 and Smoke Screen at The Grog Shop and Freeman and Arc Iris at Beachland Ballroom.

Photo: John Davisson
Gentlemen Of The Road Stopovers, Francis Field, Saint Augustine, Fla.

Tickets for Cleveland’s Downtown Festival are on sale now.  A 2-day GA Festival pass includes access to all House Of Blues shows taking place that weekend.  A 2-Day VIP pass gives you access to HOB events through the weekend plus Friday and Saturday night entry to Grog Shop and Beachland Ballroom.  Other VIP perks for Cleveland include access to VIP boxes at HOB plus a gift bag jammed with merch.

There is a website for inquisitive minds.  Check out TheDowntownFestival.com for more details.

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