Your Summer Playlist

Solstice
Saturday, June 20, 7:00 p.m.–12:00 a.m.

Grab your best summer party outfits and celebrate the museum’s 15th annual Solstice festival—one of Cleveland’s most anticipated summer spectacles. The museum’s special exhibitions are open, the permanent collection galleries host speed talks, and the atrium is activated with live DJ sets and more. The evening kicks off with a cirque performance by FLIP Fabrique, an established circus troupe from Québec City who roll up on their school bus and transform it into a stage.

It continues with musical performances that allow listeners to sample Latin sounds from Cuba, Mexico, and the US. Daymé Arocena is a two-time Grammy-nominated and Juno Award-winning Afro-Cuban singer and composer. A powerful voice in contemporary Latin music, Arocena is celebrated for her genre-blending creativity and deep connection to her Cuban roots. 

Born and raised in Naucalpan, on the outskirts of Mexico City, the Gama brothers and their band Son Rompe Pera have thrashed through all preconceived notions of what a marimba-centered band is, rendering the instrument inseparable from their punk ethos. With two critically acclaimed records under their belt, the band consistently proves their boundlessness as far as where they can take the genre.

With her signature mohawk, Nik West headlines the event with her electrifying stage presence. A force in modern funk, she has performed with Lenny Kravitz, Prince, Quincy Jones, and Santana. West is the first  Black woman to compose music for ESPN—making  history and continuing to break barriers. 

Kevin Jackson, renowned for his innovative and captivating VJ sets, projects original, vibrant content onto the museum’s facade. The all-inclusive ticket covers admission, unlimited appetizers, and beverages, including beer, wine, and canned cocktails. This event is for guests 21 or older.

City Stages
This year, City Stages—the CMA’s famous block parties that showcase the best in global dance music—consists of two dynamic performances in July. Arrive early and grab dinner and a drink at one of Ohio City’s bars or restaurants, or visit one of the local shops. Seating is limited; bring camp chairs and enjoy an evening of music and dancing in the street.

Kaleta & Super Yamba Band
Wednesday, July 22, 7:30 p.m.

Kaleta & Super Yamba Band are fronted by Afrobeat and Juju veteran Leon Ligan-Majek, a.k.a. Kaleta. The singer/guitarist from the West African country of Benin Republic spent his adolescence in Lagos, Nigeria, where Afrobeat was born. Kaleta’s guitar chops earned him decades of touring and recording with Fela Kuti, King Sunny Ade, Lauryn Hill, and more.

Insun Park & Generals
Wednesday, July 29, 7:30 p.m.

Experience a groundbreaking fusion of rock, Korean traditional music, and mask dance rhythms with Insun Park & Generals. One of the few female masters of the Gangnyeong Mask Dance, designated as Korea’s National Intangible Heritage, Park leads the band alongside Donghyuk Heo (composer/guitar), Hyunmo Yang (drums), Johyun Kim (taepyeongso/flute), and Hahyungki Baek (bass guitar).