FRIDAY 01
EVENT: SHAKESPEARE IN THE QUEEN CITY
Shakespeare has arrived in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Museum Center is the temporary home of a rare edition of the Bard’s “First Folio,” the first published collection of his most famous works. Published in 1623, the edition — on loan from the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. — is one of only 234 known surviving copies. Although the folio is the centerpiece of the exhibit, Shakespeare in the Queen City also features ephemera from Cincinnati Shakespeare Company and the public library like playbills, costumes and props, as well as a stage area established in collaboration with Cincy Shakes that lets guests channel Shakespearean actors. Through Oct. 29. Free admission. Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate, cincymuseum.org.
VOLUNTEER: LIVING LANDS & WATERS 2017 OHIO RIVER TOUR
Help keep one of our most precious and beautiful natural resources as such by volunteering to clean up the Ohio River. Living Lands & Waters is bringing its barges and boats to Covington (yes, you get a boat ride) and calling for volunteers to participate in water-based clean-up events. This environmental organization travels through the nation’s waterways to remove trash and promote watershed conservation. Since 1998, LL&W has removed nine million pounds of debris from America’s rivers. So if you’ve ever found yourself strolling across the Roebling Bridge, thinking about how beautiful our river is, help keep it that way and register to participate. Through Sept. 19. Free; register to volunteer at livinglandsandwaters.org/volunteer/river-cleanups.
COMEDY: TOM THAKKAR
In his bio, comic Tom Thakkar withholds very little information about his upbringing. “I like to put as much information as I can in the bio because that’s what I like to talk about,” he says. “I have kind of a trashy family and an Indian father who was in prison for a long time.” Area comedy fans may recognize him as the former Tom Brady. “I was born Tom Brady but my parents were never married and my father’s last name is Thakkar,” he says. “My mom gave me her ex-husband’s name because her family wouldn’t give me their name — I think because I’m half Indian.” He changed it to Thakkar in January. Comedy, first watching it, then doing it, turned out to be quite therapeutic for Thakkar. “If I’m laughing, nothing’s wrong,” he says. His set is a mix of silly jokes and autobiographical stories. Showtimes Thursday-Sunday. $8-$14. Go Bananas, 8410 Market Place Lane, Montgomery, gobananascomedy.com.
MUSIC: SCOTT H. BIRAM
Though a solo performer, Scott H. Biram doesn’t sit on a stool and gently strum his acoustic guitar like one might expect from a singer/songwriter. With distortion always within arm’s reach, he plays electric guitar and stomps beats out on a board while he sings his ragged Roots rave-ups and soulful ballads in concert. Biram’s juiced-up setup is less about the songs themselves — which are often recorded with expanded, more traditional instrumentation — and more about his desire to not be pigeonholed. The electric guitar and stomp-board enable Biram — aka The Dirty Old One Man Band — to play in the kind of venues and with the types of acts that he desires. Read a full feature on Birum here. Scott H. Biram plays Friday at the Southgate House Revival. Tickets/more info: southgatehouse.com.
EVENT: KING RECORDS MONTH
It’s safe to say that compared to 20 years ago, Cincinnatians are now more aware of King Records, the revolutionary record label that helped shape the sound and spirit of American music. With King Records Month, September’s celebration of the iconic label’s contributions, the many local boosters and artists who’ve helped raised King’s profile over the past several years continue their mission with a variety of events throughout Greater Cincinnati, including performances, exhibits, discussions and much more. September marks the 74th anniversary of the sessions for the first songs recorded for King. Read more here. Through Sept. 30. More info: kingstudios.org.
SATURDAY 02
EVENT: OHIO RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL
Jousters, jesters and turkey-leg eaters, don your finest breeches, lace-up bodices and cosplay costumes (fox tails and Doctor Who fezzes welcome) for the annual Ohio Renaissance Festival. The 30-acre festival grounds have been historically recreated to look like a 16th-century English village filled with entertainment ranging from sword-fighters, jugglers and strolling storytellers to blacksmiths, battling knights and rides powered by humans. New this year is a Willy Nilly Trivia pub crawl. That’s right: Along with bread bowl stews and steak on a stake, the fest offers plenty of hearty ales, meads and wine for those 21 and older. Themed weekends include Time Travelers Weekend, Highland Weekend and Barbarian Invasion. 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and Labor Day. Through Oct. 29. $22.50 adults; $9.50 children; free 5 and under. 10542 E. State Route 73, Waynesville, Ohio, renfestival.com.
SUNDAY 03
EVENT: RIVERFEST
The Queen City’s biggest pyrotechnic party returns for its 41st year of lighting up the Ohio River. Culminating with WEBN/Western & Southern’s massive fireworks display at 9:05 p.m., the all-day Riverfest includes food and live entertainment by the likes of Judah & The Lion, Hey Violet and AJR. Thousands of yellow rubber ducks will also dive into the river from the Purple People Bridge during the Freestore Foodbank’s 23rd-annual Rubber Duck Regatta. One lucky duck will win its owner this year’s grand prize: a 2017 Honda HR-V. Ducks are still available online and at select Kroger stores. Noon-11 p.m. Riverfest; 3 p.m. Rubber Duck Regatta Sunday. Free admission. Sawyer Point and Yeatman’s Cove, 705 E. Pete Rose Way, Downtown, webn.iheart.com.
MUSIC: SERENGETI
There are certain artists whose creativity operates faster than the speed of the music industry. Eccentric Hip Hop artist Serengeti is a solid example — since Dirty Flamingo, his first release in 2003, the inventive MC has issued dozens of projects for several different labels, including plenty of collaborative work and side projects, and almost all of it explores new ground. While fans of many artists anticipate new music every two years at most, Serengeti’s followers would probably start to seriously worry about his wellbeing if six months went by without a note. He might have a higher profile with a long-con marketing effort behind him, but some of the glory of Serengeti’s artistry might be lost were it to be forced into focus that way. The vast and varied discography his pace has created represents an incredibly impressive body of work. Read more about the artist in this week’s Sound Advice. Serengeti plays MOTR Pub Sunday. Click here for more info on the free show.
EVENT: ART ON VINE
Revel in the cooler temps this Labor Day weekend with a little outdoor shopping. Grab snacks from local food trucks as you browse wares from more than 60 vendors — you’ll find everything from artworks and crafting materials to homegoods and jewelry. Only one more outdoor market remains this season before Art on Vine heads back indoors at Rhinegeist. Noon-6 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown, artonvinecincy.com.
EVENT: FIREWORKS PARTY AT DARKNESS BREWING
Want to see some fireworks without hanging out with half a million of your closest friends? Head to Darkness Brewing for a less-claustrophobic celebration. The brewery will have the fireworks on TV and music blasting during the show. Order some brews and soak up the alcohol with some banh mi from local food truck SEA Cuisine. 6 p.m.-midnight Sunday. Free admission. Darkness Brewing, 224 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue, Ky., facebook.com/darknessbrewing.
EVENT: TRI-STATE ANTIQUE MARKET
Since 1985, the Tri-State Antique Market has been “Indiana’s largest antiques and vintage-only market.” Featured in a handful of publications, including Midwest Living, the event requires every item for sale to be at least 30 years old and out of production. And with more than 200 dealers, that means there’s plenty to pick through, from primitives and Pop art to farmhouse finds and salvaged architectural items. 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. $3; free 18 and under. Lawrenceburg Fairgrounds, 351 E. Eads Parkway, Lawrenceburg, Ind., queencityshows.com.
This article appears in Aug 30 – Sep 6, 2017.