CUYAHOGA COUNTY Video presentation shows Gund will have busy summer schedule

From June through September, nearly a dozen events are scheduled at the arena.
By JOHN PATRICK GATTA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
CLEVELAND -- It was supposed to be an event celebrating the upcoming season at Tower City Amphitheater. But Clear Channel Entertainment threw a little surprise in its presentation Monday evening at the Odeon.
Showing that it's not going to allow Blossom Music Center, which is promoted by competitor House of Blues, to book all the major acts during the year's warmer months, a video presentation detailed a busy schedule for Gund Arena.
Nearly a dozen events are scheduled from June through September at the indoor venue including Van Halen with Sammy Hagar back on vocals (July 2), Eric Clapton (July 10), Rod Stewart (July 27) and Phil Collins (Sept. 11).
Billed as the "first wave," the dates for Tower City Amphitheater (TCA) 2004 season find a number of repeat artists from last year (the Allman Brothers Band, Hall & amp; Oates, Huey Lewis & amp; the News) with a few acts who have made the transition to headline bigger venues (Dashboard Confessional, P.O.D.).
Other packages
Besides the annual appearance of the punk-oriented Vans Warped Tour and radio festival, X-Fest, a couple other package shows will appear at TCA. The Blues On Tour features 15 nationally-known artists of the genre including Northeast Ohio legend Robert Lockwood Jr. Then, Emmylou Harris headlines a bill filled with acclaimed talent from the Americana-folk movement.
The TCA event, which was put together for the press and various corporate and area VIPs, had an Oktoberfest theme with German dishes such as bratwurst and beer-enriched pork and chicken breasts served. To enhance the mood, suds were served at the Odeon bar and a polka band performed shortly after the concert announcements.
All of this set up the news of the first annual Midwest Oktoberfest, taking place Oct. 1 through 3 at TCA. The festival will include more than 25 varieties of German beer and cuisine among several "bier gartens," dance floors, family area, arts and craft pavilion. The Zoppe Family Circus will perform as well as cloggers and yodelers. Plus, there will be an official Keg Tapping Ceremony.
Annual events
This is an addition to three annual events -- Great American Rib Cook Off, which features the hard rock of Saliva, the jam band sounds of Blues Traveler and the mmmpop of Hanson; Kidsfest; and Taste of Cleveland.
With more concert dates to be announced by Post-Gazette Pavilion and Chevrolet Amphitheater next week in Pittsburgh, concertgoers are going to have loads of opportunities to forget their winter hibernation and get outside to listen to the music play.