CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland may be the rock and roll capital, but the entire state of Ohio is full of great music. From electro-pop to glammed-up punk to psychedelic hip-hop, our scenes have a little something for everyone.

Travel to Akron to hear the spacey surf sounds of the Beyonderers, visit Columbus to dance with the Fallen and strut with noise-pop act Leggy in Cincinnati. Don't forget Toledo's shoegaze and Dayton's mathy punk.

Ready to take a road trip? In this guide, we take you on a tour of some of the best up-and-coming acts in all corners of the state.

Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

35 Ohio bands you need to know now

By Nikki Delamotte

cleveland.com

Oct. 27, 2016

Cleveland may be the rock and roll capital, but the entire state of Ohio is full of great music. From electro-pop to glammed-up punk to psychedelic hip-hop, our scenes have a little something for everyone. In this guide, we take you on a tour of some of the best up-and-coming acts in all corners of the state.

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

Mourning a BLKstar

Hometown: Cleveland, OH

Sounds like: Soul

Song to hear: “Flicker” (Video)

In a recent 90.3 IdeaStream interview, RA Washington remarked when asked about his newest project that there’s “never been a better time to make artful and intentional soul music with a hip-hop feel.” Though Washington (owner of Guide to Kulchur bookstore and co-owner of Young Kings record shop) has played in various acts over the years, it’s with his trio of powerhouse vocalists – James Longs, Latoya Kent and Kyle Kidd – that his words come to life more fully realized than ever. It's the reason they've been dubbed, time and time again, the most exciting band in Cleveland right now.

facebook.com/mablkstar

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

Part-Time Lover

Hometown: Cleveland, OH

Sound like: Indie / psych

Song to hear: “Out of my Control”

Call it a Cleveland super group. Jason Look (guitars/lead vocals) was a member of Prisoners, Pat O'Connor (bassist) was in Coffinberry and both Mandy Look (guitar/vocals) and Roseanna Safos (drums/vocals) still perform with local rock mainstay Goldmines. Their debut EP “Brains Out on the Table” is an endearing collection of hazy, psych-tinged hooks.

facebook.com/PartTimeLoverBand

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

Archie Green

Hometown: Cleveland, OH

Sounds like: Hip-hop

Song to hear: “40 Acres” (Video)

Archie Green made waves this year with his revealing interview with Vice detailing his battle with depression. He's become an outspoken activist, even organizing his own festival, Peel Dem Layers Back on Nov. 9, to talk candidly about mental illness through hip-hop.

archiegreenisclass.com

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

Small Wood House

Hometown: Cleveland, OH

Sounds like: Lo-fi indie

Song to hear: “Yeah It’s Sad”

Vocalist Emma Shepard made waves with her bedroom pop, notably 2013’s infectious “Public Displays of Affection.” Joining forces with Chris Corsi, John Corsi and Matt Schleckman, Small Wood House tinkers through 90s alt and dreamy keyboard folk. This year, they’ve shared the stage with acts like Tigers Jaw and Waxahatchee.

facebook.com/smallwoodhousemusic

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Photo by Dan Price

Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

Ex-Astronaut

Hometown: Cleveland, OH

Sounds like: Shoegaze / Indie

Song to hear: “There She Goes”

Formerly known as Field Trip, Ex-Astronaut’s melancholy shoegaze moments trade on and off with squalling sounds. Their album “No More Bad Dreams” mines even its nosiest peaks for soaring hooks on centerpiece “There She Goes.”

facebook.com/exastronaut

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

Tae Miles

Hometown: Cleveland, OH

Sounds like: Hip-hop

Song to hear: “Summertime Thing (ft. HOLY)”

When rapper/producer Tae Miles decided to begin crafting his “Curl Pattern” this year, he called on all his best collaborators to be a part of the project. The result is 13 ambitious, genre-bending tracks with guest appearances by names like HOLY, WesWill, Alex Kent and more.

facebook.com/TaeMilesMusic

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

Heart Attack Man

Hometown: Cleveland, OH

Sounds like: Emo power-pop

Song to hear: “Surrounded by Morons”

