BEN GAGE
2026-05-16 19:30 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | Speak of the Devil, 201 W 5th St, Lorain, OH, 44052, United States
Join us for an evening with Ben Gage, live at Speak of the Devil.
Ben Gage is a songwriter out of Akron, Ohio, blending folk guitar and blues harmonica into a warm, easygoing Americana sound. A few years ago he traded a corporate career for the road, and since 2021 he’s been touring across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, building a life around music, travel, and a lot more fresh air.

His songs pull from the places he’s wandered and the people he’s met along the way—road-earned stories delivered with a sense of humor and a love for the simple things.

On stage, Ben has a way of making the room feel smaller in the best possible way. He invites everyone to settle in like neighbors, listen together, and maybe remember not to take life quite so seriously for a little while.

It should be a perfect night of music for the room. Come early, grab a drink, and stay awhile.

COCKTAIL KARAOKE: ROCK ANTHEMS
2026-05-21 19:00 - 22:00
Its karaoke night at Speak of the Devil, and we’re turning the lights down, the guitars up, and the entire room into the world’s smallest arena tour.

It’s Cocktail Karaoke: ROCK ANTHEMS — a night dedicated to the songs that were absolutely meant to be screamed with a drink in your hand.

Whether your inner frontperson leans more Freddie Mercury, Joan Jett, Springsteen, Pat Benatar, Bon Jovi, Heart, Journey, Guns N’ Roses, or Oasis…this is your night. Big choruses. Bigger feelings. Zero shame.

And honestly, if the whole bar isn’t shouting along to at least three songs by the end of the night, we’ve failed as a society.

So warm up those pipes in the car, text your emotionally supportive duet partner, and come belt out the songs that still somehow make you feel 17 years old

JOE HALL
2026-05-23 19:30 - 22:30
We’re excited to welcome Joe Hall back to Speak of the Devil for another night of his one-man, high-energy show.

Joe’s solo set is a 100% live performance, building songs in real time by looping and layering guitar, vocals, and rhythm into mashups that keep the room moving. It’s a creative, spontaneous style where familiar songs take on new life as they stack and evolve right in front of you.

Expect a heavy dose of ’90s rock and alternative, mixed with top hits, a few classics, and some modern favorites thrown in for good measure.

It’s the kind of show that feels perfect for the room—good music, good drinks, and a Saturday night crowd singing along when the mood strikes.

Come early, grab a seat at the bar, and welcome Joe back to West Fifth

SUMMER SMOKE
2026-05-28 17:00 - 22:00
Summer Smoke is back.

A few nights this summer, the patio turns into something a little different. Cigars, cocktails, good conversation and that perfect kind of warm evening where nobody is in much of a hurry to leave.

Whether you are a serious cigar person or just someone who enjoys a good smoke now and then, Summer Smoke is all about slowing down for a minute. Grab a drink, find a seat outside, light one up and spend a little time with us under the string lights.

We will have our own cigar selections available along with cocktail pairings and plenty of good company.

Summer nights in Lorain do not last forever. Might as well enjoy them while we can

EMP JAZZ GROUP
2026-05-30 19:30 - 22:30
We’re excited to welcome the EMP Jazz Trio back to Speak of the Devil on Saturday, May 30 at 7:30pm.

Led by Evan Michael Palermo, this performance brings a slightly different and especially exciting configuration to the room — a dynamic trio built around drums, bass and guitar. Stripped down in all the right ways, it creates the kind of space where the musicians can really stretch out, listen, respond and build something in the moment.

Expect everything from subtle, atmospheric passages to energetic bursts of improvisation, all tied together by the chemistry of three players deeply locked into one another. It’s intimate, conversational jazz that feels perfect in a cocktail bar setting.

Featuring:Jeremy PoparadThomas JohnstonEvan Michael Palermo

No cover

PRINCE'S BIRTHDAY NIGHT
2026-06-06 17:00 - 23:59
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here tonight to get through this thing called life.

Join us for a night dedicated to the music of Prince in celebration of what would have been his 68th birthday.

