Queen City Music Spotlight: Catch These 14 Cincinnati Concerts Featuring Local Acts in May

Cartier WOW at J Salandino Collections

Start your Friday night off with a pop-up fashion show and a performance from one of the city’s rising hip-hop acts, Cartier WOW, who's been featured in writeups from The Source and Sheen Magazine in recent weeks. Cartier Wow just released a new track, “RACKS,” in addition to a self-titled album last month — both dripping with charisma and drive. This is your chance to see the rapper in a unique and intimate setting. The event listing reads, “Cartier WOW and J Salandino Collections presents The Cartier Le Noir pop up fashion show.” 5 p.m. May 31. Free. J Salandino Collections, 1 Levee Way, Newport, eventbrite.com.

Blunt Blades, Stallone N’ Roses, Sugar Tradition (Detroit) and Fen Fen (Detroit) at Feel It Records Shop

Virginia transplant label Feel It Records has become a central part of Cincinnati music since moving to town a few years back, and when Torn Light left for Chicago at the beginning of the year, it left a hole in the local music community that Feel It Records has luckily quickly filled. The shop’s first in-store performance sets a nice tone for what can hopefully be expected from the trusted label’s first physical location. Local garage rock central figures Blunt Blades and Stallone N’ Roses (pictured) along with Detroit sensations Sugar Tradition (also on Feel It’s label) and Fen Fen, also from Detroit, make up the bill for this inaugural Feel It in-store performance. 7 p.m. May 3. $10 suggested donation. Feel It Records Shop, 356 Ludlow Ave., Clifton.

Sarah Asher and Ira Wolf (Montana) at The Comet

Originally scheduled to open the Loon’s new location just down Hamilton Ave., local folk songstress Sarah Asher (pictured) will bring her powerful and nuanced sound to fill out the bill shared by country artist Ira Wolf at the outdoor Grotto stage at The Comet. Wolf, coming from Montana, incorporates the wide-ranging touches of the Nashville sound for her poignant songs exploring life’s familiar ups and downs. 7 p.m. May 4. $15 in advance and $18 at the door. The Comet, 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside.

Concert:nova and Brianna Matzke: Tremor at The American Sign Museum

Dr. Brianna Matzke, a musician, educator and producing artistic director of concert:nova, among several other titles, created the Response Project in 2014 to commission works in response to pre-existing ideas or artwork, and after an essential tremor diagnosis, she turned her medical news into creativity. The event will feature a solo piano performance of five new pieces composed by Hanna Benn, Molly Joyce, Adeliia Faizullina, Matthew Evan Taylor and Forrest Pierce followed by a panel discussion exploring the theme of the project. Free valet parking available. 6 p.m. May 5. Pay what you can; suggested donation of $20. American Sign Museum, 1330 Monmouth Ave., Camp Washington, concertnova.com/concerts.

Siren Suit with The Messthetics (D.C.) and James Brandon Lewis (New York City) at Woodward Theater

The Messthetics filled MOTR a few years back when they visited town with their unique mix of nearly-jazz and punk featuring the rhythm section of legendary D.C. hardcore scene veterans, Fugazi. This time they have New York saxophonist James Brandon Lewis to further their cause and bring things to new ground. Siren Suit, (pictured) a collection of local veterans in their own right, will open the show and set the mood. 7 p.m. May 7. $19.50 in advance and $24 day-of. Woodward Theater, 1404 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, woodwardtheater.com.

Burritofest at The Comet

This sprawling four-day festival at The Comet organized by Burrito Boys Booking is now in its third year. This edition will feature locals like Lung (pictured), Fairmount Girls, Us, Today, Maria Keck (with full band), The Laurelys, Nevernew and Carriers among a ton of others in addition to notorious surf rock band Daikaiju and a special mystery guest on Friday night. The event will use the whole building with performances in the main room, in the outdoor grotto and in the basement. A handful of comedians will also perform for Bombs Away! Comedy on Saturday night, and the Comet Bluegrass All Stars will do their regularly scheduled Sunday performance. Various times May 9-12. Pay what you can. The Comet, 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside, facebook.com/events.