Emo power-pop act Heart Attack Man recently signed to You Did This Records, a subsidiary of Triple Crown Records, which is home to Brand New and Into It. Over It. Add Heart Attack Man's forthcoming debut full-length to the list of most-highly anticipated albums this fall. In the meantime, they've released the slacker anthem of a preview track "Surrounded by Morons" as they were wrapping up their east coast tour.

facebook.com/heartattackmane/

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(Photos by Jacqueline Bon)

Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

The Nico Missile

Hometown: Cleveland, OH

Sounds like: Glam punk

Song to hear: “Let’s Go Make Love”

The glammed-up punk of the Nicole Missile is one more name to add to the raucous sound coming from Cleveland’s Quality Time Records. The label, helmed by Nico’s Ricky Hamilton, is also home to the stellar Wesley Who and Fascinating, among other emerging talent. With tracks like “Let’s Go Make Love” and “Third Rock from the Sun,” the Nico Missile barrels through garage-pop and onto slick, dark mesmerizing rock and roll.

facebook.com/thenicomissile

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

Paper Morning

Hometown: Cleveland, OH

Sounds like: Psych / Indie

Song to hear: “Mad as a Hat”

Paper Morning’s 2016 release, “Block the Sun” pulls influences from bright power pop to funk and radio-ready indie. With vocals reminiscent of a more toned-down Bastille, they take an icy psych-influenced plunge in the mature “Mad as a Hat.”

papermorning.cm

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Amberly Nicole

Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

Samfox

Hometown: Cleveland, OH

Sounds like: Blues rock

Song to hear: “Tired”

Bluesy soul meets rock and roll on Samfox’s album “The Feels.” Fans of the Black Keys and Cleveland’s Welshly Arms can appreciate Braxton Taylor’s gritty vocals against roughed-up guitar work fleshed out with horns, sax and keyboards. The result, to be expected, is slinky, sexy and retro to the core.

facebook.com/samfoxmusic

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

John's Little Sister

Hometown: Cleveland, OH

Sounds like: Dreamy, vintage folk

Song to hear: “Keep It Safe”

The debut EP from this Cleveland foursome fronted by Jessica Sikon doesn't hide that it's rooted in melodic, dreamy '60s and '70s sounds. "My Wandering Heart" is a twangy crooner and "Sad Eyes" plays on the vintage, soulful pop styling perfected by Neko Case, albeit with a slightly less western influence. It's on the title track that they veer off into sunny, psychedelic surf pop territory that conjures up Jefferson Airplane (or a modern take on Donovan's "Season of the Witch") that they find their sweet spot.

facebook.com/johnslittlesistermusic

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(Photo: Justin Hustle)

Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

Walker OG

Hometown: Cleveland, OH

Sounds like: Hip-hop

Song to hear: “Orange”

Walker OG isn’t afraid to blur genres, collaborating with artists like soulful Cleveland electro-art pop rising star Marcus Alan Ward on the psychedelic “Trip.” He moves right onto smoky jazz backing tracks on “Orange,” where he sings the undeniably catchy hook “Lately I’ve been treating nights like mornings don’t exist,” solidifying him as one of the city’s most versatile right now.

facebook.com/walkerogmusic

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(Photo: Andrew Wells)

Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

Throw Shade

Hometown: Cleveland, OH

Sounds like: Power pop / Indie

Song to hear: “The Outs”

Founded by Jeremy Provchy of Akron punk staple Worship This!, Throw Shade channels the same energy into emotive slacker pop. Every song from their self-titled EP released this October feels ready to be spun into an emo end-of-summer soundtrack.

facebook.com/throwshadeband

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(Photo Raye Hart)

Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

Agleam

Hometown: Cleveland, OH

Sounds like: Electroacoustic / experimental

Song to hear: Theater Ninjas’ “Codes” soundtrack

Eric Gonzalez is one of Cleveland’s most under-the-radar versatile musicians. He performs his experimental electroacoustics solo as agleam as well as part of Forager, a band created as part of Lottery League. He’ll also often add his musical talent to productions by Theater Ninjas and perform as part of the boundary-pushing chamber group No Exit New Music Ensemble and Forest City Chambers string ensemble.

