Home of Rock & Roll?

Location: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Time: 3:45 pm

Before Detroit had Motown, Cleveland coined “Rock and Roll.” Cleveland has launched legends and nurtured underground icons—but what does it really mean to build a music career here? In this genre-spanning roundtable, artists, DJs, journalists, and label founders unpack the highs, the hurdles, and the hidden gems of our local scene. From the thrill of a packed room to the grind of self-promotion, from the legacy of rock to the rise of new sounds, we’re talking what’s hot, what’s tired, and what’s next.

Moderator: Rachel Hunt is a dynamic force in Cleveland's music scene, seamlessly blending roles as a radio DJ, event promoter, and marketing professional. With over a decade of experience, she has cultivated a vibrant presence in the city's cultural landscape. As the Marketing & Operations Manager at the Grog Shop, one of Cleveland's premier music venues, Rachel orchestrates a diverse array of events, showcasing both emerging and established artists. Her keen eye for talent and deep understanding of audience engagement have been instrumental in the venue's continued success. Beyond her work at the Grog Shop, Rachel is a passionate radio DJ at WRUW-FM 91.1, where she hosts shows like "Live from Cleveland" and "Guilty Pleasures," spotlighting local musicians and fostering community connections through music

Panelists:

Anne Nickoloff – Annie Nickoloff is the senior editor at Cleveland Magazine, where she covers arts, culture, and music across Northeast Ohio. Her storytelling blends deep reporting with a passion for the region’s creative communities. Annie’s work has been featured in national and regional outlets including Paste Magazine, The Plain Dealer, and cleveland.com. In 2025, she was named a finalist for Writer of the Year by the City and Regional Magazine Association, recognized for stories that explore the evolving cultural landscape of Cleveland. 

Beyond the newsroom, Annie hosts “Sunny Day” on WRUW 91.1 FM, where she shares her love of local and global music.  She’s also an avid pinball player and a proud advocate for Cleveland’s creative scene.

Marcus Alan Ward – Musician, multidisciplinary artist, and founder of 104L World. Marcus is known for his genre-defying soundscapes that blend elements of soul, jazz, ambient, and hip-hop. Formerly performing under the moniker Freeze-Tag, Ward has garnered national attention with his unique "prisma-chromatic" style, earning comparisons to artists like Prince and George Clinton.  Beyond his musical endeavors, Ward is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist and the founder of Long Division Creative, a collective that merges music, film, and visual art. Ward's innovative approach to art and music positions him as a thought leader in the evolving landscape of digital creativity.

Heath Gmucs is a Cleveland-based musician and vinyl alchemist best known for founding Wax Mage Records—a boutique imprint celebrated for transforming vinyl into mind-blowing collectible art. As the pressing operations supervisor at Gotta Groove Records since the early 2010s, Heath has turned his after-hours experiments with colored PVC into a full-fledged creative endeavor. What began as playful splatter and half-and-half designs grew into captivating, playable artworks featuring materials like coffee, ashes, shredded money, and glitter. Those boundary-pushing records earned him the “Best Record Art” award at the 2018 Making Vinyl conference in Detroit. Rooted in a musical family and a former touring bassist, Heath brings artistry, technical mastery, and a DIY ethos to every pressing. Wax Mage isn’t just vinyl—it’s a sensory statement, blending sonic fidelity with visual flair that collectors and audiophiles embrace.

When he’s not designing splashy editions for indie artists or labels, Heath remains a dedicated mentor and innovator at Gotta Groove, pushing vinyl limits while teaching others the craft

Jenna Fournier is a Cleveland-based artist and musician whose work drifts effortlessly between sound and vision. A painter, performer, and songwriter, she’s known for creating delicate worlds that feel both ancient and otherworldly—dreamlike spaces where vulnerability becomes a source of strength.

She first made waves as the frontwoman of the dream-rock band Niights, carving out a space for herself in the city’s underground scene. In recent years, she’s continued to evolve through her solo project, Kid Tigerr, releasing music that’s quietly expansive—anchored in emotion, atmosphere, and an almost mystical sense of presence. Her voice, unhurried and intimate, draws you in like a secret.

Jenna’s creative output extends beyond music. She’s also an accomplished visual artist, often designing her own costumes and integrating her artwork into live performances. Her multidisciplinary approach gives her work a rare cohesion—whether she’s painting, composing, or performing, it always feels unmistakably hers. In 2025, she joined Billy Corgan on tour, contributing bass and backing vocals to his Machines of God project—another chapter in a career marked by both quiet persistence and unexpected turns. At the heart of all her work is a belief in art as a form of healing and revelation—a way to stay tender in a world that often demands hardness.