Lotus/Michal Menert

Straddling the line between the more traditional jam band ethos and the burgeoning world of electronic dance music, Lotus finds itself in a unique position with respect to its fan bases: They’re introducing one side to the other, and the blend has proven to be pretty effective. By now, Lotus leans heavily toward the latter on most nights -- and albums like Gilded Age demonstrate an interest in synths and loops far more than earlier outings like the excellent Escaping Sargasso Sea live album did. "It's hard to ignore the rise of EDM in the U.S. and how that's really changed the festival scene. We're definitely between those two worlds in some ways," bassist Jesse Miller told us a while back. However you slice it, these guys treat Cleveland very well. (Sandy)