Cleveland is known as “America’s polka capital,” where the traditional music and dance still draw devoted fans. But the genre is struggling to reach a broader and younger audience. In this week’s Shuffle, WKSU’s Phil de Oliveira met a husband-and-wife duo who’s taking polka all over Cleveland. Happy music Go to the Hofbrauhaus in downtown Cleveland on a weekend, and you’ll probably hear Nancy and Eric Noltkamper playing German polkas. “For somebody who’s never heard it, it’s happy music,” Eric

Akron singer-songwriter Angie Haze is collaborating with dozens of middle school students for a concert this weekend. The Bigger Picture Project aims to connect Akron’s music scene to the schools.

An Akron record label is celebrating Record Store Day this weekend by releasing a compilation album inspired by the Akron Sound.

For more than 25 years students and faculty at the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music have known Mark Graham as the man in charge of tuning the school’s 108 pianos. But this weekend, he’ll be wearing a different hat: that of a composer. Graham has been tuning and maintaining pianos at the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music for 26 years. During that time he’s kept a little-known secret: For decades, Graham has led a quiet side career of sorts as a composer. “I might well be the most

A Cleveland indie rock band is building momentum after recording its first album with a multi-platinum producer. For this week’s Shuffle, WKSU's Amanda Rabinowitz talked to Alisha Stahnke of Punch Drunk Tagalongs about their big sound and big break. In 2015, singer-songwriter Alisha Stahnke was coping with a breakup by playing gigs at open mic nights in Akron's Highland Square and hanging out with other musicians. “And that’s kind of what eventually led me into Punch Drunk Tagalongs .” Plugging

Editor’s note: This story originally incorrectly stated that Marc Lee Shannon is the former guitarist for Michael Stanley. Shannon is still with the band A few city blocks in east Akron are coming back to life with the help of musicians. For this week’s Shuffle, WKSU’s Amanda Rabinowitz walked Kenmore Boulevard to hear how the community is rebuilding a music district. When you make the turn off the I-76 exit ramp and onto Akron’s Kenmore Boulevard, it’s hard to tell at first glance that this is

[Editor's note: This previously aired on WKSU on May 4, 2017] The iconic music and pop culture magazine Rolling Stone turned 50 last year. Next month, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum closes its yearlong exhibit that takes music fans through the magazine's vast archives of photos and interviews. WKSU’s Amanda Rabinowitz talked with Cleveland Scene music writer Jeff Niesel about Rolling Stone Magazine at 50. Rolling Stone Magazine was founded in San Francisco 1967. It was a big year

It’s easy to hear live Irish music during the weeks leading up to St. Patrick’s Day. But local Irish musicians say their scene is thriving year-round. For this week’s Shuffle, Maureen Conway-Reich and Marcus Dirk of the band Ballinloch talk about their roots. 'Ballinloch' means 'our town on the lake' in Irish, and the band says it's a tribute to their homeland of Ireland and their hometown of Cleveland. Generations keep the culture alive Reich says Northeast Ohio has a rich Irish music scene. "

A rock band from rural Stark County is touring the Midwest after releasing its latest album. For this week’s Shuffle, WKSU contributor Brittany Nader talked with the lead singer of White Buffalo Woman , Evan Rutledge, about the small-town band from Minerva that’s building a following.

A teenager’s hobby has turned into the go-to website for showcasing Cleveland’s hip-hop scene. For this week’s Shuffle, WKSU's Amanda Rabinowitz talked to John Stursa about how his site, ImFromCLeveland.com , is helping the city's hip-hop community find its identity. From hobby to career Twenty-three-year-old John Stursa of Lorain, grew up listening to artists like Chip the Ripper and Lil Wayne with his brother. At the age of 13, Stursa began posting videos of his favorite local hip-hop artists