Music scene · Akron

Akron's rubber industry heritage gave the city a post-industrial tension that produced the angular, robotic sound of Devo and continues to fuel its electronic and indie rock scenes. The Tangier, a historic supper club in the North Hill neighborhood, hosts blues and R&B acts in a space that has served Akron since 1952. Musica in the downtown arts district books indie rock and folk bands, while BLU Jazz Plus provides an intimate room for jazz musicians near the city's historic center.

Akron's rubber industry heritage shaped a musical identity built on post-industrial tension. In the 1970s, Kent State art students formed Devo, pioneering a new wave sound known as the Akron Sound. The Crypt, a former rubber workers bar, became an incubator for punk and experimental bands. The Akron Sound Museum preserves this era.

Musica in the Historic Arts District books indie rock and touring acts under its neon sign. BLU Jazz Plus offers an intimate club designed for jazz. The Akron Civic Theatre, a 1929 Moorish castle atmospheric theater, hosts major concerts. Jilly's Music Room on North Main Street features local and regional bands.

Artists such as Devo, the new wave pioneers who formed at Kent State, and The Black Keys, the blues-rock duo of Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney, emerged from Akron.

Newcomers should visit Baxter's Speakeasy for open jam nights and collaborative artist events. BLU Jazz Plus hosts regular sessions welcoming sitting musicians. The Akron Sound Museum offers connections to the city's musical lineage.