Acoustic Blues duo 46 Long, Punk journeymen I Fail, Roots/Folk collective The Midlife Crisis Ramblers, the Electro/Indie/Dance group Eat Sugar, and local dark wizards of Roots/Rock The Sundresses are all releasing albums this week. It's like a back-to-school special for kick-ass music.  

The Northside Rock 'n Roll Carnival/Parade/Festival features the best lineup of homegrown bands and musicians you'll find all holiday weekend. And you don't even have to miss the other Fourth of July events and fireworks displays around town because the fun takes place Friday and Saturday, with no events on the actual Fourth.  

Of all the area Fourth of July celebrations, the Northside Rock & Roll Carnival/Parade/Festival features the best lineup of homegrown bands and musicians. And it's so cool you don't even have to miss the other Fourth of July events and fireworks displays around town because the fun takes place Friday and Saturday, with no events on the actual Fourth.  

Thanks to the weekend-friendly way Christmas falls this year, Saturday night looks like it might well take over alleged "biggest bar day of the year" (a.k.a. Thanksgiving Eve) honors. If you're a fan of original local music, a sure bet is the Northside Tavern, which a) has no cover charge and b) is hosting two of Cincinnati's best bands, Wussy and The Sundresses, for a night of sardonic wit and electrifying Indie Rock and Blues Punk.  

Symbiotic, which organizes arts and music shows in alternative places, will drain the swimming pool at Ziegler Park in Over-the-Rhine Saturday for its newest installation art excursion: Six Feet Deep. The park's empty public pool will feature swimming instruction a la music, with performances by Matthew Shelton, Wonky Tonk, Envelope from Columbus and The Sundresses.  

As the city reluctantly says hello to the slow, drab, grey days of autumn, we say goodbye to the warmer months of music fests and outdoor anythings with one last dip in the pool. Symbiotic, which organizes arts and music shows in alternative places, will drain the swimming pool at Over-the-Rhine's Ziegler Park on Saturday for its newest installation art excursion: Six Feet Deep.  

Now in its eighth year, MidPoint 2009 faced rain each of its three nights. But, in a testament to how much the festival's reputation has grown since its inception, attendance hardly seemed impacted by the grey, wet weather. Even on the Thursday opening night (traditionally the "slow" night of the event), a steady drizzle didn't stop local and regional music fans from packing the clubs, tents and makeshift venues.  

To celebrate the Saturday opening of 'Secrets of Egypt, Lost Egypt,' the Museum Center at Union Terminal is throwing Pharaohfest. Accommpanying a slew of activities is free live music from locals The Sundresses, The Kentucky Struts, Eclipse and Mia Carruthers & the Retros.  

Early fall is starting to shape up as "music festival" time in Cincinnati. After another spectacular MidPoint Music Festival, you'd think folks might want some down time. Instead, they have plenty more "fest" choices this weekend: Popopolis, Clifton Heights Music Festival, Pharaohfest and a Jake Speed-led tribute to Woody Guthrie.  

Two years ago, young singer/songwriter Nathan Holscher released his second album, 'Even the Hills,' a moody, mesmerizing slab of ethereal, transcendent Americana that helped make the relatively new Cincinnati resident a much buzzed-about local artist. Holscher has improved on that work with the new release, 'Hit the Ground,' and this time he's not alone, using the name Nathan Holscher & the Ohio 5 to give props to his current back-up band of ace local players.