
A Musical celebration with The Hessler Neighborhood Association and NEOMHA
We love traditional music, and as a nonprofit organization we are committed to keeping the music playing. We’re excited to help the Hessler Neighborhood Association bring you these great performers and an opportunity to gather in the Hessler neighborhood with friends and music lovers.
HESSLER HOMECOMING
Sunday, October 15 11am-5pm
Free Admission Outdoor Event
Hessler Road Cleveland, Ohio
Presented by The Hessler Neighborhood Association
in collaboration with the
Northeast Ohio Musical Heritage Association
Featuring:
Austin Walkin’ Cane – 11am
Bent String – noon
The Baker’s Basement – 1pm
The New John McGrail Trio – 2pm
Jubilee, Sound Poet – 3pm
CARLOS JONES and the P.L.U.S. Band – 3:30pm
–Sound by Vertical Sound–
- Free Admission
FOOD for purchase on-site.
MUSIC runs 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
JAMMING WELCOME in designated areas.
SEATING: Bring your lawn chair.
WHERE: All performances take place on Hessler Road, bordered by Ford Drive to the west and Bellflower Road to the north, tucked right near the campus of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland 44106.
QUESTIONS? Laura, 216-288-9587
TICKETS: None! It’s free!
MC: Chwa de Vivre
WRUW live broadcast with FILTHY RICH
VENDORS & Other Stuff:
Farmer’s Feast with Hooper Farm
Murray Hill Market – specialty Italian Street Food – Zucchini Pancakes & Pasta Wheels
- 3D Music LLC: 3D Printed Stringed Instruments
- Kanine Kreations: Chips for dogs, healthy treats your dogs will love, guaranteed! No seasonings, preservatives or additives
- Encore Evolutions, Lena Boswell: Craft artist, jewelry artist, sustainability activist & urban farmer
- Mitchell’s Fine Chocolates
- LeaDoodles-Inspired: Face and Body Art Design
- The Letterboxing Club at CWRU
- Rachel’s Garden – Kathy Mehling
- Beth Lewin Pottery
- Glenn Baskin/80 Proof Comix
- Saralila
MEDIA
Cool Cleveland:
Mini-Hessler Street Fair Returns to the Street | CoolCleveland
FreshWater Cleveland:
The Music Never Stopped: Free Hessler Homecoming Keeps Spirit of Hessler Street Fair Alive
THANK YOU TO:
Neighborhood Connection: A Program of the Cleveland Foundation

CARLOS JONES and the P.L.U.S. BAND
3:30-5pm
“Carlos Jones is to Cleveland reggae what Jim Brown is to Cleveland running backs: the undisputed champ. With Jones at the forefront of the scene for more than 25 years this city’s reggae following was practically built upon his back. Jones and his P.L.U.S. Band were voted Best Live Act in Cleveland at the 2004 Scene Music Awards and since then have won the award for Best Reggae/World Act every year, culminating in being given permanent “All Star” status in 2007. The band’s soulful rhythms and heartfelt vocals have made it one of Cleveland’s top draws for close to a decade.” – Cleveland Scene Magazine
Band members:
Carlos Jones guitar, vocal
Max Eger drums
George Gordon tambourine
Roy Isaacs percussion
Curt Johnson percussion
Peter Platten keyboard, vocals
Video: Hessler Street Fair 2017 – Carlos Jones & The PLUS Band
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Austin Walkin’ Cane
AUSTIN WALKIN’ CANE – 11 am
Damn Fine Blues! Original & classic delta blues featuring slide guitar and soulful vocals. A blues gumbo repertoire that can conjure up the ghosts of highway 61 & the delta blues experience. Austin Walkin’ Cane is a blues singer, songwriter and slide guitarist that performs acoustic solo, duo & electric band sets. Austin Walkin’ Cane has toured Australia, Nepal, Colombia, France, Germany, England, Wales, and the US, from New Orleans, Louisiana to Juneau, Alaska with only a guitar & suitcase in hand.
Video: Living, Working, Dying

BENT STRING – 12 pm
Bent String performs a mix of American roots music, including early jazz, acoustic blues, gospel, country and originals.
The quartet centers on the vocals of Kari Ann Rutushin underpinned with the feel of jazz age swing. With Reed Simon‘s hot violin, Kevin T. Richards on the archtop guitars and Cleveland Blues Hall of Fame inductee, upright bassist Raymond DeForest.
Video: The Story of the Sandhogs Part 1

The Baker’s Basement
THE BAKER’S BASEMENT – 1 pm
The Baker’s Basement is a quirky two-piece band that performs a flavor of music best described as ‘indie folk-hop.’ The Cleveland-based pair is known for interweaving their two voice and playful lyrics atop their one-of-a-kind rhythmic heartbeat: a homemade, standup, bucket drum kit that allows drummer Kate Dedinsky to stand and move alongside guitarist Adam Grindler. Their style is marked by a whimsical playfulness and funky back beat, meshing flavors of indie rock, folk, funk, and spoken word that invite you into a dynamic world of both laughter and heartbreak.
THE NEW JOHN McGRAIL TRIO – 2 pm
The New John McGrail Trio is an evolving extension of the music of John McGrail. Originally composed of guitar bass and percussion it has now become the home of guitar, bass, flutes and whistles. While still mining the darker side of life lyrically, musically the loss of one member left the possibility for improvement. Consisting of John McGrail on vocals and guitar, Jay Bentoff on bass and the latest addition of Sheela Das on flutes and whistles the Trio is embarking on a newer slightly different path. Change is a good thing!
Categorized as a folk musician he accepts that and on some level even agrees but his influences range far beyond that and they all contribute to the ‘folk’ music that he creates. Analysis of his tunes would find things like odd meters, Floydian textures, and the occasional stinging guitar solo. Then there are the lyrics… well there are those who have described him as the Dark Prince of Cleveland Folk.
Video: Don’t Grieve for Me (The Kitchen Sessions)
JUBILEE, SOUND POET – 3 pm
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