The polls have closed, so it’s time to start getting prepped for the 16th annual Cincinnati Entertainment Awards,
which will once again honor the best of our local music scene with a shindig at Covington’s Madison Theater on Jan. 27.
Actually, there is still one category left that you can vote in — “New Artist of the Year.” This Friday at Bogart’s in Corryville, New Artist nominees Jeremy Pinnell and the 55s
, The Natives , DAAP Girls , Heavy Hinges , Public and Ohio Knife will perform 30-minute sets at CityBeat ’s first New Music Showcase . Audience members will be able to vote for their favorites (in person only); that score and votes from the CEA nominating committee determine the ultimate category winner. The show starts at 8 p.m. and admission is $7. (You can buy advanced tickets here.)
If you haven’t been to a CEA event in the past, know that it’s much more of a “party” than a “ceremony.” There’s the Fashion Trashies (The Fairmount Girls
’ version of a red-carpet show, with awards handed out at the afterparty at nearby Covington club The Loft ), funny first-time host Ted Clark of late-night live talk show Ted Clark After Dark and the schmoozing — the CEA show is the one night of the year when artists from nearly every genre get a chance to hang out with their fellow local musicians.
But the live music performances at the CEAs are always highlights (for those who can remember), from a freshly reunited The Bears
at the first CEA show to The Afghan Whigs ’ “Cincinnati Music Hall of Fame” induction and mini-set at the Taft Theatre to the year King Records was honored with an opening set by Bootsy Collins and a closing set by former King legend Ralph Stanley.
Potentially making new, lasting memories at this year’s CEA show will be Indie Pop duo Bad Veins
, Punk Rock faves The Dopamines , soulful vocalist Jess Lamb , eclectic Hip Hop/Rock band Gold Shoes and Boogie Woogie Blues pianist Ricky Nye (with some special guests). The Cincinnati USA Music Heritage Foundation (which the CEA VIP ticket sales benefit) has also organized an all-star jam of sorts, with a performance by the local Roots artists who participated in the Come Play the Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams at Herzog sessions.
Tickets to the 16th annual Cincinnati Entertainment Awards show are available for $20 through CincyTicket.com. (VIP tickets, which include a membership and other goodies from the Music Heritage Foundation, are also available online for $50.) Keep an eye on the music blog at citybeat.com for the latest CEA updates.
More Local Notes
• Popular local Reggae ensemble (and repeat CEA nominees) The Cliftones
celebrate the release of their first recording — the single, “Hard Ground” — this Saturday at Newport’s Southgate House Revival in the Sanctuary room. Joining the band for the 9 p.m. show are Heavy Hinges , The Ohms and DJ Mowgli . The strong single was mixed by Jim Fox of Washington, D.C.’s Lion Fox studios; Fox has worked with some of the biggest stars of the genre, including Black Uhuru, Gregory Isaacs, Barrington Levy and Culture. The Cliftones (who won the CEA for best “World/Reggae” in 2011, their first year as a band) are currently finishing up their debut album at the local New Fidelity Studios . The first 100 fans through the Southgate’s doors Saturday will receive a free copy of the single. The show is also being filmed for a planned live concert release, so dress irie. ( thecliftones.com )
• The new School of Rock
in Mason has presented concerts by its gifted students several times since opening last April. This weekend and next, the school and the kids will be especially busy. The School of Rock band gets to showcase their skills this Friday and Saturday for a “Punk vs. New Wave”-themed pair of concerts, playing cover versions of songs from the era. Friday, the SoR band plays the school’s Sonic Boom Room (755 Reading Road, Mason) at 7:30 p.m., while Saturday, the band plays popular live music club Northside Tavern at 5:30 p.m. Next weekend, the SoR band celebrates The Rolling Stones’ 50th anniversary by performing Stones tunes. The Jan. 25 Stones show is at 7:30 p.m. at the Sonic Boom Room; the Saturday event is again at 5:30 p.m. at Northside Tavern on Jan. 26. Tickets are $7 and available in advance through CincyTicket.com. ( Mason.SchoolofRock.com )
• New band alert! Greater Cincinnati quartet Day Camp
is set to perform Friday at the Southgate House Revival with Cowgirl and Koan . Showtime is 9 p.m. The Indie Rock newcomers include former members of Slack Panther and Oso Bear, as well as Cowgirl singer/guitarist Nick Hill on bass. The band describes its sound as akin to ’90s guitar Rock, but they aren’t afraid to explore, pulling in “references from as far out as doo wop and drone.” You can hear some of Day Camp’s promising demos at daycamp.bandcamp.com .
• You can check out another new local group — this one of the “Classic Country” variety — this Saturday in Price Hill at the Crow’s Nest. Doing a mix of originals and tasteful covers, Bulletville
includes several familiar faces, including Mark Utley, Cameron Cochran, Ricky Nye and Chris Cusentino. Friday’s free show is only the supergroup’s second public performance.
CONTACT MIKE BREEN : [email protected] , @CityBeatMusic or on Facebook here .
