Cleveland, Ohio - The Cleveland Museum of Art is changing up its City Stages world music series this year. They're taking out the "Ohio," as in "Ohio City Stages." In conjunction with the FRONT International triennial, City Stages shows will be taking place throughout the city instead of just oustide Transfomer Station in Ohio City, as in past years.

"City Stages was five years in Ohio City during which we've all seen dramatic change in that neighborhood that made everybody pleased with the outcome" says Tom Welsh, Director of Performing Arts at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

"This year was a unique opportunity to team up with FRONT, which will have exhibitions all over the city. This was a natural moment for us to say 'let's team with FRONT and move our cultural series across the city into different neighborhoods."

This year's series will begin Saturday, July 14, and feature six concerts in five neighborhoods - all near FRONT exhibitions and installations. The free concerts begin at 7:30 p.m.

City Stages Schedule, with nearby FRONT events and exhibits

Saturday, July 14

Uptown in University Circle

Euclid Avenue, between Mayfield Road and East 115th Street

Jupiter & Okwess: Traditional Congolese rhythms in contemporary African music.

FRONT Public Opening Celebration

The Cleveland Museum of Art, Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors and FRONT exhibitions open until 7 p.m.

MOCA Cleveland, FRONT exhibition open until 10 p.m.

Cleveland Institute of Art, FRONT exhibition open until 9 p.m.

Wednesday, July 18

Ohio City

Transformer Station, West 29th Street and Church Avenue

Sidi Toure: Acclaimed practitioner of Songhai music from Mali.

Nearby FRONT Venues open until 9 p.m.:

St. John's Church

Wednesday, July 25

Ohio City

Transformer Station, West 29th Street and Church Avenue

Orquesta el Macabeo: Puerto Rican salsa stars.

Nearby FRONT Venues open until 9 p.m.

St. John's Church

Wednesday, August 15

Downtown

Mall B

Cheick Hamala Diabate: West African rhythms in the griot tradition.

Nearby FRONT Venues open until 9 p.m.

Cleveland Public Library

Federal Reserve Bank

Helen Theater, Playhouse Square

Old Arcade

Wednesday, August 29

PNC Glenville Arts Campus

East 105th Street and Wade Park

M.A.K.U. Soundsystem: New York City group juxtaposing traditional Columbian percussion with drums, electric bass, guitar, and vocals.

FRONT Porch at the PNC Glenville Arts Campus and surrounding neighborhood FRONT installations open until 9:00 p.m.

Friday, September 7

Nord Family Greenway in University Circle

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Gili Yalo: Ethiopian roots music with a modern touch of jazz and soul, from Tel Aviv.

FRONT Venues:

The Cleveland Museum of Art, Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors and FRONT exhibitions open until midnight.