A Journey From Tallmadge to Stephen Colbert to Album Release: CLE Daily

🌤️ 90°; Very humid and thunderstorms possible

🚈 Cleveland's New Trains Have Arrived: The first light-rail train GCRTA has bought in more than 40 years rolled into town Friday, arriving by freight at CSX's Collinwood Yard before heading to the Port of Cleveland. The Siemens-built S200 is the first of 48 new cars replacing GCRTA's aging Red, Blue and Green line fleets.

🚴 Cleveland Will Pay You To Buy an E-Bike: Applications opened today for the city's new Pilot E-Bike Rebate Program, offering $500 to any Cleveland resident 18 or older and up to $1,500 for lower-income households, with 100 rebates up for grabs. Apply at EBikeCleveland.com, funded by the George Gund Foundation and the Sustainable Cities Fund. 

ICYMI: Remember when GCRTA ordered 18 more Siemens light-rail cars back in March 2025, bringing its total order to 48 cars and promising the first deliveries in 2026? That promise just came true — full passenger service on the rebuilt Red Line isn't expected until 2027.

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Trivia Question

Tennessee native Frederic Allen Whiting was the first director of what Cleveland institution?

Music: Jon Lampley's journey from Ohio church music to a late-night show band.

By Annie Nickoloff

For the majority of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert's nearly 11-year run, Northeast Ohio native Jon Lampley was a big part of the musical accompaniment.

Big Band: First hired by Jon Batiste as a member of Stay Human, Lampley continued with Louis Cato and the Great Big Joy Machine as the group's trumpet and tuba player.

The Late Show ended in May, wrapping up a significant chapter in Lampley's musical life.

Jon Lampley: "I think the most dominant feeling is gratitude, for being a kid from Tallmadge, Ohio, that somehow winded up on this program, playing with musicians that are now family. It's changed my life, and to get to be associated with something that I believe will be talked about for years and years and years to come, as a pillar of American cultural history, it's very surreal."

Next Chapter: Though he's not on late-night TV these days, Lampley has stayed plenty busy touring with O.A.R. and performing with other artists and musical groups. 

New Tunes: This summer, he debuted his latest solo album, Notes to Self, showcasing a musical range that he's developed since first honing his skills in a Tallmadge, Ohio, church band.

We caught up with Lampley just a few weeks after The Late Show ended to hear more about his Northeast Ohio roots, his time on late-night TV and what the next chapter of his musical life will look like. 

Hear our conversation and read more.

Talk of the Town

Cavaliers games are moving to DAZN, a standalone streaming service that will carry every preseason and 65 regular-season games. The other 17 regular-season games and all playoff games are on national broadcasts such as NBC, Peacock, ABC, ESPN and Prime Video. The DAZN service will cost $19.99 a month or $119.99 for the season, while 15 games will be free on DAZN and a yet-to-be-announced Cleveland over-the-air partner. The Cavs are also taking production in-house, expanding from six cameras to 19 and keeping John Michael, Brad Daugherty, Serena Winters and Cayleigh Griffin in their familiar roles.

A Black Cleveland lawmaker helped invent Labor Day, and a local coalition wants to remember him for it. John P. Green, sometimes called the Father of Labor Day, pushed the holiday into Ohio law more than a century ago. A Black labor coalition is now working to preserve his legacy ahead of the holiday weekend.

Karamu House is searching for its next leader. The nation's oldest producing Black theater, which launched the careers of Langston Hughes and Ruby Dee, has been without a permanent president and CEO since Tony Sias stepped down in May after a decade at the helm.

Ohio voters will decide this fall whether to enshrine voter ID in the state constitution. Issue 3 would take the state's existing photo-ID law and lock it into the constitution, making it harder for a future legislature to loosen.

A group of Cleveland parents wants the school district to rip out its license-plate readers. "Flock No" organizers say Cleveland schools have spent more than $600,000 on Flock Safety cameras while laying off staff and consolidating buildings. Some neighbors and CMSD employees counter that the cameras help deter car break-ins near schools. 

A North Olmsted nursing home worker is accused of stealing from a blind resident. Police say a 37-year-old employee, identified as Torres, used the bank card of an 86-year-old legally blind woman at Joshua Tree Senior Living Campus to withdraw cash without permission. The facility fired the employee as soon as they were identified as the suspect.

Things To Do: Fun events and festivals for the long weekend.

By Jeff Niesel

Cleveland Oktoberfest at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds | Festival | Sept. 4-7, 11-12

The annual Cleveland Oktoberfest returns Friday to the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds. The fest features a slew of different types of Oktoberfest-style beers, German and European restaurants, tribute bands, vendors and local artisans. Festivities continue through Monday and take place again next weekend. Consult the website for a schedule and hours of operation. 19201 East Bagley Road, Middleburg Heights, 440-243-0090, clevelandoktoberfest.com

Cleveland Taco Fest at Jacobs Pavilion| Food & Drink | Sept. 4-7

An annual event, this four-day celebration kicks off Friday at Jacobs Pavilion. Expect live music, taco competitions, a Kids Zone, tequila tastings, margaritas and Lucha Libre wrestling. Doors open on Friday at 4 p.m. 2014 Sycamore St., Cleveland, 216-861-4080, tacofestcle.com

Kamm's Corners Greek Festival at the Cretan Club | Festival | Sept. 4-7

For the past several years, the George Varouh Cretan Club of Cleveland has played host to the Kamm’s Corners Greek Festival. This year’s installment kicks off on Friday at 11 a.m. It features Greek food and pastries as well as a full dinner menu. Greek beer and wine will be served. Admission is free. The event continues through Monday. 3853 W. 168th St., Cleveland, 216-941-4455, westparkkamms.org 

Cleveland National Air Show at Burke Lakefront Airport | Recreation | Sept. 5-7

This annual event returns to Burke Lakefront this weekend. It continues through Monday. This year’s Air Show features the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor demonstration. The Air Show will also feature an array of military demonstrations, parachuting and aerobatics. Check the website for a schedule. 2301 N. Marginal Road, Cleveland, clevelandairshow.com

The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Cedar Lee Theater | Film | Sept. 5

The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the 1975 film that still draws an exuberant, costumed crowd that likes to throw rice and dry toast and sing along to the songs in the movie, still draws big crowds to local showings. Expect a throng to show up for Saturday's screening that takes place at 10 p.m. at the Cedar Lee Theatre. 2163 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, 440-528-0355, clevelandcinemas.com

For our full list of things to do, visit clevelandmagazine.com/things-to-do.

Yesterday's Trivia Answer

This Cleveland militia saw action in the Civil War, the Spanish-American War and World War I, but it’s probably most notable now for the building that houses its headquarters. The Cleveland Grays

Check back tomorrow for the answer to today's question

From the Editor

The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Cedar Lee Theatre is a beloved monthly tradition. It's sure to be a little bit of a bittersweet event this weekend, following the recent death of actor Tim Curry, who starred as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the 1975 film.

I remember often watching Rocky Horror in high school theater, and even performing "Time Warp" in our high school marching band's senior show. (I dressed up like Janet!)

It wasn't until college that I saw it at the Cedar Lee. But it's more than just a movie screening; while the film plays, it's also performed with the live floor cast Simply His Servants. It's a special, fun part of the theater's programming that's been taking place for 30 years. And, especially this weekend, it's worth checking out.

— Annie Nickoloff, Senior Editor

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