Fruit LoOops, The Serfs and Snooper (Nashville) at Woodward Theater

Cincinnati experimental-freakout, genre-bending punk band Fruit LoOops (pictured) and moody dance punk locals The Serfs will be supporting critically praised avant-punk group Snooper on tour from Nashville in the halls of the Woodward Theater on Main Street. 8 p.m. May 11. $16 in advance and $20 day-of. Woodward Theater, 1404 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, woodwardtheater.com.

Vacation (Record Release), The Drin and The Missed at Northside Tavern

Vacation have been at the center of Cincinnati rock and roll for a handful of years now, and for good reason. Their latest record, Rare Earth, out this month, proves their staying power. The new material continues the band’s raw and explosive immediacy, like the spark that keeps burning at the core of rock and roll while also dynamic and nuanced, making for the rare whole picture of creativity from a rock and roll band. Luckily, they also happen to be a Cincinnati band. The release is celebrated with local atmospheric and industrial groove punk band The Drin and Cleveland female power punk group The Missed. Put a circle around this one because it’s not to be missed. 9 p.m. May 17. $10 cash, $12 Venmo. Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside, northsidetav.com.

Us, Today and After Hours (Indiana) at The Lounge

Experimental drums, guitar and vibraphone trio Us, Today play with South Bend, Indiana duo After Hours in the atmospheric basement bar, The Lounge. 8:30 p.m. May 17. The Lounge, 3938 Spring Grove Ave., Northside.

Leggy, Isabelle Helle and The Hell’s Bells and Sharp Toys at MOTR Pub

A night of female lead rock and roll with local alt-pop heroes Leggy (pictured), catchy female-fronted garage rock from Isabelle Helle and The Hell’s Bells and moody guitar/vocal/drums duo Sharp Toys. 9:30 p.m. May 18. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com.

Rhy!, Sappha and Sakkara at MOTR Pub

Donuts N’ Akahol and Inhailer Radio present some possible soon-to-be Cincinnati exports: Locals Rhy!, Sappha and Sakkara are all radio-ready takes on pop. Catch them at this fine start to Memorial Day weekend soiree. 9:30 p.m. May 24. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com/shows.

North By Northside Festival

The North By Northside festival is back this Memorial Day Weekend for the first time in a few years since the pandemic. This year’s fest takes place on May 25 and 26 at venues all across Northside, for one of the biggest events of the year and a proper kickoff to summer. Catch Cincinnati essentials like Tweens (pictured) and Vacation, along with local hip-hop favorites Devon Burgess and KAE Savage in the open-air at Hoffner Park, or psych-rock favorites The Harlequins, female-fronted alt-pop group Leggy, hard-hitting psych rockers Lemon Sky and neo-soul singer Muwosi (and a ton more) at venues all around Northside. Various times May 25 and 26. Various venues around Northside, northsiderocks.com.

Brainiac, Mary Henry and Exit Angles (West Virginia) at Woodward Theater

Originally from Dayton, Brainiac invented their own genre-bending version of punk in the ‘90s, an alternative to alternative before the passing of vocalist Tim Taylor. They recently regrouped and will be appearing at the Woodward Theater on tour with Exit Angles (members of Lincoln). Local group, Mary Henry (pictured), will open. 8 p.m. May 31. $25 in advance and $30 day-of. Woodward Theater, Main St., Over-the-Rhine, woodwardtheater.com.

Spoils and Kiwi Jr. (Toronto) at MOTR Pub

Spoils’ infectious and melodic laid-back alt-pop put them at the center of the music scene when they came around a couple years back, and they’ve stayed there since. The band are in the process of recording their next record but will be making an appearance for this date at MOTR with Toronto Sub Pop Records act Kiwi Jr. 9:30 p.m. May 31. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com.