October is filled with all the shows and variety that Cincinnati is lucky enough to expect each month, but October brings a little extra fun with Halloween-themed happenings. Here are 13 performances from some of Cincinnati music’s finest, along with some seasonal shindigs for the chance to try out every costume idea you’ve been thinking about.

Strobobean Tuesday night residency at The Comet Local spacey, glam alt-pop trio Strobobean will be at The Comet in Northside every Tuesday in October with a different lineup each night for this month’s edition of the Cincinnati music venue’s residency. Local psych-rock bandleader Michael Oliva of The Harlequins and Louisville punk act Ted Tyro will join them Oct. 3; Milwaukee indie rock band Social Cig and local favorites Leggy Oct. 10; synth-pop band Modeling from Arkansas and dreamy alt-pop band Stepmom from Oklahoma City on Oct. 17; local folk-punk newcomers Dustbin and Americana-influenced singer-songwriter Elijah Berlow from Chicago on Oct. 24. The following and final Tuesday falls on Halloween night, Oct. 31. Bring your candy and wear your costume for the final night of the band’s residency at the “Haunted Disco with DJ Paloma.” 9 p.m. Tuesdays in October. Free. The Comet, 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside. Photo: Frank Mesina
Tenement (Appleton, WI) with Idiot Kisses Idiot, As It May and Bugg (Bloomington) at Legends Bar & Venue Celebrated and expansive punk band Tenement from Wisconsin start their tour in Cincinnati at Legends in Cheviot. The tour is their first in six years and this time features local legend Jerri Queen of Vacation and Checkered Flag fame helping out on guitar and backing vocals. Locals Idiot Kisses Idiot and pop-punk band As It May appear along with melody-friendly, grunge-punk act Bugg from Bloomington, Indiana. 7 p.m. Oct. 4. $17 in advance and $20 at the door. All ages. Legends Bar & Venue, 3801 Harrison Ave., Cheviot, facebook.com/events. Photo: Provided by Tenement
concert:nova Nine-Fold Harmonies at Union Hall/Centrifuse Local boundary-expanding chamber orchestra concert:nova keeps it interesting, opting to perform pieces slightly out of the norm of standard classical music. Their programs range from adventurous to experimental or nearly avant-garde. This performance will be the organization’s season opener and makes for an interesting start. Nine-Fold Harmony features nine musicians paired with nine scents from essential oils to envelop the audience in an “immersive” and “multi-sensory” experience. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7. $35 general and $55 Super Supporter. Union Hall/Centrifuse, 1311 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, concertnova.com/concerts-events. Photo: Provided by concert:nova
Pop Empire, Willie & the Cigs and Trash Boy (Philadelphia) at Northside Tavern Local glam garage-blues band Pop Empire play with countryfied proto-punk rockers Willie & the Cigs and Philadelphia punk band Trash Boy for this appearance at Northside Tavern. Dig it. 9 p.m. Oct. 11. $10. Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside, northsidetav.com. Photo: Michael Wilson
Umin, Planchette and John Hardin film screening at The Lodge Local Dayton, Kentucky, recording studio, sometimes-venue and all-around arts center, The Lodge, hosts two local solo instrumentalists who will perform along with a showing of a film titled Hemp Disconnected. The film is about Northern California musician John Hardin, who lives off the grid and creates instruments from recycled materials and objects to make music, the press release says, to “transcend civilization through music” and work outside of traditions. Experimental musician Umin makes instrumental sonic collages with layered and looped sounds using reworked electronics, percussion and found sounds along with acoustic instruments to make textured and varied studies on mood. Local soloist Planchette works up ambient pieces with cello and effects to create moody and meditative atmospheres of sound. 6:30 p.m. Oct. 13. $20 suggested entry fee. The Lodge, 231 6th Ave., Dayton, Kentucky, thelodgeky.com. Photo: Nikita Gross
Turich Benjy and Black Rose BRM at Fountain Square, in celebration of Cincinnati Streetwear Fashion Week Local hip-hop stands tall at Fountain Square for a performance celebrating the inaugural Cincinnati Streetwear Fashion Week for Wine Down Wednesday. There will also be a talk the following day, on Oct. 12, at (DSGN)CLLCTV on the future of fashion and Black- and brown-owned businesses featuring Turich Benjy and Camille Jones. Then, these events will be followed by a gala and runway show at Madison Live Rooftop on Oct. 13, with music from Kei$ha and a vintage clothing show and market at Northside Yacht Club on Oct. 14 titled HellofALotofVintage. 6 p.m. Oct. 11. Free. Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown, facebook.com. Photo: Guy NeeWhang
