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July 30, 2021

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The second day of the WonderStruck Festival in Kirtland, OH was just as good as the first day, just a little bit hotter.

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Things seemed to go off without a hitch and everyone in attendance had a great time.  The only thing I would recommend would be to have a few more picnic tables scattered around the grounds for people to sit, especially in shaded areas.

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Other than that, the entire event was first class.  There were plenty of food trucks, restrooms and free water stations.  The grounds were also very clean for concert goers to enjoy.

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The first act of the day that I saw was Kenny Hoopla.  The Cleveland native was a last minute replacement for Noah Cyrus who could not make the festival.  The crowd in front of the stage was really into his performance, however it was not for me.  He basically rapped, often times off key, to a track that was played by a DJ.  He also was often out of breath and even admitted to the audience that he was not giving his best performance.  A total disappointment. 

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Next up on the Lakeland Stage was Dayglow.  This band put on a very fun and energic performance.  Even though singer/guitarist Sloan Struble is the sole member of the "band," the touring band members on stage were all dressed in different colored 1970s style polyester outfits.  This cool retro vibe fit the music perfectly.  They just might be on to something. ​

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The most anticipated performance of the day was from Trombone Shorty.  I heard great things about this group and they did not disappoint.  Led by Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, this outfit from Louisiana brought energy from the first note.  This uplifting party music made you want to get up and dance.  The bands sixty minute set featured several original songs as well as a great cover of Kool and the Gang's "Get Down On It."  If you are looking for a party, Trombone Shorty will bring it. 

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AJR brought a huge crowd in front of the Lakeland Stage.  Three girls in the front row said that they arrived at 10:00 am just so they could get their prime spot for AJR.   This indie pop trio featuring brothers Adam, Jack and Ryan Met along with a backup drummer and trumpet player/keyboardist brought another high energy and fun performance to WonderStruck.  Playing their hit songs "I'm Ready," "Burn This House Down" and "Bang!" the crowd was singing and dancing along with the band.  They closed out their seventy minute set with their first hit single "Weak."  This band will be a part of WonderBus in Columbus and they also announced that they will be playing a Cleveland date in 2022.  

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Portugal. The Man bassist Zachary Carothers came out before the show and told the crowd that they always ask permission from Native American groups to play on their land before every show.  He brought out a representative to speak about Native American issues for a few minutes.  She also brought up the decision to change the name of the Cleveland baseball team to the Cleveland Guardians, which they have been fighting for many years. 

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Soon after, the rest of the band came to the stage and played some instrumental snippets of songs by Metallica, Slayer and Pantera.  Then boom, they went right into their big hit, "Feel It Still." 

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The crowd was into the band, but it was a different vibe from the high energy performances from the previous two acts.

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Overall, WonderStruck hit it out of the park.  It was a great atmosphere, great facility and great bands with wide ranging sounds.

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I can't wait for next year's lineup.

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Review and photos by Greg Drugan

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