Brothers Lounge Cancels All Future Hardcore and Punk Shows

Venue cites damage, chaos, and loss of regulars after recent metal festival

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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Brothers Lounge, a longtime blues and jazz venue in Cleveland, Ohio, has decided to cancel all upcoming hardcore and punk shows after a recent metal festival resulted in extensive damage, including destroyed microphones, a blood-covered women's restroom, and an exodus of regular patrons. The venue's new manager, Billy Plona, said the decision was made to protect the venue's property and return to its musical roots.

Why it matters

This decision highlights the challenges that independent music venues face in balancing the desires of different music communities while maintaining the integrity of their spaces. It also reflects the broader struggles of Cleveland's music scene, where only one in four independent venues turned a profit last year.

The details

During the January 31 Judgement Day metal festival at Brothers Lounge, the venue experienced significant damage, including three destroyed microphones, a women's restroom covered in blood after a concertgoer was kicked in the face, and other issues like chipped walls and bartenders leaving. Concerned about the potential for similar damage at future hardcore and punk shows, Plona and his team decided to cancel all upcoming hardcore and punk events and return the venue to its blues, jazz, and tribute/cover band roots.

  • The Judgement Day metal festival took place on January 31, 2026.
  • On February 6, 2026, Brothers Lounge announced it would be canceling all future hardcore and punk shows.

The players

Billy Plona

The new manager of Brothers Lounge who made the decision to cancel the hardcore and punk shows.

Chris Riemenscheider

The owner of Brothers Lounge who bought the building in the early 2000s and has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into renovations.

Francesco Luke

A member of the post-hardcore group Imperil, whose upcoming show at Brothers Lounge was canceled.

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What they’re saying

“Three microphones were slammed and destroyed. The women's restroom was covered in blood because some girl got kicked in the face. It was chaos—chips in the walls, bartenders leaving, regulars saying they're never coming back.”

— Billy Plona, Manager, Brothers Lounge (Cleveland Scene)

“It's one thing to say, 'We're not going to book these shows anymore.' But it's another to just cancel them outright.”

— Francesco Luke, Member, Imperil (Cleveland Scene)

“Ninety-nine percent of those bands and their crowds are good people. But there are just more bad actors in that particular crowd.”

— Billy Plona, Manager, Brothers Lounge (Cleveland Scene)

What’s next

It is unclear if Brothers Lounge will reverse its decision to cancel all future hardcore and punk shows. The venue's manager, Billy Plona, urged bands not to take the decision personally, but acknowledged the difficult position the venue is in.

The takeaway

This decision by Brothers Lounge highlights the delicate balance that independent music venues must strike between accommodating different music communities and protecting their spaces from damage and disruption. It also underscores the broader challenges facing Cleveland's music scene, where profitability remains elusive for many venues.