❄️ Chasing Dopamine at Brite Winter: 6 Cleveland Artists You Need to Hear
🌟 Chasing Dopamine with Live Music & Frozen Fingers
Forget algorithmic playlists and influencer hype—Mark Bradbourne kicked off 2025 with a goal: 20 live concerts as part of a personal mission he’s calling Chasing Dopamine. And Brite Winter Festival in Cleveland? That’s concert #1. And wow, it delivered.
Despite freezing February temps (31°F / -1°C for you metric folks), thousands bundled up and flocked to the West Bank of the Flats for:
- 5 stages 🎤
- 30+ acts 🎸
- Food trucks 🌯
- Ice carving 🧊
- Giant mascots (👋 Flurry!)
- Fire pits 🔥
- And—most importantly—jaw-dropping local talent
🧣 “If you ever wanted to visit Cleveland and want a one-of-a-kind experience, plan your trip around Brite Winter.”
This episode is a love letter to that festival—and to the local music that made it magical.
🎶 6 Cleveland Artists Who Absolutely Don’t Suck
1. 🎭 Shelby Olive – “A Lotta Bit Sad”
With a style she calls musical theater pop, Shelby Olive brings storytelling, clarity, and a ukulele-powered intimacy that hits like sunshine after a snowstorm. Her voice? Crystal clear. Her energy? Contagiously warm.
“There’s a real intimacy with the ukulele… I just wanted more.”
🎵 For fans of: Regina Spektor, Sara Bareilles, Ingrid Michaelson
2. 🌫 Wish Queen – “Grievances”
Mark isn’t normally a dream pop guy, but Wish Queen changed that. Atmospheric textures, ghostly vocals, and a violinist? Yes, please.
“One of the better dream pop artists I’ve heard—period.”
🎧 For fans of: Beach House, Daughter, Bat for Lashes
3. 🔥 Truss – “Selfish”
Rust Belt garage punk with Paramore power. Truss didn’t just perform—they ignited. Blistering riffs, high-octane vocals, and relentless energy that cut through the cold like a flamethrower.
“You’re jamming along, moving—forgetting how cold it is.”
🎸 For fans of: Paramore, The Distillers, Against Me!
4. 👾 Pau – “Burger Boy”
Decked out in matching mechanic jumpsuits, Pau brought DEVO-esque eccentricity with synths, keys, and glorious weirdness. Quirky and irresistible.
“Quirky. Eccentric. A lot of fun. The second coming of DEVO.”
🎹 For fans of: DEVO, They Might Be Giants, The B-52s
5. 🎸 The Michael Weber Show – “Miles Away”
If Elvis Costello fused with vintage rock swagger and shredded like a guitar god, you’d get Michael Weber. Hammond B3 organ, blistering solos, and charisma for days.
“He has that thing—full rock star energy. He could be huge.”
🎙️ For fans of: Elvis Costello, The Jam, early Joe Jackson
6. 🎺 Da Land Brass Band – “Ninth Street Get Down”
This wasn’t just a performance—it was a parade. DeLand Brass Band lit up the fest with a full-on second-line New Orleans march straight to their stage. Saxophones, drums, dancing crowds—pure magic.
“They pied pipered the crowd. The dopamine hit was unmatched.”
🎷 For fans of: Trombone Shorty, Rebirth Brass Band, FUNK
🎉 Cleveland Rocks. For Real.
From surprise parades to symphonic synth-pop, Bright Winter proves that Cleveland’s music scene is alive, diverse, and absolutely electric—even in the dead of winter.
🎙️ “If there was ever any doubt why the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is in Cleveland, go to Bright Winter.”
Mark closes with gratitude and a call to action: support these artists, share the show, and help build a true music-loving community.
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🚫 No Facebook. No Threads. No BS.
“It’s all an attempt to build a musical community—because I’m all about it.”
🎨 …and I quote…
❝ Da Land Brass Band pied-pipered the crowd—and the dopamine hit was unmatched. ❞
— Mark Bradbourne 🎙️