facebook.com/agleammusic

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

Heavy Cat

Hometown: Cleveland, OH

Sounds like: Psych rock

Song to hear: “Fun Machine”

Take retro 13th Floor Elevators and add Doors-inspired organ to conjure to life the newly formed Heavy Cat. The psych-rock quartet draws from elements of surf to add to Dan Malone's hypnotic vocals and swirling guitars.

facebook.com/theheaviestcat

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

Ohio Weather Band

Hometown: Akron, OH

Sounds like: Folk

Song to hear: "Boardwalk Act" (Video)

Roots rockers Ohio Weather Band have brought their high-energy folk to cities around the country, including festivals like SXSW. Their stomping, urgent sing-alongs have becomes trademark of their spirited live shows.

ohioweatherband.com

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

The Beyonderers

Hometown: Akron, OH

Sounds like: Surf rock

Song to hear: "Bailout x Infinity"

Think of it as surf music for the space age. The Beyonderers’ revamp of retro surf sounds may still invoke the spirit of Dick Dale, but the band injects it with their own modern rock and roll take. This November, they release their new album “Estimate of the Situation.”

facebook.com/thebeyonderers

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Nikki Delamotte

Damn the Witch Siren

Hometown: Columbus, OH

Sounds like: Glam / Electro-pop

Song to hear: “Thrill Me” (Video)

If Goldfrapp and David Bowie had a love child, it would probably sound a lot like the high-voltage glam of Damn the Witch Siren. Bobbi Kitten and Z Wolf make mystic pop through amped-up 80’s inspired beats, twisted vocal effects and an off-the-wall live show of flashy fashion and colorful theatrics.

damnthewitchsiren.com

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

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Hometown: Columbus, OH

Sounds like: Noise-pop

Song to hear: "belly"

Didi’s plucky noise-pop with a touch of 90s emo juts from experimental to mathy to punk. The slightly discordant vocals will please anyone who can’t get enough of the similar traits of Hop Along.

didicolumbus.bandcamp.com/releases

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

Mary Lynn

Hometown: Columbus, OH

Sounds like: Pop-rock

Song to hear: “Two & Two”

Mary Lynn embraces kitsch. Her quirky pop album “My Animal” is a collection of sweetly confessional piano jams recalling Ben Folds. The songs stay bubbly, swelling and upbeat even through tales of heartbreak.

songsbymarylynn.com

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(Photo: Adam Elkins)

Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

Correy Parks

Hometown: Columbus, OH

Sounds like: Hip-hop

Song to hear: “Alone Again”

In 2016, rapper Correy Parks caught the eye of MTV, The Fader and more. Suddenly, his self-reflective rhymes were striking a chord. His poetic approach has led the way for him to blaze his path into the hearts of hip-hop fans across the country.

Facebook

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

Bloody Show

Hometown: Columbus, OH

Sounds like: Punk / garage

Song to hear: “bell hooks”

Punk garage rockers Bloody Show are the band you want to walk into a party and hear playing. Led by Jah Nada, who has had a hand in the Cleveland music scene before moving to Columbus, their rowdy tracks like “bell hooks” rip through relentlessly from start to finish without a pause for breath.

facebook.com/bsohio

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

Playing to Vapors

Hometown: Columbus, OH

Sounds like: Groove / Alternative

Song to hear: "Ghost Hunters" (Video)

Blending groove and dub in their alt-rock, Playing to Vapors has garnered a following from straightforward indie fans and jam fans alike. With only two EPs under their belt, the band has opened for Maps & Atlases, Civil Twilight and Parachute, and earned spots on the bill at Bunbury Festival, CMJ and Cleveland’s own Brite Winter.

playingtovapors.com

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

The Fallen

Hometown: Columbus, OH

Sounds like: Electronic

Song to hear: “Ice Cream and Savages”

Techno raconteurs James Johnson (Plural) and Kevin Kennedy (FBK) are longtime collaborators who are now channeling their energy into delivering dark, pulsing sounds to the Columbus electronic scene. Plural brings his drum programming while FBK deconstructs samples and tweaks synths to create their work.

