While rock ‘n' roll got its namesake here in The Land, Cleveland's music scene extends far beyond gritty guitar riffs, accentuated back beats and rockstars who trash hotel rooms. In fact, Cleveland's music scene is symbolic of our town's diverse citizenry, who embody more than 100 different global ethnicities. Case in point: The Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival. For nearly two weeks April 1-12, Cleveland State University becomes home to the largest Indian classical music festival outside of India. With attendance pushing over 10,000, the festival draws fans, competitors and performers (as well as their friends and family) from around the world. What To Do There: Have no idea what a veena, mridangam, ghatam or kanjira are? (Hint: they're musical instruments.) Now's your chance to learn about these ancient Indian apparatus that generate unique sounds, which, when played together, make for incredible music that you surely won't hear on most radio stations. There'll be dozens of Indian music performers — including vocalists and orchestral groups — over the course of the event's nearly two-week span. The Cleveland Thyagaraja Fest isn't simply designed for old-timers. In fact, the festival showcases the newest generation of traditional Indian dancers, who are typically young women (ages 9-25) performing the mesmerizing Bharatanatyam dance in vibrant, jewel-toned saris and expressive makeup. It's popular part of the festivities, as it draws international competitors. Ticketing Info The majority of the programs are free to the public, but there are a limited number of ticketed programs, as well. More information regarding tickets can be found here . Lunch and dinner will be served daily, for purchase, on a first-come, first-served basis.
