Every once in a while a heretofore ignored piece of Rock history is unearthed, deemed hip by the powers that be and mastered down onto a slice of plastic or vinyl for mass consumption.  

What in God's name would possess a group of otherwise regular New York hipsters to form a faux French band is beyond my comprehension. I do find it hilarious, though, that they’ve chosen stage names like Céline Dijon, Jean-Luc Retard and Franois Hardonne.   

Dust off your regulation spacesuit, anime costume or Klingon outfit, get decked out to the nines and make your way to the Holiday Inn off I-275 North for a weekend of fandom and fraternization with other sci-fi/fantasy nuts of all ages and interests. Millennicon, in its 23rd incarnation, is a wide-ranging event. Activities include auctions, a masquerade contest, gaming demonstrations and tournaments, with Hugo Award-nominated sci-fi novelist and blogger John Scalzi the guest of honor. Friday-Sunday.  

For longtime public radio aficionados, one man’s laid-back voice and gently satiric humor are the instantly recognizable symbols of NPR entertainment. Of course, I’m talking about Garrison Keillor, who brings his tender timbre and wry wit to Oxford for Miami University’s Bicentennial Celebration on Wednesday. The Prairie Home Companion host and bestselling author will appear as a solo act, and the intimate setting will have him sharing Midwestern lore, wise observations on getting older and the news from Lake Wobegone directly with the audience. 7:30 p.m. in Millet Hall.  

Cincinnati’s history involves a rich German heritage that basically revolves around sausage and beer, and what better excuse for revelry does one need than that? Hence Bockfest, Over-the-Rhine’s annual street festival in celebration of our town’s brewing heritage and the coming of spring. Events ranging from parades to homebrew competitions and prohibition tours to sausage queen crownings take place throughout OTR Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  

With their latest self-titled release, sometime Drive By Trucker Jason Isbell and his new group, the 400 Unit, present a disc full of literate, faux-soulful, countrified Folk Blues Rock.