Facebook

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

Good Personalities

Hometown: Toledo, OH

Sounds like: Indie rock / Shoegaze

Fans of the endearing, shoegazey contributions of the 90s like Lush – with a punch of punk – should make room for Toledo darlings, Good Personalities. The brother-and-sister duo have amassed plenty of a cult following with their noisy dream-pop.

facebook.com/GoodPersonalities

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

November Loop

Hometown: Youngstown, OH

Sounds like: Indie

Song to hear: “This is the Colour of my Dreams”

Lush and melodic, November Loop brings to mind the somber grace of the National. Citing the Church and Yo La Tengo as influences, the hushed vocals over shoegaze soundscapes offer cinematic moments on tracks like “This is the Colour of my Dreams.”

Facebook

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

Sam Goodwill

Hometown: Youngstown, OH

Sounds like: Experimental indie

Song to hear: "Hand to the Good Book"

Built around driving percussion, Sam Goodwill’s thunderous swirling of keys, haunting vocals and guitars is equal parts complicated, sophisticated and experimental. Sam Buonavolonta has been a Youngstown mainstay, constantly evolving his always unorthodox repertoire.

http://samgoodwill.com

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

Natural Sway

Hometown: Athens, OH

Sounds like: Indie

Songs to hear: “Bar”

Natural Sway comes from Ryan Eilbeck of pop-punk outfit Delay, who had created a steady buzz around themselves over the years. Eilbeck and company channel the same emotion into Sway, but instead turns in punchy tracks for slow-burning indie anthems.

facebook.com/NaturalSway

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

Hex Net

Hometown: Athens, OH

Sounds like: Psych / Rock

Song to hear: “Vice Church Blues”

Straightforward, driving classic rock and roll with keys guides Hex Net. Throw in a bit of retro psychedelia and it adds all the more moxie to Hex’s roughed-up swagger.

facebook.com/hexnetband

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

Abertooth Lincoln

Hometown: Dayton, OH

Sounds like: Progressive punk

Song to hear: “Dreamy Kids”

Abertooth Lincoln is known for their thrashing, energetic punk blended with proggy elements. Add in its regular mathy riffs, and you have a fusing of jazz, punk and metal that can’t help but be one high-powered ride.

abertoothlincoln.com

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

M. Ross Perkins

Hometown: Dayton, OH

Sounds like: Psych-folk

Song to hear: "Project 63 Online"

M. Ross Perkins is more than a bit old school. The neo-psychedelic crooner blends folk and rock and roll for sepia-tone yet stylish, flower-power enchantment. For fans of Father John Misty, M. Ross Perkins is another extension of the summer of love.

mrossperkins.com

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(Photo: Amanda Silberling)

Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

Leggy

Hometown: Cincinnati, OH

Sounds like: Punk

Song to hear: “Grrrls Like Us”

Leggy describes themselves as “bubblegum punk,” and we’re not inclined to disagree. Lo-fi surf tunes are filled with coy vocals and energy bursting at the seams. The Cincinnati trio has toured around the U.S. bringing their spunky spy music to the masses.

facebook.com/leggy

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(Photo: Hillary Jones)

Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

U*'

Hometown: Cincinnati, OH

Sounds like: Rock

Song to hear: “One of a Kind”

Claiming influences from the Ramones to Jesus and Mary Chain, Vacation is full of frenzied tunes that barrel along at speeds almost too fast to keep up with their sing-along choruses. Others turn in the feverish pace for melodic rock and roll simplicity, with a bit of punky cheekiness as a necessary touch.

facebook.com/vacationohio

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

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Hometown: Cincinnati, OH

Sounds like: Electric cello

Song to hear: “Control”

Cincinnati’s Lung has all the drama of the Dresden Dolls. Kate Wakefield’s off-kilter, compelling vocals and electric cello set the perfect stage for Daisy Caplan’s drumming that can create an entire ominous atmosphere with only two people.

lunglunglung.bandcamp.com/releases

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

+n

Hometown: Mansfield, OH

Sounds like: Hardcore

Song to hear: “A.D.A.D.”

New-school hardcore and punk come together in Mansfield’s Divebomb. The band’s not keeping to themselves in Mansfield, however. They’re taking their act, which blends melodic moments into its hardcore, to cities throughout the country.

facebook.com/DivebombHC