This holiday weekend is shaping up to be a scorcher, so be sure to add sweatbands to your “things to bring to Taste of Cincinnati” list (along with your Tums and earplugs). Below are some local music suggestions for Sunday's Taste.

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In our local music column Spill It from the CityBeat issue out today, we announced the lineup for this year’s much anticipated MusicNOW festival, which includes a closing-night headlining appearance by Cincinnati-bred Indie music stars The National on May 15.

National guitarist Bryce Dessner is the brains behind MusicNOW, which began in 2006 and has featured unique performances by some of Indie music’s biggest names, as well as up-and-comers and those on the edgier fringe of modern Classical/Chamber music. Dessner’s Avant Chamber group Clogs has played the fest in the past, but this is The National’s first time at MusicNOW.

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The CincyPunk Fest has emerged as one of the most popular benefit concerts in the region, raising money for various charities since its inception in 2005. For CincyPunk Fest 10, the event returns to Newport’s Southgate House April 8 and 9 under new management and with a lineup full of some of the top music-makers in Cincinnati. And, despite its name, the fest is again a showcase for much more than just Punk Rock.

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If you like live music, sharing a port-a-potty with tens of thousands of people, camping and open drug use, you'll be excited to hear the the line-up for the 10th annual Bonnaroo has just been announced! Check it:

    * Eminem
    * Arcade Fire
    * Widespread Panic
    * The Black Keys
    * Buffalo Springfield feat Richie Furay, Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Rick Rosas, Joe Vitale
    * My Morning Jacket
    * Lil Wayne
    * String Cheese Incident
    * Robert Plant & Band of Joy
    * Mumford & Sons
    * The Strokes
    * The Decemberists
    * Ray Lamontagne
    * Bassnectar
    * Iron & Wine
    * Girl Talk
    * Primus
    * Dr. John and The Original Meters performing Desitively Bonnaroo
    * Alison Krauss and Union Station
    * Pretty Lights
    * Florence & the Machine
    * Superjam ft. Dan Auerbach and Dr. John
    * Explosions in the Sky
    * STS9
    * Gogol Bordello
    * Beirut
    * Big Boi
    * Scissor Sisters
    * Gregg Allman
    * Ratatat
    * Global Gypsy Punk Revue curated by Eugene Htz
    * Robyn
    * Warren Haynes Band
    * Deerhunter
    * Opeth
    * Atmosphere
    * Old Crow Medicine Show
    * Bootsy Collins & the Funk University
    * Wiz Khalifa
    * Matt & Kim
    * Grace Potter & the Nocturnals
    * The Del McCoury Band and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band
    * Mavis Staples
    * Béla Fleck & the Flecktones
    * Chiddy Bang
    * Javanotti
    * Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers
    * Loretta Lynn
    * Cold War Kids
    * The Walkmen
    * Devotchka
    * Wanda Jackson
    * Neon Trees
    * Portugal. The Man
    * Sleigh Bells
    * Amos Lee
    * Best Coast
    * Dm-Funk
    * The Sword
    * The Drums
    * The Black Angels
    * School of Seven Bells
    * J. Cole
    * Nicole Atkins & the Black Sea
    * Wavves
    * !!!
    * Junip
    * Freelance Whales
    * Justin Townes Earle
    * Ryan Bingham
    * Deer Tick
    * Band of Skulls
    * Sharon Van Etten
    * Abigail Washburn
    * Omar Souleyman
    * Twin Shadow
    * Kylesa
    * Man Man
    * The Low Anthem
    * Alberta Cross
    * Railroad Earth
    * Jessica Lea Mayfield
    * Smith Westerns
    * The Head and the Heart
    * Karen Elson
    * Beats Antique
    * 22-20s
    * Phosphorescent
    * Clare MaGuire
    * Hayes Carll

I must admit after pushing back the announcement and basically saying they've got more headliners than they know what to do with, I am a little disappointed. More bands and comedy acts will be confirmed as we get closer to the festival, which takes over Manchester, Ten. June 9-12.

General admission tickets go on sale Saturday.  Pre-sale tickets sold out on Black Friday in 2 hours, so they're expected to sell fast.  Go here for more details. All you B'rooers out there, what do you think of this preliminary line-up?

Three of the finest music festivals in the region — spring’s Nelsonville Music Festival in northeastern Ohio, summer’s Forecastle Festival in Louisville and Cincy’s own MidPoint Music Festival, returning Sept. 22-24 — have made recent announcements concerning their 2011 events.

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Details for the first two big local music festivals of 2011 have been announced. The One More Girl on a Stage fest returns Jan. 21 and 22 to Newport’s York Street Café for the Rivertown Music Club’s last ever event, while the Cincy Blues Society’s annual Winter Blues Fest takes over the Southgate House Jan. 28 and 29.

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The 2010 MidPoint Music Festival is finally upon us. In fact, it actually kicks off at noon today on the outdoor plaza outside the Main Public Library at Ninth and Vine streets with local Americana/Roots favorites Magnolia Mountain. Should be a hot start to a long, action-packed weekend. Literally.

