r/akron • u/LandscapeNo9538 • 2d ago
Does Akron have a punk/goth/alternative/arts scene?
I am a 27 year old artist. I currently live in the midwest and I want to move to a bigger city with more opportunities and closer access to larger cities. I am looking for a place that has a punk/goth scene. I love going to punk house shows and goth nights. I love art so artistic people to befriend, galleries, museums, collectives, art fests and conventions, "final/first fridays" events are important to me.
I love that Akron seems to have more affordable victorian style houses, so that gives me hope that i might actually be able to own a house one day lol.
I also love coffeeshops/bookstores and thrifting! do yall have that?
Thanks!
44
u/mrstuprigge 2d ago edited 2d ago
The alternative scene in Akron is decent. There are bars and diy houses that host a variety of local and touring bands (The Matinee, Musica, Buzzbin, The Rialto, Kling Thing, CAVE, Jam House). There are some festivals/events like Punk Rock Flea Market, Earthquaker Day, and PorchRokr Music Festival. Kenmore does first Fridays. And if it’s a dull weekend in Akron you can always make a drive out to Cleveland, Kent, Canton, etc.
27
u/tacotriage 2d ago
Jenks in Cuyahoga Falls (next door to Akron) has a really interesting art gallery in the basement with a bunch of cool weird shit. There's also the Oddmall and their events as well as the Punk Rock Flea Market and I think there's one other one that I can't quite remember that happen every few months. They're advertised on Facebook a lot.
Also - Akron has a crapload of neat little small business coffee shops you might like!
10
u/coddiwomplecactus 2d ago
Jenks is really really cool, and I frequent that place often. The coffee is great, nice employees, and very cool local artisanal wares. That being said, the music scene is absolutely not alternative in any sense. Jenks caters to mostly Americana, some indie, little jazz, some blues, and occasional experimental artists. But I have never seen a punk or alt band on the bill ever.
6
u/34Heartstach 1d ago
Also, if you go there and get a beer, they keep it behind the counter and only give it to you 4 oz at a time. Its super weird and screams to me that they're dodging having a liquor license.
If you dont drink its whatever. Just a weird kind of annoying thing they do
1
u/tacotriage 2d ago
I truthfully completely forgot they did music! I just remember going to that little art gallery downstairs and thinking it was really weird and zany and fun.
Yeah, don't ask me for any local music advice - my musical hyperfixation lately has been Finnish and Swedish artists so I got nothin' 😂
65
u/Timmocore 2d ago
RIP Annabell's.
7
u/ellisftw West Akron 2d ago
That makes me sad. I didn't know that. What a wild feeling to miss Akron this much
3
u/iloveg00gle 2d ago
What happened to Annabells?
9
u/IronHuntersSaga 2d ago
Supposedly the building owners raised rent until Annabelles was forced to close.
Now the building sits empty
8
18
u/4techno 2d ago edited 2d ago
If you see a goth in Akron let me know. I’m pretty sure the nearest goth scene is in Detroit. Akron has a punk scene
15
3
u/matthieuxdetoux 1d ago
I put on a goth night every third Thursday of the month at The Auricle in Canton. They’re around. Ha.
10
u/JustGoodSense 2d ago
Wanna read a good book about something you missed out on? Find Punk Rock and Trailer Parks by Derf. It's a graphic novel about a teenager in the '70s and involves The Bank, a downtown punk/alt club back at the dawn of time. (Derf is from Richfield and is probably best known as the author of My Friend Dahmer.)
4
u/coddiwomplecactus 2d ago
I also highly suggest "Ain't it fun" by Aaron Lange. It is a phenomena graphic novel about the punk scene in Northeast, OH. I am a transplant and learned so much about Cleveland history, as well as music and art history. SO cool!
3
16
u/anAwes0meWave 2d ago
Highland Square ticks off several of the boxes you mentioned, might want to check out the area for houses to rent.
6
11
u/thefisher86 2d ago
I don't know about anymore but in the 2010s Akron basically just WAS a punk/alternative scene. Annabell's shutting down may have killed that as it was the hub for this sorta shit but all the people are still here...we just have kids now!
The Black Keys are from Akron and while not punk they gave way to this idea that "Oh shit, Akron bands can make it." and it led to a whole bunch of alternative and cool music scenes that really grew for awhile.
But if you come to Akron and hang out in Highland Square you'll get the vibes we have to offer.
Also, PorchRokr is kick ass
6
u/oldpunker 2d ago
Just did "The Kling Thing" for the first time. I'm old, and it was real close to Kathryn Place for those who remember.😉
9
u/TimeTurnedFragile 2d ago
Look into The Matinee, bar in Highland Square with a very punky crowd. House shows at Kling Thing as well might be what you're looking for.
9
u/Former_Mud9569 2d ago
With how transient punk rock spaces have been I'm amazed that Kling Thing is still going. When I lived in a college town basement spaces might stick around for 2-3 shows. Here we are with Kling Street going on 20 years.
5
u/joannamomo 2d ago
My nearly 40 year old self is an emo kid at heart, but I don't get out much because I have, like, a zillion children. That being said, I can advise on the coffee and thrift scenes!
https://www.visitakron-summit.org/things-to-do/shopping/treasure-trail/ - this is a great way to introduce yourself to what Summit county has in terms of thrift stores. Some are better than others and you may prefer ones that others poo-poo. No biggie. Do your thing. Upon completion, you're entered to win something cool and can get a nifty tote bag.
https://www.visitakron-summit.org/the-drip-drive/ - this is one I completed with the help of a friend while I was laid off for entirely too long. I hiiiighly recommend it. Once completed, you're entered to win some cool schtuff and you get a mug (or not, idc, do your thing). You may find some cool coffee places and you may be like wow this coffee place is awful. Based on what you've said of yourself, I think you'd like Yada Yada in Cuyahoga Falls, but make sure to go when Jenks is also open (they're in the same building). There's a really, really cool art gallery type thing in the basement and as long as you're not ridiculously tall, you might really like it.
I hope this helps! (Also, I'm from a farm closer to Indiana than to Cleveland. Moving out here was a huge, but welcome change of scenery. Give us a try. You might like it!)
2
6
u/baconandbones Merriman Hills 2d ago
I would suggest Cleveland over Akron if you're set on moving to Ohio. More of all of those things you listed and still affordable.
9
4
u/Syntexerror101 2d ago
I also agree with this. Cleveland is really similarly priced to Akron and we spend a ton of time driving from Akron to Cleveland on our days off, at this point I'm sure we would be saving money by moving to Cleveland ourselves.
2
1
u/eightysixmahi 1d ago
goth scene? not that i’m aware of. there’s definitely a punk/DIY scene, but those spaces are run and attended by the most insufferable people. it’s like 95% virtue signaling and 5% music.
I would second all the people recommending the Jenks building in Cuyahoga Falls, they put on some really great local musicians and it’s a fun place to hang out. but for many of the things you’re asking about, cleveland may be better. plus it’s close enough that if you want to get to akron, it’s only 45 mins away
85
u/people_skillz 2d ago
Akron has a big DIY and punk music scene that I’m too old and uncool to be into, but you can try searching this sub for more info.
Otherwise, Akron has a surprisingly large art scene for a city its size, including an art museum, Summit Art Space (with monthly public art walks), a jazz club, etc.