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Pixies will do double take to kick off music festival
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
John Soeder
Plain Dealer Pop Music Critic


The Pixies are set to kick off the CMJ/Rock Hall Music Fest with back-to-back performances Wednesday, June 8, at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and at Scene Pavilion in Cleveland's Flats.

The groundbreaking alt-rock band's Rock Hall concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Showtime for the later Scene Pavilion gig has not been announced, nor have ticket prices or an on-sale date for both engagements.

The Pixies stand to be in good company, with performances by 100 other acts from across the United States and abroad lined up for the Music Fest. The celebration of cutting-edge music runs through Saturday, June 11.

"This is going to be great for the Rock Hall and for Cleveland," says Warren Zanes, the museum's vice president of education.

"It's not just a chance to see a lot of shows. You'll also get the bigger picture of where music is headed."

By day, performances will be held at a Festival Village at the Nautica Entertainment Complex in the Flats, amid listening lounges sponsored by record companies and tents with displays by musical-equipment manufacturers and other festival affiliates.

By night, acts will perform at six Cleveland venues - the Agora complex, the Beachland Ballroom, House of Blues, the Odeon Concert Club, Peabody's and Scene Pavilion - as well as at the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights.

The schedule to date includes these bookings:

Jazzy hip-hoppers Digable Planets, June 9, at the Agora.

Alt-rock faves Stephen Malkmus, June 9, and Spoon, June 10, at the Beachland.

Post-punk revivalists the Futureheads, June 9, at the Grog Shop.

Freewheeling rock band Red Wanting Blue, June 10, at House of Blues.

Hard-core punks the Misfits, June 9, and latter-day headbangers Powerman 5000, June 10, at Peabody's.

Local heavy-metal heroes Mushroomhead, June 11, at Scene Pavilion.

More than 1,100 acts applied to perform. The hopefuls were narrowed down by the festival's co-presenter, the CMJ (College Media Journal) Network, with input from the Rock Hall.

The Music Fest is modeled after the CMJ Music Marathon, held annually in New York City since 1981.

"It's coming together great," says Steve Dobo, the Rock Hall's senior manager of promotions. "We're very excited about it."

The festivities also involve various events at the Rock Hall, including question-and-answer sessions with music-industry leaders. Confirmed speakers include hip-hop pioneer Grandmaster Flash and recent Rock Hall inductee Seymour Stein, co-founder of Sire Records and president of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation.

Rock poster artists featured in the book "Art of Modern Rock" will show and sell their work at the museum June 10-11.

Finalists in Guitar Player magazine's "Guitar Hero" contest will compete June 10 at the Rock Hall for a panel of judges, including Joe Satriani.

The festival is expected to draw up to 20,000 people, including out-of-town music fans and music-industry insiders.

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority will provide shuttle service between the Rock Hall and the Festival Village and between venues and downtown hotels. You can ride free with a festival pass or for $1 with an Ohio Lottery ticket.

Festival passes, $85 and $135 ($99 and $149 after Friday), can be purchased at www.cmj.com/rockfest.

Organizers hope to have a complete festival schedule posted on the Web site by early May.

Tickets for individual club showcases, the Festival Village and events at the Rock Hall also are being sold through festival venues and Ticketmaster.

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