Jamming on summer: Live music, grooving crowd bring the energy to Art Museum’s Solstice

Bob Perkoski Monday, June 23, 2025
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With the rain causing the cancellation of Parade the Circle last Saturday, June 14 (it’s now rescheduled for Sunday, June 29), and a soggy week late last week, revelers and organizers alike were relieved to have perfect weather this past Saturday, June 21 for the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Solstice 2025. —

The weather was perfect as the crowd rocked out to the 40 musicians on the four main stage acts featuring debut Cleveland performances by Mexican Institute of Sound; Balkan Paradise Orchestra, a 10-piece all female Brass band from Spain; El Laberinto del Coco, a 14-piece Bomba band from Puerto Rico; as well as Cleveland’s own Da Land Brass Band.

Throw in local DJs mixing a blend of funk, soul, hip-hop, house, and more, and visual artist Kevin Jackson projecting visuals on both the inside and outside of the museum, and it was one hopping solstice celebration this weekend.

Photographer Bob Perkoski captured the entire experience with his stunning images of the evening. Enjoy!
Bob Perkoski
Bob Perkoski

About the Author: Bob Perkoski

Bob is managing photographer with FreshWater as well as a Cleveland freelance photographer. His photographic approach is rooted in the art of storytelling. Whether freezing the energy of an event, encapsulating the magic of a performance, or astutely anticipating the decisive moments, his work displays an innate ability to distill the essence of any scene or subject into a single frame or series of work. In addition, Bob is the official photographer for LAND studio and Holden Forest and Gardens and has worked with various Cleveland organizations. In 2019 he published a book of his photos Rust Belt Burlesque. He's had work published in other books like LGBTQ Cleveland by Ken Schneck, Rust Belt Chic: The Cleveland Anthology, Rust Belt Chic: The Pittsburgh Anthology and Moon Cleveland by Douglas Trattner. Previously he was co-founder/art director for Balanced Living Magazine. You can view his versatile portfolio of work, which includes news coverage, portraiture, architectural and fine art at Perkoski Photography. Originally from Conneaut, Ohio, Perkoski now lives close to the city in Parma. He has been Fresh Water's managing photographer since the publication's September 2010 inception.

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