Glen Phillips with Gretchen Pleuss
Music Box Supper Club, May 9, 2018

Seeing Toad the Wet Sprocket’s Glen Phillips was a great chance to get my 90s kid on, especially accompanied by fellow 90s music junky Gretchen Pleuss

Diana Chittester with Olivia Martinez
The Beachland Tavern, May 11, 2018

Diana Chittester is one of the most powerful performers in folk music but brought a couple extra levels of energy to the release of her EP Paradox

Sarah Shook & the Disarmers with Thelma and the Sleaze
Ace of Cups, May 2, 2018

On a steamy spring evening, Sarah Shook & the Disarmers leveraged booming popularity to pack Columbus’ Ace of Cups accompanied by Thelma and the Sleaze

White Buffalo Woman, The Vindys, and Demos Papadimas & His Band
The Rialto Theatre, April 6, 2018

A trio of Ohio’s most dynamic musical performers—White Buffalo Woman, The Vindys, and Demos Papadimas—combined forces in a must-see experience

Christopher Paul Stelling with Brian Patrick
The Rialto Theatre, April 6, 2018

A Christopher Paul Stelling concert always seems like a reverberation of the past, especially when held at Akron’s recently restored Rialto Theatre

James McMurtry & John Moreland
The Kent Stage, March 22, 2018

Two of Americana’s finest songwriters, James McMurtry & John Moreland, joined forces for a co-headline bill at The Kent Stage in Kent, Ohio

Angela Perley & The Howlin’ Moons
Apollo Maennerchor, March 4, 2018

Angela Perley & the Howlin’ Moons brought their blend of alt country and psychedelic rock to Apollo Maennerchor Club in Sharon, PA.

Gretchen Pleuss Band
    with M. Moody & Shetler Jones
The Beachland Tavern, March 21, 2018

Akron singer/songwriter Gretchen Pleuss brought an all-too-rare full-band performance to the Beachland Tavern in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Womack Family Band
    with Nate Jones Band and Demos Papadimas
Mahall's 20 Lanes, July 27, 2013

Considered by many the best group in NE Ohio, the Womack Family Band took the stage at Mahall's 20 Lanes for their first Womack Give Back charity show backed by locals Demos Papadimas and Nate Jones.

Townes Van Zandt Tribute
    featuring G.S. Harper, Mary Cutrufello & Brent Kirby
The Beachland Tavern, May 14, 2013

G.S. Harper, Mary Cutrufello, and Brent Kirby got together to honor country's greatest songwriter, Townes Van Zandt, backed up by a band full of Cleveland Americana luminaries. Sounds like a plan.

Harpeth Rising
The Beachland Tavern, 2/25/2013

At their first Cleveland performance string folk quartet Harpeth Rising held down an evening at the Beachland Tavern all on their own, boosting both the venue's wine sales and the audience's spirits.

The David Wax Museum
The Auricle, 2/4/2013

David Wax Museum has long been a favorite at No Surf, so what did we do when we found out they were playing back-to-back shows in nearby towns? We went to both of 'em, of course!

American Aquarium
The Beachland Tavern, 1/16/13

With Southern rockers American Aquarium returning to the Cleveland stage after a long absence and paired with new local band The Greaves, a cold winter night at the Beachland Tavern was turned into a hot alt.country honky tonk heaven that No Surf just couldn't miss.

Unknown Hinson
The Beachland Ballroom, 7/20/12

It's hard to find a crazier country showman than Unknown Hinson. Pender's been foaming at the mouth waiting for his appearance at the Beachland, so you bet we were there to document the insanity.

The Spring Standards
w/ Goodmorning Valentine & Jason Patrick Meyers
The Beachland Tavern, 5/13/12

The Spring Standards played the Beachland Tavern the day No Surf Music was founded, so when we heard they were returning to promote their new double EP yellow//gold, we knew we just had to be there.

Chris Castle
w/ The Womack Family Band
Honky Tonk House Concerts, 1/14/12

With a brand new album in his pocket, Americana singer/songwriter Chris Castle came to play the Honky Tonk House Concert series to hang out with some old friends and get them caught up on his latest work. No Surf dropped by to join the festivities and catch a few tunes.