We will be filling the room with Prince all night long. The hits, the deep cuts, the funky stuff, the sexy stuff, the weird stuff, the songs that somehow still sound like they came from the future.

Come raise a glass with us, sing along if the mood strikes and spend the evening celebrating one of the greatest, coolest and most original artists to ever do it

TURNTABLE TUESDAY
2026-06-09 17:00 - 22:00
Turntable Tuesday and Tuesday Night Cocktail Club $8 all night happy hour.

Bring in a favorite record and we will spin a side, dig through our in-house crates or see what our friends from Ship to Shore Books & Music brought with them under the chandelier.

It is one of our favorite nights of the week. Good music, good cocktails and a room full of people arguing over what should go on next.

Whether you are bringing something obscure, something classic or just want to hear somebody else’s perfect record, Tuesday nights around here always have a way of turning into a good time.

BOOKS & BREWS: "REVOLUTIONARY ROAD" - RICHARD YATES
2026-06-11 18:30 - 20:00
This month at Books & Brews, we are diving into Richard Yates’ classic novel Revolutionary Road.
Set in the suburbs of the 1950s, it is a sharp, sad, brutally honest look at marriage, ambition, disappointment and the quiet panic of realizing your life may not look the way you once imagined it would. It is funny in places, heartbreaking in others and still feels remarkably modern all these years later.
If you have ever looked around and wondered “is this really it?” this is probably the book for you.
Join us for good conversation, cocktails and another great night with our friends at the Lorain Public Library.

THE ELI LEDER GROUP
2026-06-13 19:30 - 22:30
The Eli Leder Group brings a different kind of jazz night to Speak of the Devil.

Led by Cleveland bassist, arranger and composer Eli Leder, this contemporary ensemble has a way of taking jazz somewhere unexpected. Their music pulls from the Great American Songbook but also wanders through folk, bluegrass, pop, rock and even a little bit of Baroque influence along the way.

It is adventurous without being stuffy, smart without losing the groove and exactly the kind of thing that fits a room like ours. One minute you may hear something familiar, the next minute the band has taken it somewhere completely different.

If you like your jazz with a little curiosity and a little unpredictability, this is a night you are going to want to be here for.

Music starts at 7:30pm. Come early, grab a cocktail and settle in.

THE AIDAN PLANK JAZZ COMBO
2026-06-20 19:30 - 22:30
Aidan Plank is one of the most exciting jazz musicians around right now, and we are thrilled to welcome his jazz combo to Speak of the Devil.

An Ohio-based bassist, composer and educator, Aidan has built a reputation for his lithe musicality, inventive playing and ability to move effortlessly between intimate small-group jazz and larger ensemble work.

His group brings together everything we love about a great jazz night: sharp musicianship, cool improvisation and that feeling that anything can happen once the music gets rolling.

If you like jazz that feels alive, loose and just a little unpredictable, this is a night worth making time for.

Music starts at 7:30pm. Come early, grab a cocktail and settle in

GIN MASTERCLASS WITH WATERSHED DISTILLERY
2026-06-24 19:00 - 20:00
Join us for a spirited deep dive into the world of gin as we welcome Watershed Distillery Brand Ambassador Tommy Householder and brand representative Tony Thomas for a special Gin MasterClass at Speak of the Devil.
If you think gin begins and ends with juniper, this might be the night that changes your mind a little.

Over the last several years, Watershed has quietly built one of the most respected gin programs in the country, earning national awards and a loyal following for bottles that manage to be both wildly creative and seriously balanced. This class gives you the rare opportunity to taste through the lineup with the people who know it best — the folks who live and breathe the spirit every day.

We’ll be exploring Four Peel Gin, Bourbon Barrel Aged Gin, Guild Gin, and Strawberry Four Peel Gin

Expect stories from the distillery floor, production insight, tasting notes, cocktail conversation, and probably a few spirited opinions about what gin can and should be.

$25 gets you your MasterClass seat, a welcome cocktail from our special Watershed mini menu, and the full guided tasting experience with Tommy and Tony.

