May is by far the most packed month for music this year so far. If this is any indication of how summer is going to look, it’ll be a good one. There are four festivals on this list, three record releases and the first appearance of two newer area venues, in addition to an innovative classical performance in an interesting setting, a group art show featuring several bands and still more to check out. Here are just a few of many shows to look for around the city this month.

Burritofest at The Comet This three-day festival of music and comedy is back for its fourth year with local and national acts working in a variety of genres across two stages over the course of four days, Thursday through Sunday, at The Comet in Northside. Night one features local electronic pop singer-songwriter sappha, rapper and community organizer Siri Imani, hip-hop artist KAE Savage, wide-ranging jazz instrumentalist SHERMVN (pictured), exploratory ambient composer Fritz Pape and New York hip-hop artist Cannibal Ox, to name a few. Other highlights include local singer-songwriter Jess Lamb, female-fronted bands Marsha and Girl Gordon, stand-up sets organized by Bombs Away! Comedy and a ton more on Friday and Saturday. The festival wraps up with even more, including a weekly Comet tradition, The Comet Bluegrass All-Stars. The full lineup can be found here. The festival is “pay what you can” and will include shirts and buttons available to help pay bands and cover costs. Various times, May 8-11. Pay what you can. The Comet, 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside, instagram.com. Photo: Caleb Montague
concertnova: Ysaÿe in Cincinnati featuring Benjamin Beilman at Peterloon Estate Innovative local music organization concertnova’s latest program touches on Cincinnati music’s past while continuing its forward-thinking approach. The program pays tribute to Eugène Ysaÿe, who helped transform Cincinnati culture and impacted the music world at large during his time as the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s Music Director from 1918-1922. The program will include a performance from renowned violinist Benjamin Beilman playing Ysaÿe’s violin made in the 1740s, accompanied by pianist Gloria Chien and the Poiesis Quartet (pictured). Always incorporating interesting venues, the concertnova concert will take place at the historic Peterloon Estate, the former home of prominent Cincinnati developer and patron of art John J. Emery, built in 1928 to rival the grand homes of the East Coast and Europe. There will be a pre-concert talk on Ysaÿe’s impact on Cincinnati and the world’s music community at 6:30 p.m., with the concert beginning at 7:30 p.m. The press release reads, “Part tribute, part time capsule, and part jaw-dropping performance, Ysaÿe in Cincinnati is a rare opportunity to experience some of the finest music-making Cincinnati will see all year.” 7:30 p.m. May 9. Student: $10, Young Professional: $20, General: $35. Peterloon Estate, 8605 Hopewell Road, Indian Hill, concertnova.com. Photo: Eden Davis
The Harlequins, Gringo Star (Atlanta) and The Yugos at Northside Tavern The Harlequins’ explosive garage psychedelia will be joined by old friends and tourmates Gringo Star supporting their new release, Sweethearts. Another longtime Cincinnati favorite, The Yugos, round out the bill. 9 p.m. May 10. $10. Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside, nortsidetav.com. Photo: Lance Adkins
Sappha, Sylvia Ruth and Hillary Hahn at MOTR Pub sappha (pictured) joins fellow Cincinnati pop voices on the rise Sylvia Ruth and Hillary Hahn at one of the city’s premier original music venues, MOTR Pub, for a night of music from three of the city’s top vocalists and potential breakout stars. 8 p.m. May 11. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com. Photo: Mike James
The Drin, Gentle Leader XIV (album release) and Takaat (members of Mdou Moctar) at Feel It Record Shop Gentle Leader XIV (pictured) release their new record, Joke In The Shadow, at local label Feel It’s Clifton storefront this month. The record’s desolation-fueled dream pop blended with pulsating rhythm and shimmering synth feels at once romantic and cold, and, at the same time, distinct and super catchy. Local like-minded labelmates The Drin, who explore similar territory, will support the release and the special appearance from North African Tuareg group, Takaat, a band made up of the rhythm section from the critically praised Mdou Moctar. This is a rare show in such close quarters. 7 p.m. May 11. $10-20 donation. Feel It Record Shop, 356 Ludlow Ave., Clifton. Photo: Sarah Paul