No Surf Roadtrip:

Unknown Hinson
Ruby Tuesday, Columbus, OH, 11/30/11

What do you do when you're unexpectedly out of town for work and a colleague reminds you that the craziest guitar-shredding hillbilly country music has ever seen is playing a nearby dive bar that night? You stay up until 2 drinking and carousing and you write an article about it!

Billy Joe Shaver
w/ California Speedbag
The Beachland Ballroom, 12/2/11

Billy Joe Shaver has been called the best writer alive today by no less an authority than fellow outlaw country pioneer Willie Nelson. No Surf agrees, so when Shaver brought his band to the Beachland Ballroom to perform his extensive catalogue, new and classic, you can bet we were there.

Those Darlins
w/ Peelander-Z and Filmstrip
The Grog Shop, 10/12/11

Riding high on the release of their new album Screws Get Loose, Those Darlins rolled into Cleveland to play an energy-packed, hard-rocking show at the Grog Shop. This was a show not to be missed, and you'd better believe No Surf was there to soak it all in.

The 45th Annual Kent State Folk Festival
Kent, OH, 9/21-25/11

Held right in No Surf's backyard, the Kent State Folk festival presents an eclectic, genre-spanning blend of up-and-coming and time-tested artists. The 45th annual edition featured acts such as Peter Yarrow, Carolina Chocolate Drops, The Low Anthem, David Wax Museum, Seth Glier and more.

Asleep at the Wheel
The Kent Stage, Kent, OH, 9/9/11

Modern day kings of Western swing Asleep at the Wheel brought their unique brand of high-energy music to the Kent Stage, prompting fans to dance in the aisles. No Surf didn't join in on the dancing, but you can bet we were there to catch every note.

Murder By Death
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, OH, 8/17/11

Murder By Death brought their unique, dark Americana sounds and a new bandmate to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for an outdoor show to close out the Summer in the City concert series. No Surf stopped by to scope it out, making for the first ever repeat North Coast Nights appearance.

Marley's Ghost
The Winchester Music Hall, Lakewood, OH 8/6/11

A cult favorite with 25 years and nine albums under their belt, Marley's Ghost mixes country, folk, gospel, blues, reggae and more into a style all their own. They stopped by the Winchester Music Hall to introduce their sound to the good people of Cleveland, No Surf included.

Steve Earle
The Kent Stage, Kent, OH, 7/31/11

Steve Earle is recognized as one of the founding fathers of modern Americana music, revered for his powerful songs and determined political stances. Along with the Dukes and Duchesses, he brought his hard-bitten tunes and electric sound to the Kent Stage to close out July.

Lucinda Williams
with Amos Lee
Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, Cleveland, OH, 7/16/11

Lucinda Williams is an Americana legend and puts on one of the most powerful shows known to man. She recently stopped by Cleveland to play a riverside show at Nautica and No Surf was there to capture the experience.

Hot Club of Cowtown
Nighttown, Cleveland Heights, OH 6/15/11

A Western swing band playing a jazz club is not something you often see, but Hot Club of Cowtown pulled into Nighttown and had the whole crowd wanting to stay all night, or at least a little longer. With wide-ranging influences, they turned out to be a perfect fit, but just how hot where they?

Southern Culture on the Skids
with Whiskey Daredevils
The Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland, OH 6/5/11

Southern Culture on the Skids has gained a reputation for crazyness, both musically and on stage. They blend country, punk and surf guitar into a strange blend that drives certain people nuts. They also throw fried chicken from the stage during their shows. One thing's for sure, a night with SCOTS will never be mundane.

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
with Tom Evanchuck
The Kent Stage, Kent, OH 6/4/11

Everyone knows Nitty Gritty Dirt Band from their massive hit "Mr. Bojangles." What some might forget is that NGDB was one of the first to blend country and rock sounds, making them the progenitors of the modern Americana and alt.country sounds. Read all about their powerhouse performance at the Kent Stage here.

Muder By Death
with Whisper Signal & Dear Antarctica
Musica, Akron, OH 5/19/11

Murder By Death is one of the most unique bands you'll ever hear, with a cello in place of a guitar, deep, powerful vocals, and influences ranging from Western to punk. They rolled into Musica to start off an early summer mini-tour and No Surf was there to catch every note. In our review we give you the details and a scoop on the band's upcoming album.