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.

Youngstown musician Anthony LaMarca, who performs as The Building, is out with a new album of sounds from his corner of the city — from inside his family's pizza shop to the recording studio that's produced Grammy-winning polka music.

Youngstown rock band Rebreather kicked off a pay-it-forward pizza ordering model to support Westside Bowl during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Bullseye" was recorded in quarantine in Nashville last year and produced by former BR549 lead singer Chuck Mead.

You can find more local music at wksu.org/shuffle.

Have an idea for an episode? Email [email protected].

Cleveland filmmaker Zoë Mountain and musician TJ Maclin came up with the idea of the UPFRNT virtual series that spotlights and supports Black artists during the COVID-19 pandemic and puts the racial justice movement on center stage.

For more information and links, visit wksu.org/shuffle. Have an idea for a Shuffle episode? Email [email protected]

Cleveland musician Dan Bode recorded outdoor jam sessions for an album titled “How I Spent My 2020 Summer Vacation,” which was released in February 2021.

Since concert clubs shut their doors because of the pandemic, Northeast Ohio owners have been fighting to get enough funding to keep their businesses open, while their employees look for ways to make ends meet.