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

Darlene and oYoXoYo at MOTR Pub

This lineup of juxtaposition should make for an interesting show: the female-fronted melodic alt-rock of Darlene and the angular, jerking time signatures and near prog punk of oYoXoYo. Though slightly different in style, they’re connected with the through line of expertly executed Cincinnati rock and roll. 9:30 p.m. March 9. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com.

Patrick Zopff Residency at The Comet

The Tuesday night tradition carries on this month at The Comet with Patrick Zopff as the artist in residence throughout the month of March. Zopff has played in several local bands over the years but will be displaying his personal wares this month as a songwriter and performer. The handpicked lineups will support his low-fidelity-leaning bedroom pop variety of songwriting, including local alt-folk songwriter Jake Kolesar, intimate folk-pop singer-songwriter Brianna Kelly and Spoils frontwoman Nina Payiatis, to name a few. Tuesdays. Free. The Comet, 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside.

ROD, Public Circuit (NYC), Operation and Moral Compass at Northside Tavern

Explosive dance punk band Public Circuit will pass through town on tour from New York, and to make it an event, experimental synth punk duo ROD, who make danceable moody soundscapes in the no-wave tradition with their own stylish take while trading vocals, also appear. They perform with Operation, who appeal to fans of overdriven bass overtop dance drums backing simultaneously bright and dissonant melodies. Moral Compass, the electronic soundscape project from local photographer of the stars Sydney Sebastian, rounds out the bill. One of the highlights of the month. 9 p.m. March 6. Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside, northsidetav.com.

Rock n’ Revival 8 at Southgate House Revival

The Rock n’ Revival for a Cure is a huge yearly benefit show to raise money for glioblastoma research, formed after brothers Matthew and Adam Forsthoefel of local band The Grove found out their dad John Forsthoefel had the disease in 2016. The benefit carries on as a memorial for their father and raises money for the John Forsthoefel for Glioblastoma Research Fund at the University of Cincinnati Brain Tumor Center. The show features 30 acts across all three stages of the Southgate House Revival throughout the day. Performances from Sungaze, Carriers, Ryan Malott (of 500 Miles to Memphis), Matt St. George, The Grove and many more will take place throughout the day. 1:30 p.m. March 9. $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Southgate House Revival, 111 E. 6th St., Newport, southgatehouse.com.

Queen City Outlaws, The New Machine and V-Twin Sin at Epic Live Event Center

A night of local rock and roll on the harder side from Queen City Outlaws, The New Machine and V-Twin Sin — all for a good cause. This benefit show on the west side of town near Sayler Park will raise money for Mykill Wolfenstein to be put toward medical expenses. Raffles and good times are promised on the event listing. 6 p.m. March 16. Epic Live Event Center, 59 E. Main St., Addyston, facebook.com/events.

Bershy, Tiger Goods, Sunmates (Lexington) and Barleaux at MOTR Pub

Bershy is likely to be a candidate for “most likely to succeed” if there was a Cincinnati music yearbook. Her radio ready, hook heavy synth pop has a slight edge but a taste too sweet to be ignored. She appears with New York electro-pop artist Barleaux, local alt-pop/hip-hop artist Tiger Goods and Lexington indie pop group Sunmates. The event is presented by a collaboration between local independent radio station Inhailer Radio, which highlights local artists and offers an alternative to mainstream radio, and Donuts N’ Akahol, the local YouTube interview series and event promotion group who bring attention to local up-and-coming hip-hop and pop artists. 9:30 p.m. March 22. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com/shows.

Motorbike, Stallone N’ Roses and Les Lullies (France) at MOTR Pub

French punks Les Lullies will likely feel right at home with Motorbike and Stallone N’ Roses at Main Street’s MOTR Pub speaking the universal language. Midwest garage rock meets its French counterpart for one of the best nights all month for rock and roll. 8 p.m. March 27. $10 in advance and $12 at the door. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com/shows.

Maura Weaver at Shake It Records

Fresh off a March tour that includes a handful of appearances at this year’s SXSW music festival and dates supporting punk favorites Smoking Popes (including at Northside Tavern on March 22), Maura Weaver will do an intimate in-store performance at Shake It Records to celebrate a limited edition translucent red vinyl release of her record I Was Due for a Heartbreak on the Shake It label to benefit the animal shelter. This will be a chance to hear the core of the poignant and dynamic songs from the record with the sweeping pedal steel parts accompanying Weaver live for the first time as pedal steel player Travis Talbert joins her for the performance. Time yet to be announced, March 30. Shake It Records, 4156 Hamilton Ave., Northside, instagram.com.

Mol Sullivan, Hello Sapien and Rae Fisher at Northside Tavern

Just coming off the glowing recent release show for her debut full length, Goose, Mol Sullivan will be wrapping up a Midwest run of dates with this homecoming show after a March tour that will stretch from Nashville to Milwaukee and several cities in between. She’ll be joined by local cinematic alt-folk project Hello Sapien for the tour, as well as this show, to wrap up the run. There’s a term people use for the effect playing night after night has on shaping a band’s sound, called “tour tight.” Homecoming shows are often the some of the best to see, when bands have developed another level of communication and cohesion, firing on all cylinders after performing on the road. To round out a night of some of our finer local singer-songwriters, Rae Fisher will join the bill to make it even more special. 9 p.m. March 31. $12. Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside, northsidetav.com.

Piss Flowers, ADD/C (Chattanooga) and Gremlin at (DSGN)CLLCTV

Local hardcore band Piss Flowers bring the raw power with revved up Chattanooga punk band ADD/C and new (and sure to be favorite) local act Gremlin. 8 p.m. March 31. $10. (DSGN)CLLCTV, 4150 Hamilton Ave., Northside.