If you're looking for last-minute updates and answers to your questions, you can stop by the MidPoint World Headquarters across from the library at Garfield Suites Hotel (Vine Street and Garfield Place). They'll be open for business by noon today. The MidPoint web site is a good spot for daily schedules, venue details, maps, Metro shuttle bus info and everything else.

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The 2010 MidPoint Music Festival is just three days away, so if you haven't firmed up your plans yet now's the time. And here's the big ticketing detail you need to be aware of: Three-day "all access" wristband sales end before the festival kicks off Thursday, replaced by one-day wristbands on sale each night at all venues.

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The annual X-fest rolled through Indianapolis and Dayton this weekend with a line-up featuring Papa Roach, Buckcherry, Sublime with Rome, Shinedown and many more. The annual festival is sponsored by local rock stations and draws tens of thousands of fans to the two shows from the Tristate region. 

This year the weather was beautiful and the bands did not disappoint. Dust storms formed in mosh pits as fans enjoyed the show.

Leading up to the show we sat down with Jacoby Shaddix, the lead singer from Papa Roach, to discuss the festival, their new record, and how to keep a marriage strong.

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The Atlanta based-group Arrested Development, won two Grammy Awards in 1993 for Best New Artist and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, and was also named Band of the Year by Rolling Stone magazine. In January 2010, they released a new single “The World is Changing”, which was #9 on Japan Pop.

I sat down with Eshe & Tasha before their performance at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans on July 2, 2010 to discuss their musical journey over the years.

CB: It’s been a long time between albums 2006 through 2009. Why the break?
Eshe: We’ve been together for 15 years. We took a small break at one point and got back together in 1998-1999. When we got back into the studio it just happened organically.

CB: When Speech formed your group, it was as an alternative to gangsta rap. Music has changed a lot in the past 15 years. How do you feel about the current state of hip-hop and rap today?
Eshe: Well, in the beginning we just wanted to do good music that the family could listen to and was positive for the community and the world. It was just natural for us. We didn’t start out with an agenda. Today, I think there are a lot of good artists out there, but there isn’t balance in music. I have a daughter who is seven and I try to expose her to a broad view of music. There are a lot of great groups out there that are under the radar.

CB: What up-and-coming bands do you enjoying listening to or what is your current favorite?
Eshe: Great question! There are a lot of groups out that are under the radar.

CB: I know you talked on CNN today, and I’m trying to be better than Anderson Cooper.
Eshe and Tasha: [laughing]
Eshe: I like Janelle. She’s been on the Atlanta scene for some time now, but hasn’t had her big break. I like Janell!
Tasha: We love Janelle.

CB: You guys tour all over the world. What’s your favorite place?
Tasha: Australia! I love that place.
Eshe: We are going to be there in December to bring in the New Year over there. It’s so beautiful there.
Tasha: I love Australians. I could live there forever.
Eshe: I also love Japan, but I’m so glad I’m going to Australia in their summer and our winter. It’s going to be great.

CB: What’s been your most fulfilling career moment?
Eshe: Wow. [Long pause] I think for me it’s when we do shows and people come up to me and say “Don’t change” and “You inspire me.” and “I love the way you look because you inspire me.” I think it’s great when you can connect with people. I see babies at our shows all the way up to elders.

CB: Do you have any charities that you work with personally?
Eshe: I’ve taught dance at a number of locations. As a group, we have worked with UNICEF and homeless organizations across the country along with Feed the Hungry in Atlanta.

CB: What’s your favorite song to perform live?
Tasha: Mama’s Always On Stage. I’m not the best dancer in the world, but when you put that song on it makes you want to dance. You can dance as crazy as you want to and it doesn’t matter. When you see people come to the show, it gives them the freedom to dance any way they want.
Eshe: For me, I don’t really have a favorite because there are so many I like. I like Fishing For Religion, Mama’s, We Ran, and Bloody.

CB: I liked The World Is Changing. Is there a story behind that one?
Eshe: Have you seen the video? You’ve got to go out on youtube and see the video. In the video, we go through different eras. The 50’s, 80’s and the 90’s and show how the world is changing. Like rotary phones to cellular phones.
Tasha: Everything, even the style of dress.
Eshe: It’s simplistic, but shows the world is forever changing.
Tasha: It’s impossible to keep up with everything changing.
Eshe: It reminds you to appreciate the moment.

CB: What do you wish you knew 15 years ago that you know now?
Eshe: I wish I were more knowledgeable about the business aspect of the music business. At the time, I just wanted to sing. It’s 98% business, and the rest is the artistic part of it. I have balance now. At the end of the day, I understand the business, but I still like to perform.
Tasha: For me, it’s things in life. I wish that I would have known that things weren’t as easy as my mother created them to be when I was a kid. Parents shield you as a kid, but then when you get to high school and college you don’t know how to handle a situation. I wish I had been exposed to a little bit more so I would know how to make the right decisions and why it’s the right decision to make as an adult without looking for someone to give guidance.