Whether you’re a longtime martini loyalist, a negroni devotee, or someone still convinced they “don’t like gin,” this is the kind of night built to surprise you.
Good booze. Smart conversation. The people behind the bottles. Exactly the sort of thing we love around here.

SUMMER SMOKE
2026-06-25 17:00 - 22:00
A few nights this summer, the patio turns into something a little different. Cigars, cocktails, good conversation and that perfect kind of warm evening where nobody is in much of a hurry to leave.

Whether you are a serious cigar person or just someone who enjoys a good smoke now and then, Summer Smoke is all about slowing down for a minute. Grab a drink, find a seat outside, light one up and spend a little time with us under the string lights.

We will have featured cigar selections available along with cocktail pairings and plenty of good company.

Summer nights in Lorain do not last forever. Might as well enjoy them while we can.

COCKTAIL KARAOKE: HEARTBREAKERS & TEAR JERKERS
2026-06-25 19:00 - 22:00
It’s karaoke time at Speak of the Devil, we’re trading power ballads for sad ballads and leaning all the way into the beautiful disaster that is love, loss, regret, longing, bad decisions, worse text messages, and songs that somehow still hurt 15 years later.

It’s Cocktail Karaoke: HEARTBREAKERS & TEAR JERKERS.
The rules are simple:Sing the saddest song you know.Or the most dramatic.Or the one you absolutely should not text your ex after hearing.

From Patsy Cline to Amy Winehouse. Roy Orbison to Adele. Tom Waits to Taylor Swift. Bonnie Raitt to The National. Country heartbreak, soul devastation, indie sadness, torch songs, breakup anthems — this is the night for all of it.

Come sing the songs that wrecked you. Or saved you. Sometimes both.

COLIN JOHN
2026-06-26 19:30 - 22:30
Lorain’s International Festival weekend is bringing somebody new to the Speak of the Devil stage.

For the first time, Colin John rolls into downtown Lorain with a life story that sounds like it was written by the blues gods themselves. Ohio-born, raised on Memphis soul and Chicago blues, Colin has played everywhere from B.B. King’s club on Beale Street to stages across Europe, Hawaii, and beyond.
Along the way he has shared stages with names like B.B. King, John Mayall, Hubert Sumlin, James Cotton, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Marshall Crenshaw, and more. He has spent decades soaking up blues, soul, rock and Hawaiian steel guitar and turning all of it into something that feels entirely his own.

This is going to be one of those International Festival weekend nights where downtown is buzzing, the cocktails are flowing, and the music feels just right.
Come see Colin John make his Speak of the Devil debut.

DJ TEDDY EISENBERG: GLOBAL GROOVE
2026-06-27 19:30 - 22:30
Lorain’s International Festival weekend deserves a soundtrack that travels a little.

On Friday night, DJ Teddy Eisenberg returns to Speak of the Devil with an all vinyl set built for the occasion. Soul, psych, funk, jazz, garage, disco, world grooves and odd little gems from all over the map, all spun the way they were meant to be spun: on records, with a little crackle in the speakers and a drink in your hand.

Teddy always knows how to turn the room into something special. One minute it feels like downtown Lorain, the next minute it feels like you wandered into some hidden basement bar in another city entirely.

It is International Festival weekend, after all. Might as well let the music travel too.

Music starts at 7:30PM. No cover. Just good records, good cocktails and a Friday night in Lorain that feels a little bigger than usual

ICE CREAM COCKTAIL SOCIAL
2026-06-28 14:00 - 19:00
Booze and ice cream? Come on. Of course.

Our annual Ice Cream (Cocktails) Social returns with a menu full of frozen, creamy, boozy nonsense in the very best possible way. Ice cream cocktails are one of those glorious old-school bar traditions that deserve way more love than they get, and once a year we lean all the way in.

Ridiculous ice cream cocktail creations that remind you that adulthood does occasionally have its perks.

It is sweet, it is cold, it is probably a little over the top, and it is always one of the most fun weekends of the summer around here.

So yes. Booze and ice cream. We are doing this again.

TURNTABLE TUESDAY
2026-07-14 17:00 - 22:00
Turntable Tuesday is back!

