Queen City Music Spotlight: Catch These 10 Cincinnati Concerts Featuring Local Acts in April

By Brent Stroud on Fri, Apr 5, 2024 at 3:30 pm

The April lineup of local music set to take place around the city this month is as vibrant as the new leaves on the trees and plants coming up underneath the Cincinnati spring rain and blue skies. From a local classical music collective to Cincinnati hip-hop favorites, there’s likely something for everybody to get out and enjoy this month.

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Photo: Deb Sarvela

Music for an Eclipse with Antigone Music Collective at Clifton Cultural Arts Center
The upcoming eclipse on Monday, April 8 is seemingly universally anticipated and a topic of conversation all over. Local classical music outreach collective the Antigone Music Collective will perform pieces of music set to accent the excitement around the upcoming solar event on Friday night at the new Clifton Cultural Arts Center location. As a bonus, tickets are buy one, get one free to make it even easier for anyone to take part. 9 p.m. March 6. Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside, northsidetav.com.

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Photo: Aidan Mahoney

United Methodist Jazz Trio at Schwartz’s Point
Local music landmark Schwartz’s Point will feature a little Sunday music to bring you up from Saturday night. The United Methodist Jazz Trio, led by pianist Jim Connerley, will perform Sunday evening for what the listing calls “super hoppin’ fun!!” 7 p.m. April 7. Free. Schwartz’s Point, 1901 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, thepointclub.com.

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Photo: Morgan Winston

Tweens In-Store at Shake It Records
Local record store/institution Shake It Records continues the celebration for their 25th anniversary with Tweens performing with the full band amongst the candy-color walls lined with every music lover’s wants and needs. The series of in-store performances to celebrate the store/label’s 25th anniversary have featured local favorites Maura Weaver, Jay Hill of Patterns of Chaos and The Dummy Ups over the last few weeks, adding to the Shake It’s past in-store performances from local luminaries and legends. The 25th birthday celebration is set to conclude with Record Store Day on April 20. 7 p.m. April 13. Free. Shake It Records, 4156 Hamilton Ave., Northside.

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Photo: Jared William Bowers

Plush Machine and Maurice Mattei & the Tempers at Junker’s Tavern
A handful of Cincinnati music scene veterans bring the unending power of rock and roll to one of the city’s homes for rock and roll — Junker’s Tavern in Northside. Plush Machine and Maurice Mattei — who was recently profiled in CityBeat for one of his solo releases — and his band The Tempers will perform under the glow of the Junker’s sign on a spring Saturday night. 9 p.m. April 13. Free. Junker’s Tavern, 4156 Langland St., Northside, facebook.com/events.

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Photo: Shane Lamb

Spiderhand and IdleAires at Northside Tavern
Two of the most vital and dynamic bands active now join up at essential local venue Northside Tavern — and in the front room where it all began for them. Both groups have long-running ties to local music and have helped to create the foundation of the world this all exists in. 8 p.m. April 14. Free. Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside, facebook.com/events.

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Photo: Casey Habetler

Dustbin and Friendly Spectres (Wisconsin) at Northside Tavern
Local heart-on-sleeve folk-punk outfit Dustbin supports Wisconsin synth-punk group Friendly Spectres at Northside Tavern for this Monday night show to start the week (or continue the weekend). 9 p.m. April 15. Free. Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside, northsidetav.com.

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Photo: Nikita Gross

Kate Wakefield, Planchette and Sbowe (Italy) at The Comet
This show brings a night of solo female musicians exploring songs from different directions — all three through cello and some with the addition of vocals. Kate Wakefield is one half of the popular local band Lung, where Wakefield’s operatic vocals and dynamic cello performances help drive the band, similar to her solo work. Dayton, Kentucky’s Planchette creates moody atmospheres through haunting ambient pieces. The two perform with Italian virtuosic songwriter Sbowe. Time TBA, April 18. Free. The Comet, 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside.

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Photo: Provided by Gremlin

Beef, Erik Nervous (Kalamazoo) and Gremlin at MOTR Pub
Local fuzz-punk heroes Beef and soon-to-be local heroes Gremlin support Michigan pure punk, do-it-yourselfer Erik Nervous on Main Street for a weekend-ending April highlight. 8 p.m. April 21. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com.

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Photo: Angie Willcutt and Micah Wu

ROD and Outer World (Richmond, VA) at MOTR Pub
Rising local atmospheric synth-punk duo ROD supports local label (and soon-to-be physical store) Feel It Records artists Outer World on tour from Richmond, Virginia, who make catchy and danceable gritty pop with a Space Age psychedelic sheen. This show is great for fans of mid-century French pop, Stereolab and dance-punk. 9:30 p.m. April 26. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com.

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Photo: Andrew Doench

Sons of Silverton, Patterns of Chaos, Blueprint (Columbus) and Tino (Dayton) at Urban Artifact
Some local hip-hop heroes, Sons of Silverton and Patterns of Chaos, along with Dayton hip-hop gem, Tino, take over Urban Artifact to celebrate the release of Columbus MC and producer Blueprint’s new album, Falling Down. 6 p.m. April 28. $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Urban Artifact, 1660 Blue Rock St., Northside, artifactbeer.com.

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