Bunbury Music Festival (taking place along the riverfront’s Sawyer Point Park and Yeatman’s Cove) has some great Cincinnati acts scattered throughout Friday, Saturday and Sunday, each well worth adding to your itinerary. Visit bunburyfestival.com for more information.
One of Cincinnati’s bigger musical successes of the past few years, Wussy, opens up the festival on Friday, performing on the Yeatman’s Cove Stage at 2 p.m. Wussy’s national profile has gradually risen over the past decade-plus. The band’s hard work has paid off, particularly in the past few years, which have seen the band appear on national television, play sold-out shows across the country and, recently, get voted the second-most underrated artist of the past 30 years in a Spin readers’ poll. (wussymusic.com)
Also Friday on the Yeatman’s Cove stage (at 3 p.m.) is Multimagic, which just might be the next band out of the city to break big. Headed up by superb singer/songwriter Coran Stetter, the band makes spine-tinglingly catchy Indie Pop that is more than ready for mass consumption. (multimagic.bandcamp.com)
Five years ago, Walk the Moon played to less than 50 people at a small club during the MidPoint Music Festival. Since then, the band has signed to RCA, played sold-out shows around the world and scored a Top 5 single with “Shut Up and Dance.” Oh, and in about a month, Walk the Moon will be playing in a stadium in Detroit opening for The Rolling Stones. Catch the band’s triumphant homecoming Friday at 7:30 p.m. on the Yeatman’s Cove stage. (walkthemoonband.com)
Saturday at Bunbury, Daniel in Stereo plays the Pavilion Stage at 3 p.m. DiS is the Indie Pop project of Daniel Chimusoro, who writes and records his music solo but works with various musicians for live performances. A Bunbury veteran, Daniel in Stereo recently revealed a new single, “Lipstain,” a joyous swirl of ’80s synths, groovy guitar and ear-worm melodies. (danielinstereo.bandcamp.com)
Motherfolk also performs Saturday, hitting the Pavilion Stage at 4 p.m. The four-piece, which makes lively Indie Rock with some rootsy undercurrents, released its self-titled full-length debut last year and has been touring frequently. (motherfolk.com)
Sunday begins with two popular local acts. On the River Stage at 2:30 p.m., catch 500 Miles to Memphis, one of Cincinnati’s finest. Frontman Ryan Malott is a stellar songwriter, and the band does an excellent job of exploring the lines between Punk-fueled Rock & Roll, gritty Country and melodic Pop. (500mtm.com)
Also at 2:30 p.m. (on the Sawyer Point Stage), AltRock outfit Pluto Revolts performs. Benjamin James started the project after the Pop Punk band he was in previously was chewed up and spit out by the major-label system. James found solace and redemption in Pluto Revolts, experimenting with new styles and ending up with a compelling, infectious sound that combines a variety of AltRock approaches while retaining his catchy Pop instincts. (plutorevolts.com)
Hip Hop hasn’t been a hallmark of Bunbury, but this year’s Sunday lineup changes that (see: Atmosphere; Snoop Dogg). Sunday also includes a performance by one of Cincy Hip Hop’s best, Buggs tha Rocka. The MC, performing at 3:45 p.m. on the Sawyer Point Stage, crafted one of the best locally spawned releases of 2014, Scattered Thoughts of an American Poet. Buggs recently announced that Space Invadaz, his duo project with fellow local great Donte (formerly of MOOD), has inked a deal with supporter Talib Kweli’s Javotti Media label. (buggstharocka.com)
New Moons Release Debut
If you need a good Bunbury warm-up, head to MOTR Pub (1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com) Thursday for the release party for Glass Planet, the debut effort by local rockers New Moons. The Tigerlilies also play the 10 p.m. show.
New Moons concoct a sound that is reminiscent of ’90s AltRock’s heyday but doesn’t put off too much of a retro vibe. It’s simply a strong Rock & Roll record, highlighted by cuts like “Dream Street,” with its gliding guitar riffs (if you remember and loved the band Lotion, you’d love this track), the memorable “You Don’t Need to Know Me” and closer “Morning Light,” a woozy, swaying track with some stinging guitar leads piercing the haze. With good chops and promising songwriting, Glass Planet shows New Moons is a band to keep an eye on. (newmoons.net)
CONTACT MIKE BREEN: [email protected]
