Just as we were getting over the buzz of 2020 inductee announcements, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame museum keeps on rollin' by announcing its plans for the next year at a Jan. 29 press conference. In 2019 the Rock Hall welcomed more than 563,000 visitors, a series of live music performances and wide variety of new exhibits, including the Play It Loud exhibit, which runs through September and features instruments such as Prince's symbol guitar, Bruce Springsteen's fabled telecaster and others. But 2020 has big things in store, too, including an anniversary celebration and this year's induction ceremony being held in Cleveland. Rock Hall CEO Greg Harris fills us in on what's to come this year.
Induction Mania
The inductees are announced, and fans are quarreling, but now all that’s left to do is enjoy the artists' speeches and performances as they enter the Hall of Fame. This year's induction ceremony at Cleveland's Public Auditorium May 2 is set to be televised live on HBO for the first time ever. Previous years, the broadcast aired weeks later. The Rock Hall is also planning to provide a special sneak peek of the 2020 inductee exhibit with a celebration on April 25 — for Clevelanders only. "That Saturday is our local day," says Harris, who notes out-of-towners won't yet be swarming Cleveland. But the party doesn't end there. Induction Fest continues through May 2 with bands playing at different spots throughout Cleveland.
Birthday Bash
25 years. That’s how long the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has rocked Cleveland's shore, and the museum is planning a year-long party worthy of a rockstar to celebrate. It plans to hold events on the 25th of each month, Harris says, in conjunction with its Rock Hall Nights, which run through April, and Rock Hall Live, through September. This new series of 25th anniversary attractions includes the 2020 inductee exhibit and a photography showcase with pictures from 35 years of induction ceremonies. "It's a neat way to get a window into different eras and times," Harris said.
Encore
If you haven't gotten a chance to jam out at the Rock Hall's Interactive Garage exhibit, you won't have to miss out after all. Unveiled in the summer of 2019, the musical exhibit aims to engage visitors with music in the most hands-on way possible — by letting you play the same instruments as your favorite guitar gods. After a successful first year, the exhibit will now live permanently on the second floor of the Rock Hall, Harris announced Wednesday. “We will teach you to play something within the first 4 minutes, even if it’s something simple,” says Harris. "They can grab a Gibson Hummingbird [guitar] and play it. That's hands-on to the nth degree."