Grace Eddy, Emily Hines and Nathan Evans Fox at Cafe Elliott Emotionally charged and Americana-influenced singer-songwriter Grace Eddy (pictured) joins like-minded, Nashville-based singer-songwriters Emily Hines and Nathan Evans Fox touring through town. They appear at one of the newest venues on this list, Dayton, Kentucky’s Cafe Elliott. I wonder if it’s named after Elliott Smith? It seems fitting with shows like this one. 6:30 p.m. May 16. $15. Cafe Elliott, 825 Sixth St., Dayton, Ky. Photo: Zachary S. Pennington
Analog Fair at PAR Projects Analog Fair is an eclectic get-together devoted to creativity, connection and working offline, in-person and in the moment. The event features music from several local musicians, like exploratory harpist Victoria Lekson (pictured), minimalist experimental musician Kobe Thomas, krautrock and shoegaze-influenced group Ascension Day, inventive electronica from Camel Jam and many more. Visual artists will also play a major part in the day, or as the flyer puts it, “arts and delights.” Photographer Kalie Krause will be doing tintype portraits and there will be live painting by Chelsea Shivers in addition to artists like Classy Shark who uses upcycled materials for her work and ceramic artist Allie Elrod, among others. Other entertainment and enlightenment includes stand-up from Josh O’Neil, shadow puppets by Morgan McKnight and Lizzy DuQuette and River Rat Puppet Collective and Deep Listening with Julianna Eidle and Owen Hopper. DJ Sabastooge will be playing an all-vinyl set to soundtrack the day at Northside’s PAR Projects event space. There is plenty to see and do and experience where the event motto is “weird but good.” 4 p.m. May 17. $12. PAR Projects, 1646 Hoffner St., Northside, analogfair.com. Photo: Michaela Miller
Maria Etc. (album release) with Anna Applegate at Whiskey City’s Liberty Theater Local singer-songwriter Maria Etc. (pictured) makes dreamy, contemplative folk-influenced pop that feels immediate and sincere. She’ll celebrate the release of her new record, Maybe Time’s Not in a Bottle Anymore, at one of the Cincinnati area’s newest venues, the Liberty Theater, just across state lines in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. The new single “Patience, My Love” is out Friday, May 9. Local powerhouse vocalist and songwriter Anna Applegate will help set the stage and celebrate the release. 8 p.m. May 24. $10 in advance and $12 day of show. Whiskey City’s Liberty Theater, 229 Walnut St., Lawrenceburg, Ind., cincyticket.com. Photo: Benjamin Luckhaupt
Bridget Battle, Charlie Horn and the Space Between (album release) and Hello Sapien at Northside Tavern Bridget Battle (pictured) of Tweens makes another somewhat rare appearance as a solo artist ahead of the release of her solo debut to support another release, as Charlie Horn (In the Pines) will be debuting a solo record with Battle and inventive, folk-influenced band Hello Sapien adding to the celebration. 8:30 p.m. Aug. 15. $10. Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside. Photo: Provided
MidWest Friends Fest at Southgate House Revival This two-day festival filled with local and touring bands of various genres will take over Southgate House Revival at the end of the month. Local acts include Sleepy Drums (pictured), Mall Witch, Tooth Lures A Fang, National Barks and more, along with touring acts from as far as Baltimore and Madison, Wisconsin. 7 p.m. May 30, 3 p.m. May 31. $20 on May 30, $30 on May 31 and $40 for both days. Southgate House Revival, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport, midwestfriendsfest.com. Photo: Jared Bowers
Lung, IdleAires, Nox Novacula (Seattle) and Maw at Northside Tavern Cincinnati duo Lung builds a wall of sound out of vocals, cello and drums that incorporates the drama of classical and opera with the hard-hitting immediacy of punk. They appear with Seattle goth, dark-toned band Nox Novacula, local art-punk group IdleAires and local hardcore band Maw before they set out for a six-week tour. 7:30 p.m. Aug. 25. $10. Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside. Photo: Jared Bowers
The Harlequins, Sir Gregory F.K., Shawnthony Calypso (Lexington), The Vibrolas (KY) and Sofa King at MOTR Pub Local garage psych favorites The Harlequins will join Lexington outsider, Southern garage legends Shawnthony Calypso, hard-hitting longtime Kentucky band The Vibrolas and locals Sir Gregory F.K. (pictured) and Sofa King for They’re Right, You’re Wrong, a group art show featuring eight visual artists displaying work in MOTR’s basement known as the Sword Room, with the bands upstairs onstage in the main room. 8:30 p.m. May 31. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com. Photo: Shane Lamb