August might signal that summer is winding down, but this lineup of local music says otherwise — it might even be the best of the season. From a hip-hop block party and performances by local punk favorites like Vacation and Beef to sets from some of the city’s leading female artists — including Bridget Battle (of Tweens), Mol Sullivan and Leggy — plus an experimental 30-piece guitar performance at the downtown library, there’s something for everyone. These listings are just a glimpse of what this month has to offer as we celebrate one of the city’s best features: its vibrant creative community.

Turich Benjy, GrandAce, Swooty Mac and Casey Jones at CinSei Pop-Up Shop Keep summer going with this block party organized by CinSei, a black-owned pop-up cafe centered around manga, matcha tea and community that features some of Cincinnati’s best hip-hop artists and DJs. Performances include the future-leaning swagger of rising local artist Turich Benjy (pictured), the low fidelity groove of GrandAce, the laidback swagger of Swooty Mac and rapid-fire delivery of Casey Jones, in addition to a DJ set by Loren Heard and Jay Da Don. There will also be food from Funnel Cake Island and Town Frites food trucks, a cosplay contest and more. Maybe the world needs more block parties? 11 a.m. Aug 2. CinSei Pop-Up Shop, 1542 Pleasant St., Downtown, instagram.com. Photo: Mensaach
Mol Ball at Northside Tavern This birthday celebration and fundraising event in the name of local artist Mol Sullivan (pictured) will feature friends and fellow musicians and serve as a birthday party for Sullivan while also raising funds for a charity of her choice, the Queen City Clubhouse, which helps people with mental illness find community and fulfillment. The event will feature performances from Jess Lamb and the Factory, Young Heirlooms, Brianna Kelly, Stephen Patota, Anna Applegate, Tiffee and more. Also, Sullivan and her band will be performing later in the month, on Aug. 31, for a homecoming after an extensive East Coast and Midwest tour. In addition to Sullivan and her band, the Aug. 31 lineup will feature local harpist Victoria Lekson and like-minded New York experimental folk artist Katy Pinke. 8 p.m. Aug. 3. $8 (option to donate more). Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside, northsidetav.com. Photo: Alexzandra Roy
Nick Maurer, The Metric Ton and Sooflay (Fort Wayne) at The Comet Cincinnati’s Nick Maurer (pictured) is an outsider artist working in the pop song medium. Maurer incorporates the classic charm of oldies pop radio, various sources of passed-down folk, impulse and a healthy dose of Jonathan Richman for something worthy of an Alan Lomax field recording. He also has a segment in his show where audience members jump rope. Maurer and local freewheeling, fuzzed-out garage punk group The Metric Ton support Fort Wayne one-man do-it-yourself garage rock maestro Sooflay, who builds cardboard props for his set for a night of performers doing what they want, working outside of trends and having some fun. 9 p.m. July 30. Free. The Comet, 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside, cometbar.com. Photo: Brent Stroud
Beef, Fruit LoOops and Cellar Dweller at MOTR Pub Freewheeling avant-punk band Fruit LoOops appears with synth-driven punk group Beef (pictured) to start their August run of dates, with locals Cellar Dweller opening this show at Main Street’s MOTR Pub. 9:30 p.m. Aug. 8. Free. MOTR Pub 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com. Photo: Shaina Allenick
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
Vacation, Nervosas (Columbus) and Badman at Northside Tavern Essential Cincinnati punk band Vacation is raw rock and roll power and dynamic punk abandon. They’ll be playing as the original trio lineup for a couple of special shows this month with Columbus friends Nervosas. Locals Badman will be opening the Cincinnati edition of this standout show this month. Time TBA, Aug. 21. Price TBA. Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside. Photo: Provided by Vacation
Leggy, Gremlin and Tetchy (New York) at The Comet Local female-fronted dream pop and punk-empowered favorites Leggy (pictured) team up with newer powerhouse garage rock group Gremlin to welcome New York band Tetchy at Cincinnati rock and roll landmark The Comet for this triple taster for current rock and roll. 9:30 p.m. Aug. 24. Free. The Comet, 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside, cometbar.com. Photo: Danny Phantom
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
Smarm, The Ar-Kaics (Richmond) and Chameleon Earhart at The Comet New local garage punk band Smarm, featuring members of Grotesque Brooms and Beef, among others, supports high-profile, ’60s-influenced garage rock group The Ar-Kaics on tour from Richmond, Virginia. Chameleon Earhart fills out the bill. 9 p.m. Aug. 31. Free. The Comet, 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside, cometbar.com. Photo: Provided
Fritz Pape’s Guitar Buddies at Cincinnati Public Library Librarian and experimental musician Fritz Pape is gathering a group of guitar players together for the 10th anniversary of his Guitar Buddies performances. The ensemble will be performing a piece for 30 acoustic guitars at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library’s Downtown Main Library for an edition of the library’s performance series, Sunday on the Stairs. 2 p.m. Aug. 31. Free. Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library’s Downtown Main Library, 800 Vine St., Downtown, chpl.org. Photo: Michael Clouse

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