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Music
Hessler Street Fair Spirit Lives On With Upcoming Grog Shop Concerts
After a 50-year run, the Hessler Street Fair ended after its 2019 event. Now, the Grog Shop will feature some of the fest's musicians and vendors in an upcoming weekend of shows.
by Annie Nickoloff | May. 8, 2023 | 7:21 PM
Courtesy CP Thornton, Flickr
The Hessler Street Fair's spirit will live in a two-day concert series on May 19 and 20 at the Grog Shop, honoring the long-running street music festival's legacy.
"An Ode to Hessler" will feature bands and vendors who were a part of the street fair in the past. The weekend event was endorsed by the Hessler Street Fair organizers, according to a news release.
An all-local music lineup includes Alex Bevan, Shoreline Funk All Stars, Shākē Ground Band, Blackout Rose and Unc D on the first night; and Jah Messengers and the JiMiller Band, Big Ship, Charlie Mosbrook and The New John McGrail Trio on the second night. Food from Hooper Farm will be served, and artisans like Chris Adams, Faith McFluff and other organizations will also be stationed at the shows.
After the Hessler Street Fair's 50-year history, the long-running staple of the Cleveland music scene went on hiatus, following its 2019 event.
“It’s been a great tradition,” the festival's former director Packy Malley said in a 2019 interview with Cleveland Magazine, “and it would be sorely missed if it went away.”
The fest has not occurred since — though, the Grog Shop weekend of shows will give a taste of what it was like. Tickets ($10, or a two-day pass for $15) are available at the Grog Shop's website, grogshop.gs.
Annie Nickoloff
Annie Nickoloff is the senior editor of Cleveland Magazine. She has written for a variety of publications, including The Plain Dealer, Alternative Press Magazine, Belt Magazine, USA Today and Paste Magazine. She hosts a weekly indie radio show called Sunny Day on WRUW FM 91.1 Cleveland and enjoys frequenting Cleveland's music venues, hiking trails and pinball arcades.
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