Bring in a favorite record and we will spin a side, dig through our in-house crates or see what our friends from Ship to Shore Books & Music brought with them under the chandelier.

It is one of our favorite nights of the week. Good music, good cocktails and a room full of people arguing over what should go on next.

Whether you are bringing something obscure, something classic or just want to hear somebody else’s perfect record, Tuesday nights around here always have a way of turning into a good time.

BOOKS & BREWS: "DEAR AMERICA: NOTES OF AN UNDOCUMENTED CITIZEN" - JOSE ANTONIO VARGAS
2026-07-16 18:30 - 20:00
This month at Books & Brews, we are discussing Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen by José Antonio Vargas.
Part memoir, part social commentary, the book tells Vargas’ story of coming to the United States from the Philippines as a child, discovering he was undocumented as a teenager and living for years with the uncertainty, fear and questions that come with that reality.
It is deeply personal, thoughtful and often heartbreaking, but it is also a book about identity, belonging, family and what it means to call a place home.
Join us for another good night of conversation, cocktails and community with our friends from the Lorain Public Library.

BLACK VULTURE RAMEN POP UP
2026-07-19 15:00 - 20:00
Black Vulture Ramen is back.

We’re excited to welcome our friends from Black Vulture Ramen back to Speak of the Devil for another Sunday afternoon pop-up. A few times a year, our little cocktail bar fills with the aroma of rich broth, fresh noodles, and all the good things that happen when talented people decide to feed other people.

We’ll be open with our full cocktail menu, so whether you’re pairing your bowl with a Daiquiri, an Old Fashioned, a Japanese Highball, or just stopping in for a leisurely Sunday afternoon, we’ve got you covered.

One important note: when the ramen is gone, it’s gone. Black Vulture prepares a limited number of bowls, and they have a habit of selling out. If you’ve been before, you know. If you haven’t, this is your sign to get here early.

Come settle in, grab a cocktail, enjoy an incredible bowl of ramen, and spend a Sunday afternoon doing exactly what Sundays were made for—eating well, drinking well, and hanging out with good people

COCKTAIL KARAOKE: ONE HIT WONDERS
2026-07-23 19:00 - 22:00
Some songs burned bright for three glorious minutes…then disappeared forever.

Tonight, we’re celebrating the legends who somehow only gave us one.
It’s Cocktail Karaoke: One Hit Wonders. Dust off your inner A-ha, Dexys Midnight Runners, Soft Cell, Harvey Danger, The Buggles, or whoever has been living rent-free in your brain for the last 30 years.

No judgment. In fact, the more committed the performance, the better.

BLACK VULTURE RAMEN POP UP
2026-07-26 15:00 - 20:00
We’re excited to welcome our friends from Black Vulture Ramen back to Speak of the Devil for another Sunday afternoon pop-up. A few times a year, our little cocktail bar fills with the aroma of rich broth, fresh noodles, and all the good things that happen when talented people decide to feed other people.

We’ll be open with our full cocktail menu, so whether you’re pairing your bowl with a Daiquiri, an Old Fashioned, a Japanese Highball, or just stopping in for a leisurely Sunday afternoon, we’ve got you covered.

One important note: when the ramen is gone, it’s gone. Black Vulture prepares a limited number of bowls, and they have a habit of selling out. If you’ve been before, you know. If you haven’t, this is your sign to get here early.

Come settle in, grab a cocktail, enjoy an incredible bowl of ramen, and spend a Sunday afternoon doing exactly what Sundays were made for—eating well, drinking well, and hanging out with good people.

SUMMER SMOKE
2026-07-30 17:00 - 22:00
Patio season means monthly Summer Smoke’s out on the patio!

THE STEVE KORTYKA JAZZ POP TRIO
2026-08-01 19:30 - 22:30
We’re thrilled to welcome Steve Kortyka and friends to Speak of the Devil.
A Northeast Ohio native who has spent a lot of time in New York City, Steve has become one of the most sought-after saxophonists in jazz, performing around the world with Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga while building a remarkable career as a performer, arranger, and educator.

