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

Annie D Residency at The Loon

Slip into February with one of the most acclaimed local artists right now. Annie D has split her Loon residency into distinct themes, showcasing the varied styles and sides of her output along with a lineup curated to match. Week one will focus on songwriting with an acoustic set featuring local favorites Young Heirlooms. Week two is titled “Annie Electronica,” and promises a loop set along with local electronica/acoustic hybrid artist Umin. Week three is titled “Annie Classique,” and features classical instrumentation and arrangements from Annie D, as well as local harpist extraordinaire Victoria Lekson and classical-influenced singer-songwriter Turnsole. The month closes out with a full band set from Annie D and another band, Water Balloon. 8 p.m. Thursdays in February. Free. The Loon, 4124 Hamilton Ave., Northside, instagram.com/anniedmusic.

Spiderhand and Dummy Ups at MOTR Pub

Some of Cincinnati music’s finest join together for this celebration of local punk music. Spiderhand released one of the best records in the city last year and both bands should have a thing or two to teach concertgoers about rock and roll. 9 p.m. Feb. 2. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com.

Lung, Touchdown Jesus, Metric Ton and Bug Juice at Northside Tavern

Powerful local duo Lung make a local appearance just before they leave for tour with Dayton legends Brainiac this month. The duo, featuring Daisy Caplan on drums and classically trained vocalist and cellist Kate Wakefield, defy convention and build dark toned and varied cabaret punk between the two of them that sounds anything but minimal. Touchdown Jesus makes exploratory and wide-ranging songs that mix pop punk with math rock and jazz to interesting effect. They appear with live wire garage punk band Metric Ton, along with experimental Indianapolis band Bug Juice. 8 p.m. Feb. 2. Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside, northsidetav.com.

Allen Otte Performs Frederic Rzewski’s The Fall of the Empire at Knox Presbyterian Church

Local ambitious music organization Collegium Cincinnati, committed to bringing both traditional and cutting edge performances to Cincinnati, present percussionist and professor Allen Otte performing a piece of music written for him by noted pianist and contemporary composer Frederic Rzewski, titled The Fall of the Empire. 4 p.m. Feb. 3. $10. Knox Presbyterian Church, 3400 Michigan Ave., Hyde Park, collegiumcincinnati.org.

Victoria Lekson, Caley Conway (Wisconsin) and Cathedral Becomes Tomb (Wisconsin) at Northside Tavern

Harpist Victoria Lekson performs alongside several artists around the city on a regular basis, but she’ll be center stage for this performance with her dynamic instrumentals that touch on a range of emotions. She’ll also collaborate with another of the lineup’s performers, innovative folk-pop singer-songwriter Caley Conway from Milwaukee. Cathedral Becomes Tomb creates experimental drone music with electronic accents from a classically trained double bass player on tour from Wisconsin. 9 p.m. Feb. 7. Free. Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside, northsidetav.com.

oYoXoYo and Lowset at The Comet

This set features deconstructivist rock and roll from oYoXoYo and electronic-inflected rock minimalism from Lowset — something different for you and your Valentine. 9 p.m. Feb. 9. The Comet, 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside.

Moonweather and Mutual Benefit (Brooklyn) at Bit Crusher Recording Company

Local band moonweather will perform in an intimate studio in a former church on the east side, Bit Crusher, with Mutual Benefit, a baroque-folk pop group on tour from Brooklyn. Mutual Benefit’s debut received a “Best New Music” rating from Pitchfork in 2013 and their latest release, Growing at the Edges, was also well received. Read the review now before Pitchfork disappears and is swallowed up by some media conglomerate. 7 p.m. Feb. 10. $20. Bit Crusher Recording Company, 3938 Eastern Ave., Columbia-Tusculum, eventbrite.com.

CLEÖCRT, Siri Imani, Aunty JoJo and Saige at The Lounge

This is a special Valentine’s show titled Love Maniac that is built around romance, and, as the press release says, “let your Valentine’s Day be sultry, silky and sensual.” The concert will include performances from seductress and R&B singer CLEÖCRT, poet and hip-hop artist Siri Imani, soulful vocalist Aunty JoJo and singer Saige. There will also be food and drinks available. 8 p.m. Feb. 16. $20 ($15 if you wear pink or use promo code “Love Maniac”). The Lounge, 3938 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, cleocrt.com.

Fairmount Girls (vinyl release), Spoils and Dolly Daredevils at MOTR Pub

Local legends The Fairmount Girls celebrate the vinyl release of their new record, Carnival on the Inside, with help from one of the city’s newest and most interesting bands, Spoils, along with local mainstays, the all-female power trio, The Dolly Daredevils. 9:30 p.m. Feb. 17. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com.

Straw Boss, Dallas Moore, Ricky Nye, Jerry King and more at Southgate House Revival

Longtime rockabilly favorites Straw Boss will reunite for this special event along with one of the city’s most noted musicians, pianist Ricky Nye, outlaw country musician Dallas Moore, rockabilly band Jerry King & the Rivertown Ramblers and more to celebrate and raise money for a friend of the band, Chewy, to assist with medical bills. See some of the best from the roots side of Cincinnati music in one place, and for a good cause. 6 p.m. Feb. 22. $10 suggested donation. Southgate House Revival, 111 6th St., Newport, southgatehouse.com.