Motorbike and Sugar Tradition (Detroit) at Northern Row Park, fundraiser for Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition This outing features two of the finest rock and roll bands performing in the small park right off Main Street, across from Alice in Over-the-Rhine. The can’t-miss show is also a fundraiser for local organization Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition and is advertised as “all ages and all kinds welcome.” People are encouraged to donate to the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition online and/or at the show. 8 p.m. Oct. 14. Donations accepted. Northern Row Park, 1422 Clay St., Over-the-Rhine. Photo: Alexzandra Roy
Lo-Fi City 10-Year Anniversary Party at Southgate House Revival Local independent label Lo-Fi City celebrates 10 years with an overflowing show taking place across two stages at the Southgate House Revival. The list of performers includes Sleepy Drums, Siren Suit, Grave Clothes, Nevernew, Matthew Shelton, Jake Borgemenke and Nightmare Frontier (Chicago). 6:30 p.m. Oct. 14. $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Southgate House Revival, 111 Sixth St., Newport, southgatehouse.com. Photo: Scott Preston
Cold Stereo, Biased Footwear Company and Optic Sink (Memphis) at The Nest A contender for show of the month, Cincinnati power-pop, rock and roll band extraordinaire Cold Stereo anchor a house show at West Side DIY space The Nest with Biased Footwear Company and Memphis synth-heavy post-punk band Optic Sink. 9 p.m. Oct. 20. $10. The Nest, 3097 Westwood Northern Blvd., Westwood, facebook.com. Photo: Provided by Cold Stereo
Wussy Duo, Blood Chill, Chuck 2 appearing with Dusk (Appleton, WI) at (DSGN)CLLCTV The second showing of a band from Appleton, Wisconsin, in October. Dusk is part alt-country, part pop-heavy punk and a highlight of the month’s showings. Wussy Duo, the stripped down version of the singular Cincinnati band, anchor a lineup of new-ish locals and heavy-hitting garage-pop from Blood Chill and lo-fi fuzz pop band Chuck 2. 8 p.m. Oct. 24. $13. (DSGN)CLLCTV, 4150 Hamilton Ave., Northside. Photo: Zach Ault
BEEF, The Drin and Class (Tucson, AZ) at MOTR Pub Two Cincinnati staples as of late, BEEF and The Drin are on the same bill with Tucson, Arizona power-pop band Class at MOTR Pub. Another can’t-miss show. 9 p.m. Oct. 26. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com. Photo: John Hoffman and band
Lunacy Halloween ‘23 at Northside Tavern This two-night event where local musicians form one-night-only cover bands has become a yearly Halloween tradition and features a variety of music across genres and eras. There are five bands each night. Night one features members of Coast Off, Mynah Tones, Heavy Hinges and Jess Lamb and the Factory as Fiona and the Rotten Apples, for example, along with musicians performing as John Prine, Rush, Lauren Hill and The Specials. Night two features members of Fruit LoOops, Lashes, Sungaze, Soften, Big Hit and Moonweather as The World is a Vampire playing the music of Smashing Pumpkins along with locals doing the B-52s, Drive-By Truckers, Incubus and The Distillers. Dress up in your Halloween best and try out your costume before trick-or-treat for the Halloween party of your dreams (or nightmares). 9 p.m. Oct. 27 and Oct. 28. $10 each night. Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside, facebook. com/events. Photo: Brent Stroud
The Harlequins, Pretty Mean, Gonies, Metric Ton, Cairo Jag (Indianapolis, IN) and The Archaeas (Louisville, KY) at (DSGN)CLLCTV This show at (DSGN)CLLCTV is likely to be one of the most packed shows of the month and is another chance to see some of what makes the city great and celebrate Halloween at the same time. The show features long-running psych-garage rockers The Harlequins, newer driving female-fronted punks Pretty Mean, local fuzz-pop band Gonies, Metric Ton, Indianapolis band Cairo Jag and The Archaeas up from Louisville, all to celebrate the season with you. The show announcement says, “Costumes encouraged,” so scoot on over in your Halloween finest and join the other mummies, Frankensteins, Draculas and witches for a Halloween party that’s on another level. 8 p.m. Oct. 28. (DSGN)CLLCTV, 4150 Hamilton Ave., Northside, (more info to come). Photo: Alexzandra Roy