Saturday, the main stage starts rolling at 3:45 p.m. with pianist Jimmy D. Rogers, who won the Cincy Blues Challenge's "solo/duo" competition this year. Slated to appear on the local stage Saturday: Chuck Brisbin and the Tuna Project, Johnny Fink and the Intrusion, The Medicine Men, The Blue Shivers, II Juicy and G. Miles and the Hitmen. (cincyblues.org)
· A new arts collective called Projectmill (which includes Sebastien Schultz of Bad Veins and Kevin Bayer of the amazing local music video blog, Soft City Lights) will begin presenting a first-Saturday-of-every-month dance night at the Northside Tavern this Saturday. The "Dance_MF" (theprojectmill.com) events promise a night of art installations, video art displays and, of course, lots of dancing to a wide variety of sounds. The fun starts at 9 p.m.
· The Emeralds are a new local band with some familiar faces. The group -- which plays its debut show this Saturday at Stanley's Pub -- features veteran guitarist/singer/songwriter/CityBeat contributor Ric Hickey, Goose/Stapletons bassist Lance Stapleton and Peter Underhill and Brian Kitzmiller, who previously played together in The Trojan Rabbit. The band is off to a fast start, already booked for an August East Coast tour with Italian band, Moldig. That tour kicks off August 15 at Northside's Blue Rock Tavern. (myspace.com/theemeraldsus)
· The celebration of pioneering Country and R&B record label King Records and its 65th anniversary continues this Sunday at 2 p.m. outside of the downtown branch of the Public Library, which has been hosting a special exhibit dedicated to the King legacy all summer. The 2 p.m. concert features music from The Syd Nathanists (which features Elliott Ruther, Marvin Hawkins, Bruce Menefield and other local luminaries), who will tribute King's R&B and Rock output, while Jake Speed and the Freddies will tackle some of the songs that made King such an important label for Country and Roots music.
· Retired radio legend Gary Burbank and his group with Nathan Witt, Blue Run, will perform songs from their new CD (due in the fall) this Saturday at Gary's Burbank's restaurant in Sharonville. Joined by The Goshorn Brothers, the event is a fundraiser for Burbank's Play It Forward charity, which helps musicians during times of need (such as health emergencies, etc.). For more on the cause, go to playitforwardcincy.org. Reservations are recommended; call 513-771-1440 to get one.
· Saturday at the Southgate House, there will be a benefit concert to raise money for a memorial scholarship started in honor of Gentry Aubrey, a local law student who died in a car crash in 2004. New local Pop/Rock trio The Mighty (give a listen at myspace.com/themightyband) will make its debut at the show, which also features music from Chaselounge and Jeremy Smith. For more on the cause, go to friendsofgentryaubrey.org.