But don’t come just because of the résumé.
Come because Steve is simply an extraordinary musician.
His Jazz Pop Trio blends modern jazz with fresh takes on familiar songs, creating an evening that’s equal parts sophisticated, accessible, and deeply fun.

Join us for an intimate evening of exceptional live music, handcrafted cocktails, and one of the finest saxophonists you’ll hear anywhere

BOOKS & BREWS: A BEAUTIFUL CRIME - CHRISTOPHER BOLLEN
2026-08-13 18:30 - 20:00
Books & Brews returns this week as we gather with our friends from the Lorain Public Library to discuss Christopher Bollen’s “A Beautiful Crime”.
Set against the canals and hidden corners of Venice, Bollen’s stylish literary thriller is packed with art, deception, ambition, and characters whose motives are never quite what they seem. Whether you loved it, hated it, or are still trying to figure out who was really playing whom, come join the conversation.
As always, no homework beyond reading the book, no lectures, and no pressure—just thoughtful discussion, great cocktails, and an evening spent with fellow readers.

Grab a drink, pull up a chair, and let’s talk books

RICK DEWITT
2026-08-15 19:30 - 22:30
Join us in welcoming our friend Rick Dewitt to the Speak of the Devil stage for the first time.

BLACK VULTURE RAMEN POP UP
2026-08-16 15:00 - 20:00
Black Vulture Ramen is back.

We’re excited to welcome our friends from Black Vulture Ramen back to Speak of the Devil for another Sunday afternoon pop-up. A few times a year, our little cocktail bar fills with the aroma of rich broth, fresh noodles, and all the good things that happen when talented people decide to feed other people.

We’ll be open with our full cocktail menu, so whether you’re pairing your bowl with a Daiquiri, an Old Fashioned, a Japanese Highball, or just stopping in for a leisurely Sunday afternoon, we’ve got you covered.

One important note: when the ramen is gone, it’s gone. Black Vulture prepares a limited number of bowls, and they have a habit of selling out. If you’ve been before, you know. If you haven’t, this is your sign to get here early.

Come settle in, grab a cocktail, enjoy an incredible bowl of ramen, and spend a Sunday afternoon doing exactly what Sundays were made for—eating well, drinking well, and hanging out with good people.

TURNTABLE TUESDAY
2026-08-18 17:00 - 22:00
Tuesday nights were made for good records and good cocktails.

Bring a favorite album, dig through our crates, or just settle into a seat and let the music take over. Whether you’re dropping the needle on a personal favorite or discovering something new from somebody else, Turntable Tuesday is all about sharing records, stories, and a drink or two with good people.

Plus, it’s Tuesday Night Cocktail Club, so enjoy $8 cocktails all night long.
No cover. Just vinyl, cocktails, and a room full of music nerds

COCKTAIL KARAOKE: SUMMER SONGS
2026-08-20 19:00 - 22:00
Sunshine, road trips, beach bonfires, windows down, and songs that somehow smell like sunscreen.

This month’s Cocktail Karaoke theme is Summer Songs. Whether you’re belting out The Beach Boys, Jimmy Buffett, Sheryl Crow, Kenny Chesney, Lana Del Rey, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, or that one song that instantly transports you to your favorite summer, this is your night.

Karaoke kicks off at 7:00pm, the cocktails are cold, and absolutely nobody here expects perfection—we’re just here for a room full of people having a ridiculously good time.

Grab your friends, pick your anthem of the season, and let’s soundtrack summer together.

MAI TAI MADNESS: 3RD ANNUAL MAI TAI GLASS RELEASE
2026-08-26 17:00 - 22:00
We are thrilled to be collaborating once again with our friends at Tiki Underground for our third annual custom and collectible Mai Tai glass (designed once again by Pete Klockau of The Black Lagoon Room) release to kick of Mai Tai Week at Speak of the Devil

SUMMER SMOKE
2026-08-27 05:00 - 23:00
Our August Summer Smoke night out on the patio. Enjoy some hand rolled sticks and dope drinks!
