Queen City Music Spotlight: Catch These 12 Cincinnati Concerts Featuring Local Acts in December

Heartless Bastards and Spoils at Woodward Theater

Heartless Bastards make a return to Cincinnati where the band began to conclude their tour with a homecoming performance at the Woodward Theater. Another female-fronted band, rising locals Spoils, open the show. 8 p.m. Dec. 9. $28.75 in advance and $33 at the door. Woodward Theater, 1404 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, woodwardtheater.com.

IdleAires (Record Release), The IN-Sect (Athens) and The Dolly Daredevils at Northside Tavern

Led by painter and conceptual artist Joseph Winterhalter on guitar and vocals, and backed by two rock and roll/punk veterans, IdleAires are releasing their debut record, intended as a work of conceptual art itself, at Northside Tavern. They will be joined by longtime Athens garage rock band The IN-Sect and a duo version of locals The Dolly Daredevils. 10 p.m. Dec. 2. $10. Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside, facebook.com/event.

Daniel Wayne, Sharp Toys and Harlot at The Loon

Celebrated local singer-songwriter Daniel Wayne appears with sludgy, baritone-heavy and songstress-led two-piece Sharp Toys and Harlot at The Loon Wine Bar. Drop in, split a bottle of wine and see where the music and night take you. 8 p.m. Dec. 2. $10 in advance and $12 at the door. The Loon, 4124 Hamilton Ave., Northside, facebook.com/events.

Fritz Pape Residency at The Comet

Local experimental musician Fritz Pape explores composition with the sound of ambient electronic hum and manipulated signals both expansive and minute. His residency starts with cellist/operatic vocalist Kate Wakefield (of Lung) and frantic and immediate post-punk band Fourth Wife (solo) and continues with a variety of guests over the course of the month. Pape alters form a little each week. Week two will feature a collaboration with improvisational noise guitarist Pete Fosco and an acoustic guitar-centered collaboration titled “Fritz Pape Guitar Buddies” to close out the month. See the flyer on social media or a street pole near you for more information. 9 p.m. Tuesdays. The Comet, 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside.

Left at Orion Residency at MOTR Pub

Left at Orion, featuring members of former local psychedelic dream-pop band Slow Glows are slowly regaining their footing, likely sped up by this residency at MOTR Pub all month long on Wednesday nights. Guests include local dreamy alt-pop band Television Blonde, noise pop from Plug, singer/songwriter with garage sensibilities, Jake Borgemenke, and more throughout the month. 9 p.m. Wednesdays. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com.

Holiday Pops at Music Hall

A yearly Cincinnati tradition is back with the familiar sight of John Morris Russell with his red jacket, spectacles and baton (ready for an Al Hirschfeld-like caricature drawing) conducting the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra through Christmas and holiday classics with special guests like stage and screen actress/vocalist Capathia Jenkins and tenor Rafael Moras with help from various local vocal groups from area schools and Cincinnati youth dance studios. Performances are held two times daily over the course of the weekend. Pack up your family in the station wagon or bring yourself downtown to Music Hall to join in and enjoy the glow of holiday tradition and timeless jolly. Dec. 8, 9 and 10. Prices vary. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, cincinnatisymphony.org.

M Ross Perkins and Kendra Morris (NYC) at MOTR Pub

Neighboring Dayton versatile multi-instrumentalist and acclaimed singer/songwriter M Ross Perkins plays MOTR with Kendra Morris from New York. Morris’ catchy, psychedelic soul and Perkins’ well crafted psychedelic pop should make for a nice night out on the town. Both acts are on local label Colemine Records/Karma Chief. 8 p.m. Dec. 14. $13 in advance and $17 at the door. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com/shows.

Santamania at The Mockbee

Founded by John Hays and still going strong in its tenth year, Santamania showcases some of the city’s finest punk, rock and roll and the like, this year featuring Vacation, Tweens, Leggy, Flesh Mother, Fruit LoOops, The Serfs, Beef, Mary Henry, Corker and tons more. Even out-of-town guests and friends like New York good-time punk duo Shellshag will be performing. This now two-day festival, back at the Mockbee this year, takes place across several stages all over the venue. There’s even a before and after celebration, “Nightmare Before Santamania,” on Dec. 14th and “Brunch With Santamania” on Dec. 17, both taking place at DSGN CLLCTV up the road in Northside. 7 p.m. Dec. 15 and 16. $10 per night. The Mockbee, 2260 Central Parkway, Brighton, facebook.com/events.

Annie D, The Jared Presley Experience and Happy Tuesday at The Loon

One of this year’s breakout acts Annie D has had a handful of choice appearances as of late, whether performing solo, with a full band or, like this appearance, as a duo. She appears with The Jared Presley Experience whose songwriting touches on psychedelia, blues and fusion. Locals Happy Tuesday round out the bill. 8 p.m. Dec. 16. $10 in advance and $12 at the door. The Loon Wine Bar, 4124 Hamilton Ave., Northside, theloonwinebar.com.

Leggy and Daisychain (Chicago) at Southgate House Revival

Local female-fronted punk group Leggy can be as sweet as Bubbalicious and as bitter as Black Jack, blending nuanced pop with a rock and roll heart. They make a return to Southgate House Revival with Chicago melodic garage pop band Daisychain. 8 p.m. Dec. 21. $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Southgate House Revival, 111 E. 6th St., Newport, southgatehouse.com/event.

All-Seeing Eyes and Jalpas at MOTR Pub

One of the city’s garage rock luminaries, Johnny Walker and his band The All-Seeing Eyes, appear at MOTR Pub with local hard-hitting psych band, Jalpas. This show presents one last chance before the new year to “cage that tiger,” as Mr. Johnny Walker famously says in his longtime band, the Soledad Brothers’ song of the same name. Get on down to Main Street and testify. 10 p.m. Dec. 28. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com.

General Baxter, Gonies, Pretty Mean and Running Man (Rock Island, IL) at Northside Tavern

One last night before New Year’s Eve! While you work on resolutions, spend it with psychedelic garage rock group General Baxter, catchy and varied fuzzed out post-punk band Gonies, driving female-fronted rock and roll band Pretty Mean and Running Man, a quintessential power-pop act from Illinois. 9 p.m. Dec. 30. $10. Northside Tavern, 4124 Hamilton Ave., Hamilton Ave., Northside, northsidetav.com.