KOENIG: Spearheading polka's next generation.

While the Frankie Yankovich World War II generation of Cleveland-style polka players continues to die off, and the "younger" generation of players such as Bobby Kravos and Joey Tomsick becomes middle-aged, someone like Johnny Koenig stands out from the pack. The 19-year-old accordionist moved to Cleveland from New York in 2006 to play the distinctive Slovenian-style of polka music that's known as "Cleveland-style." His 2007 disc, The New Kid in Town, featured a who's who of Cleveland polka players including Tomsick, Kravos, Ron Sluga and Fred Ziwich, as well as Canadian polka star Walter Ostanek and Nashville-based Joey Miskulin, who cut his teeth in Yankovic's band when he was considerably younger than Koenig. On Friday, May 30, Koenig and his band will host the Pabst Polka Party at the Beachland Ballroom (15711 Waterloo Rd., 216.383.1124) for young and old; it's all-ages. It starts at 8 p.m. Tickets: $8 advance, $10 day of show. — Anastasia Pantsios

Not Just a Birthday Bash

Ken Janssen's Birthday Bash taking place at 9 p.m. Saturday, May 31 at the Beachland Ballroom (15711 Waterloo Rd., 216.383.1124) is actually the first event in what the club's calling "The Cleveland Music Exposure Series." Bears, Coffinberry the Hot Rails, Beaten Awake, Kiddo, Expecting Rain and User Sets Mode+ are all slated to perform at the inaugural show. The second concert, set for July 5 at the Beachland, will include performances by Roue, Afternoon Naps, Living Stereo, Houseguest, Machine Go Boom and To Be a High Powered Executive. A third event (at a date to be determined) will feature JJ Magazine and Devil Moto, and another concert is slated for September. The shows are all free, and there will be a commemorative T-shirt you can get by buying merch from any of the bands on the bills. — Jeff Niesel

Voegele Climbs the Charts

Bay Village's Kate Voegele got a boost from her appearance on a recent episode of One Tree Hill. The singer-songwriter's latest album, Don't Look Away, catapulted up the Billboard charts to No. 78 and sold close to 10,000 copies (no easy task in today's market) in a single week. Her cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," which she performed on One Tree Hill, can be found on the digital version of Don't Look Away. Voegele performs at 7 p.m. Monday, June 2 at the House of Blues (308 Euclid Ave., 216.241.5555) when she opens for the Veronicas and Natasha Bedingfield. Tickets: $20. — JN

Melt Meets Grog

Lakewood grilled-cheese sandwich emporium Melt Bar and Grilled (14718 Detroit Ave., 216.226.3699) already attracts a young, rock 'n' roll crowd. So it's a natural that it's teamed up with the Grog Shop (2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216.321.5588) to promote certain selected shows. If you bring friends to Melt and order sandwiches and beer, you can ask your server for a pair of tickets to whatever show(s) is currently being promoted. Go to meltbarandgrilled.com to learn about future shows. — AP

School of Rock Tackles The Wall

The Paul Green School of Rock's East Side branch that opened this past winter presents its students' first public showcase at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 30 and Saturday, May 31 at the Grog Shop (2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., 216.321.5588). The students, ranging in age up to 18, will perform Pink Floyd's opus The Wall in its entirety. Tickets: $7 advance, $10 day of show. Call 440.684.ROCK. — AP

Disturbed A Day Early

Indestructible, the forthcoming album from industrial rockers Disturbed, doesn't hit retail stores until June 3. But you can hear the album (and even purchase it) a day early at a CD listening party that takes place 8 p.m. Monday, June 2 at the Jigsaw Saloon (5324 State Rd., 216.351.3869). Prizes include a guitar autographed by the band, and admission is free. — JN