Queen City Music Spotlight: Catch These 11 Cincinnati Concerts Featuring Local Acts in April

Beef, Biased Footwear Company, Nick G (St. Louis) and Big Fat Head (Columbus) at The Hub

A handful of fresh and inventive rock and roll bands will kick off April’s lineup of local shows. Cincinnati band Beef are a unique blend of home-cooked, (no pun intended) slightly askew and spaced-out rock and roll. Biased Footwear Company’s flowing melodic groove that touches on the surreal sounds of psychedelia with some occasional fuzz should fit nicely in the bill. Nick G from St. Louis brings driving, pedal-soaked post-punk from the gateway city. Columbus’ Big Fat Head is a unique blend of ‘90s alt-pop post-punk with some unexpected and inventive touches and turns. There might not be a better way to start the month. 9 p.m. April 1. $5. The Hub, 1209 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, totallythehubotr.com.

Maria Carrelli Live Album Recording at Arnold’s Bar & Grill

This is likely another fine way to start your month off. Local soulful, American-infused singer/songwriter Maria Carrelli will be recording a live album titled Nobody’s Fool in the courtyard of Arnold’s Bar & Grill Downtown Saturday, April 1. Carrelli is a former Cincinnati Entertainment Awards nominee and has appeared at several festivals including BLINK, Whispering Beard Folk Festival and Bellwether, and shared a bill with acts like the popular local folk duo Dawg Yawp, as well as bluegrass legend Del McCoury. Reservations are available in advance with standing room available.8 p.m. April 1. Arnold’s Bar & Grill, 210 E. Eighth St., Downtown, arnoldsbarandgrill.com.

Stallone N’ Roses and Cold Stereo Double Album Release at MOTR Pub

Local garage punk bands Stallone N’ Roses and Cold Stereo celebrate a dual release for a second time after last month's Junker’s Tavern release show. Both bands’ new LPs were recorded in Cold Stereo singer Todd Uttley’s studio Fuzzy Eyed, and are filled with some of the city’s best new punk, power pop and rock and roll cut to disc. 7:30 p.m. April 2. $5. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com.

Siren Suit Residency at The Comet

Hard-hitting Cincinnati alt-rock band Siren Suit will perform a different record from the band’s catalog each Tuesday in April with friends Mutt Fuzz and Perfect Stranglers on the first Tuesday of April. Local post-punk band Nevernew and female-fronted punk group Pretty Mean follow for week two. Week three features Detroit’s experimental electro-pop band Summer Like The Season and Dayton punk band SKRT. Cincinnati noise rock band Plug and the dark-toned, solo lo-fi punk of Grave Clothes will help the band close out the residency where they’ll also perform material from an upcoming album release. Tuesdays in April. Free. The Comet, 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside, facebook.com/events.

Maria Keck Residency at MOTR Pub

Maria Keck is a singer and multi-instrumentalist who builds her layered, tender and expressive songs piece by piece in performances, looping individual parts which include a flute, synthesizer, ukulele, percussion and, often, her layered vocals to create an atmospheric soundscape. The first week of her residency at MOTR Pub will also include performances by jazz pianist and vocalist Jenna Reel and soulful pop singer Chandler Carter. The second week features alt-country, primitive guitarist and singer-songwriter Night Owl and Americana-influenced singer/songwriter Evan McMillian. The next week, Keck will be joined by local harpist and collaborator extraordinaire Victoria Lekson and songstress Meg Kecskes. The final night features singer-songwriter Megan Wren and classically trained bowed bassist and vocalist Brooks Salloum. Wednesdays in April. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com.

Pop Empire Residency at The Loon

Glammed out garage-blues band Pop Empire holds court at The Loon Wine Bar in April, appearing every Thursday night. Week one will feature Pop Empire drummer Jake Langknecht’s band Sky Hank. Week two brings Asheville’s chamber pop band Okapi. Cincinnati’s Rae Fisher will perform her emotive folk-pop songs for week three and Philadelphia garage punk performer Kelsey Cork appears to close out the residency for week four. 8 p.m. Thursdays in April. Free. The Loon, 4124 Hamilton Ave., Northside, theloonwinebar.com.

Bad Trip to Cincinnati featuring Devin Burgess, Freedom Nicole Moore, Bad Genes and more at The Mockbee

This packed show features local alternative hip-hop artist Devin Burgess, neo-soul singer Freedom Nicole Moore, Detroit underground hip hop artist Big Trip, Dayton hip-hop collective Bad Genes and a packed bill of performers, complete with a DJ, bringing a party to the tunnels of Brighton’s The Mockbee. Doors 7 p.m. Show 8 p.m. April 11. $10. The Mockbee. 2260 Central Pkwy, Brighton, eventbrite.com.

Strobobean, Baby Tyler and Lilian Currens at MOTR Pub

Dynamic alt-pop Cincinnati trio Strobobean released their new single, “Kitchen,” in late March, confirming the band’s control over well-crafted, melodic and vocal-driven pop rooted in something a little murkier and avant-garde. They appear with revved-up Philadelphia punk band Baby Tyler and local singer Lilian Currens, formerly of Cincinnati punk band Swim Team. 10 p.m. April 15. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com.

Isabelle Helle and Hell’s Bells, Thelma and The Sleaze (Nashville) and Hot Garbage (Toronto) at MOTR Pub

Local garage-punk supergroup Isabelle Helle and the Hell’s Bells (featuring members of Black Planet, Breaking Glass, Phoul Phill Andt Guill, etc.) open for Nashville all-girl party band Thelma and The Sleaze and Toronto psych band Hot Garbage. Expect tightly knit, gothed-out hook-heavy punk from Isabelle Hell, a high energy, no-reservations rock and roll explosion from Thelma and the Sleaze and fuzzed-out psychedelic garage-pop from Toronto’s Hot Garbage. 10 p.m. April 21. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com.

The Auburnaires at Northside Tavern

Local legends The Auburnaires make a somewhat rare appearance at a local music cornerstone, the Northside Tavern, later this month. The Auburnaires’ history stretches back even further in the lineage of Cincinnati music than the storied venue. The band was a leading act in the music scene of the ‘80s and early ‘90s before dissolving in 1991. They have since made occasional appearances over the last decade or so. Catch a slice of Cincinnati music history Saturday night for yourself. 9 p.m. April 22. Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside, northsidetav.com.