We reflect back on our favorite Shuffle episodes of 2020, from how artists adjusted to the pandemic, to a performance piece that speaks to the racial justice movement. We also explore how you can help local musicians recover from a year of lost shows. Artists featured in this episode: Justin Tibbs, ZOD1AC, Quinn Starkey, Mina Aevum.

Two Northeast Ohio independent music venue owners, The Happy Dog's Sean Watterson and The Kent Stage's Tom Simpson, explain why they've waited to reopen, and about the long, frustrating wait for promised federal funding. Also, Shuffle contributor Annie Nickoloff shares how reopening plans have been going at other venues in the region, detailed in her Cleveland.com series: "Concerts during COVID."

Cleveland's Cory Grinder and The Playboy Scouts is out with its new album, "Honky Tonkin' Beauty Supreme." The band is the first recipient of a new micro-loan program to support local musicians, and is the first signed to new Cleveland label, Blue Arrow Records.

Cleveland nonprofit Twelve Literary Arts will release its debut album, “In Search of the Land,” June 19. The release, which includes contributions from more than 40 Black artists in Cleveland, will fall on Juneteenth.

Cleveland.com's music writer, Annie Nickoloff, shares four of her favorite local albums of the year so far, and has details about the return of Cleveland's Wonderstruck music festival. Artists featured in this episode: Uno Lady, The Sonder Bombs, Rob Kovacs, Juice Newson.

A historic building in the heart of downtown Massillon is undergoing renovations and will open as a record shop called Erie St. Vinyl this summer. Samantha Heaton talks about getting in the music business in the waning days of the pandemic, and the independent labels and local artists she's working with to fill the shelves.

Songwriting retreats aimed to foster and unite local musicians has taken root during the pandemic. Elijah Bisbee says despite the pandemic, he was able to host two retreats last year, each with 8-10 established and aspiring musicians. He has another scheduled for June and is planning more this year.

The base salary for the men's basketball coach jumps from $285,000 a year to $500,000. Gates has had early success on and off the court in his first stint as a head coach.

The base salary for the men's basketball coach jumps from $285,000 a year to $500,000. Gates has had early success on and off the court in his first stint as a head coach.

Singer-songwriter Chrissy Strong spent 2020 getting serious about her music after focusing for years on motherhood, sobriety and relationships. Her debut EP, “Bones,” was released in April 2021. It was recorded live at The Rialto Theatre in Kenmore. It is a raw, unfiltered look into Strong’s life as an addict and her road to recovery.