Change is knock-knock-knockin' at Cellar Door. This year, Cellar Door Rendezvous gets a remix by expanding from a two-day festival with 19 bands at Beachland Ballroom and Tavern to a six-day event with 25 bands at a different venue each night from Aug. 4 to 9. Cellar Door owner Justin Markert says these additions turn up the volume on the booming, yet under-recognized local music scene. "Any kind of coming together of the various corners of the music community helps grow it as a whole," says Markert. We open the door to what's new at this year's event.
Talk Show ¤¨ The festival kicks off Aug. 4 at the Rock Hall with PechaKucha Cleveland, a series of 12, six-minute talks accompanied by about 20 slides on local music. For example, Markert says, punk artist Obnox will dish out free-spirited, honest advice for Cleveland musicians. "We don't just want it to be an inside industry thing," says Markert.
High Note ¤¨ The six-piece, orchestral pop band Seafair approached Markert about playing House of Blues with a 30-piece orchestra they formed specifically for the event. His response? Let's do it. Markert recruited the Modern Electric, the Moxies and Ottawa to join the Aug. 7 main event. "[Seafair] is very ambitious," Markert says. "They really want to break out and elevate Cleveland."
Big Bands ¤¨ Markert hopes Rendezvous' extra venues and bands will bring fans and artists of various genres together that might not otherwise mix. "I'm really excited about the idea of fans and musicians kind of all just hanging out together," he says.
