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

Long Gones (record release), Cheater Slicks (Columbus) and Isabelle Helle & Hell’s Bells at Feel It Record Shop

Longtime local punk band The Long Gones (pictured) have reunited over the years on occasion since originally forming in the ‘90s. This includes a handful of shows last year but they have seemingly picked things back up with the release of a new 7” with this celebration for the record, alongside underground legends Cheater Slicks and local heroes (or heroines) Isabelle Helle & Hell’s Bells at Feel It Record Shop in Clifton. 7 p.m. Aug. 8. $10. Feel It Record Shop, 356 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, facebook.com/events.

Bridget Battle (Tweens), Idiot Glee (Lexington) and Nicole Yun (Virginia) at Northside Tavern

In one of the two eventful starts on the first day of the last month of summer, Tweens’ driving force Bridget Battle (pictured) makes her solo debut. Battle is in the process of recording a future solo release between Tweens appearances. She’ll support two solid out-of-town acts for the occasion: Catchy, atmospheric and experimental synth-pop Lexington neighbors Idiot Glee and dreamy alt-pop artist Nicole Yun on tour from Virginia. 9 p.m. Aug. 1. $12. Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside, northsidetav.com.

The Harlequins, Ghost Funk Orchestra (New York) and Touchdown Jesus at Woodward Theater

Colemine Records artist Ghost Funk Orchestra out of New York blends funk, jazz, ‘50s/’60s lounge and pop into a groove-soaked psychedelia that is sure to carry the crowd onto another plane. Local psych garage heroes The Harlequins (pictured) along with experimental punk locals Touchdown Jesus will assist quite nicely. 7 p.m. Aug. 1. $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Woodward Theater, 1404 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, woodwardtheater.com.

As Above, So Below featuring DJ Boywife, Dux Unlimited, Aralia (Chicago) and Full Stack (NYC) at The Comet

The Comet basement will be the scene of a party of heavenly (or hellacious) proportions with the heaven and hell themed “As Above, So Below” event starring Cincinnati club idol DJ Boywife (pictured) along with Dux Unlimited and out-of-town guests Aralia from Chicago and Full Stack from New York City. The party will feature scenery designed by local artist Sam Jayne and a midnight costume contest. The winner of the contest gets a $25 bar tab. It starts at 10 p.m., with the first 40 people getting a split cassette release by Aralia and Full Stack, and goes “until late.” Surely one of the essential happenings all month. 10 p.m. Aug. 9. $10. The Comet Basement, 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside. More info on Instagram.

On Point Music Festival at Sawyer Point

Sawyer Point will be the center of the Cincinnati music universe on this early August weekend with music on multiple stages on Aug. 9 and 10. It starts Friday with music from local punk favorites Tweens and melodic dream-pop locals Static Falls, among others across two stages. Day two opens earlier, at 2 p.m., with activities around the park including a roller rink, beach volleyball and a pickleball tournament anchored by music from rising local electro-pop artist Bershy (pictured), one of Cincinnati’s favorite singer-songwriters Tracey Walker and Americana favorites The Tillers, along with nine other acts across three stages throughout the day. 5:30 p.m. Aug. 9 and 2 p.m. Aug. 10. Free. Sawyer Point Park, 705 E. Pete Rose Way, Downtown, cincinnati-oh.gov/onpointmusicfestival.

Fosco-Lorenz Duo, Obscuress (Texas) and Victoria Lekson at Northside Tavern

Local improvisational guitar player Pete Fosco and experimental noise musician Jon Lorenz (Wasteland Jazz Unit) will combine Fosco’s pedal noise soundscapes with electronics and saxophone from Lorenz to support Obscuress, a new project from Christina Carter (Charalambides) and Spencer Dobbs. Obscuress’ work is spare and minimal but still full of emotion and color, like a desert sun coming up over an open road. Local harpist Victoria Lekson (pictured) rounds out the program with her ethereal and moving harp work. 9 p.m. Aug. 14. Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside, facebook.com/events.

Brad Gibson (Saturn Batteries), Aaron Magical and George Gadd (UK) at MOTR Pub

Longtime Cincinnati musician Brad Gibson of Saturn Batteries has a residency all month long at MOTR. This night features Aaron Magical (pictured) of hard-hitting rock band Lemon Sky just days after the release of his first solo single that comes out Aug. 10. The two support UK singer-songwriter George Gadd. 9 p.m. Aug. 14. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com.

Fairview Fest at Oddfellows

Fairvew Fest takes over Oddfellows for two days of music, vendors and entertainment. The festival will also serve as the tour kickoff for Lung (pictured) and Noun, featuring Marissa Paternoster (Screaming Females), along with locals like Sharp Toys, Black Surfboards, Eugenius, D.O.S. and out-of-town acts like Louisville punk group Shitfire and Bloomington hardcore band Potty Mouth, among others. There will also be local and out-of-state vendors and “surprise performances,” in addition to appearances both nights from queer burlesque and drag performance artists, Smoke & Queers Burlesque. The press release promises “two days of music, drag, art, vendors and comradery.” Aug. 16 and 17. $20 per day or $30 for the weekend. Oddfellows Liquor Bar, 2014 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/fairviewfest.

Little River Bluegrass Festival at Little River Bar and Grill

This music event entails three days of bluegrass and Americana onstage in the open air out in the country along the Little Miami River in the hills of Oregonia. The festival features Slippery Creek (pictured), Burns and Moore Bluegrass, Andew Hibbard Band, Ma Crow and Co. and many more. 6:30 p.m. Aug. 16 and noon Aug. 17 and 18. $10 on Friday and Sunday, $15 on Saturday or $30 all weekend. Little River Bar and Grill, 5527 Oregonia Road, Oregonia, facebook.com/events.

Knotts, Maria Keck and Heather Redman (Dayton) at MOTR Pub

This late August event is a showcase of some of the most innovative female pop songwriters in the area. Knotts (pictured) bubbles up with ingenuity and the soft grace of pure pop. Maria Keck, who was featured on this summer’s CityBeat Summertime Soundtrack playlist, is a multi-instrumentalist whose dreamy, effervescent art-pop sounds like the feeling of eating ice cream and watching August sunshine dancing across rich green grass. Garage soul from Dayton’s Heather Redman rounds out the bill. 9:30 p.m. Aug. 24. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com.

Piss Flowers (final show), Chuck 2, Dismal (Lexington), Anti-Material Rifle and Primitive Impulse at Design Collective

Local hardcore powerhouse punk band Piss Flowers (pictured) are playing their last show. They appear alongside like-minded locals Anti-Material Rifle and Primitive Impulse, Lexington, Ky speed metal band Dismal and local relaxed low-fidelity rock and roll outfit Chuck 2. 8 p.m. Aug 31. $10. DSGN CLLCTV, 4150 Hamilton Ave., Northside.