In less than two months, another music festival will attempt to go where few Northeast Ohio music festivals have gone before.

Why it matters: Despite being the birthplace of rock 'n' roll, the Cleveland area has been unable to establish the kind of mainstream musical festival that can generate millions of dollars in economic impact.

State of play: The latest contender is the inaugural Afterburn Music Festival, which takes place Aug. 14-15 at Victory Park, a 60-plus acre sports and entertainment facility in North Ridgeville.

• The event, put on by venue operator Victory Entertainment, features more than a dozen rock bands, including Third Eye Blind and Skillet.

What they're saying: Afterburn bills itself as an "accessible alternative" to festivals like Chicago's Lollapalooza and Columbus' Sonic Temple, which drew more than 180,000 people to Historic Crew Stadium last month.

• "We knew a rock festival was something Cleveland was sort of missing," Joe Borkey, president of Victory Entertainment, tells Axios. "This event, located right off the turnpike at this giant space, can fill that void."

Flashback: Cleveland has struggled to sustain a major music festival — one that can draw tens of thousands of people — since the World Series of Rock in the 1970s.

• The graveyard of one-and-done fests includes K-Rock radio's Kuyahoga Fest at Blossom Music Center in 2006, the InCuya Music Festival on the downtown Mall in 2018 and Kid Cudi's 2022 Moon Man's Landing festival in the Flats.

The other side: Northeast Ohio did have WonderStruck, which ran from 2016 to 2023 in Kirtland, Lake County, before being derailed by an ongoing legal battle.

• The annual Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival draws 75,000 fans to Mansfield, but is an 80-mile drive southwest of Cleveland.

Borkey says Afterburn is anticipating 10,000 people across two days during its first year.

• "We hope to be as big as one of these other Ohio festivals, one day," he says. "Right now, we're a good foot-in-the-door for people who haven't been to big festivals and want to try it out."

If you go: Single-day tickets start at just over $115.

• Two-day passes start at around $213.

Cuyahoga County is reopening the lower level of the historic Veterans Memorial Bridge this Saturday for free, self-guided tours.

Why it matters: Visitors rarely get access to the bridge's original streetcar tracks, offering dramatic views and a glimpse into Cleveland's transportation history.

Driving the news: The bridge will be open from 10am-5pm as part of the county's America 250 celebration.

• Guests can explore the lower deck, learn about its history and meet the team working to reimagine the space for future public use.
• "Busker-style musicians" will provide live entertainment throughout the subway level.

Catch up quick: County Executive Chris Ronayne has championed reopening the bridge's lower level as a park and multi-modal transit pathway — Cleveland's answer to New York's "High Line."

• Streetcars operated there from 1918 to 1954.

What they're saying: "Investing in the Veterans Memorial Bridge and identifying opportunities for new connections and opportunity for public space means expanding access to places that define our community," Annie Pease, Cuyahoga County's senior advisor for transportation, said in a statement.

Before you go: Admission is free, but all visitors must sign a liability waiver before entering the lower level.

• Visitors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Leashed pets are welcome.

💭 Sam's thought bubble: I'll see you there.

⚖️ The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of letting the Trump administration end legal protections for migrants fleeing violence and natural disaster in Haiti and Syria, exposing hundreds of thousands to deportation. (AP)

• Nearly 15,000 Haitians live in Springfield, Ohio.

🎡 Cleveland officials say an unnamed manufacturer is eyeing the I-X Center and could bring 700 jobs and $72 million in annual payroll to the site. (Cleveland.com)

🗳️ Gov. Mike DeWine's veto of a bill requiring photo ID to vote by mail has received criticism from fellow Republicans, who could opt to override the veto. (Signal Ohio)

Decades nightclub in the Flats may be a thing of the past.

Driving the news: The venue's landlord has revoked the club's lease, according to a notice posted on Decades' front door shared by I'm From Cleveland.

• The letter, dated June 23, cites issues such as criminal activity and unsafe conditions documented by the Cleveland Division of Fire.

Flashback: Decades opened in March 2025 at the former Big Bang Dueling Piano Bar location.

What they're saying: Decades responded to the notice on social media, saying the club is dealing with an "unexpected building-related issue that is temporarily affecting our operations."

The big picture: Flats East Bank has seen significant turnover in the past year, including the permanent closures of Inferno and Rum Runners.

• Play Bar and Grill also had its lease revoked after a shooting last September.

The newest Cleveland Cavalier is regarded as one of the 2026 NBA Draft's best raw shooters.

Why it matters: Cleveland selected 19-year-old guard Meleek Thomas with the No. 34 pick, but likely views him as a long-term developmental project rather than an immediate contributor.

By the numbers: The 6-foot-3 Pittsburgh native averaged 15.6 points as an Arkansas freshman while shooting over 40% from 3-point range.

Between the lines: Thomas was projected to go in the late first round, and Cleveland nearly took him with the 29th overall pick.

• Instead, the Cavs traded back into the second round (where players are guaranteed smaller starting salaries) for financial flexibility.

What they're saying: "The fact that we were able to move back and still select a player of his caliber and his shot making — one of the best shot-makers in all of college basketball — is pretty exciting," Cavs president Koby Altman said after the draft.

Friction point: Thomas may have been the best player available, but he joins a glut of small guards in the current Cavs rotation.

Zoom out: The Cavs had only one pick in this year's draft, but they signed beefy Miami center Ernest Udeh Jr. to a two-way contract after it concluded.