· The "CincyLatino Festival" returns to Sawyer Point on Saturday and Sunday. Now in its second year, the fest runs from noon until 10 p.m. both days and admission is free. Along with more games, food, kids activities and various arts, crafts and other cultural displays, the festival offers tons of Latin music performers. Afro-Cuban legend Larry Harlow (joined by "cuatro" player Yomo Toro and his Latin Legends Band) and Miami's Locos Por Juana (winners of several "Latin Rock" accolades) headline Saturday and Sunday (respectively), while local acts like Tropicoso and Latin X-posure are also slated to appear. For a full schedule of events, go to cincylatino.com.
· The always eclectic "The 'Hood Is Bigger Than You Think" tour brings a plethora of musical styles to Eden Park's Seasongood Pavilion on Saturday, starting at 1 p.m. Following a packed 'Hood culture/crafts/kids fest on June 17 at the Cincinnati Museum Center (which organizers estimate drew around 10,000 people), Saturday's free "Hood Tour Music Festival" features a day of live local music from Salsa Caliente!, the Marc Fields Sextet, Katie Reider, Robin Lacy and DeZydeco, Freekbass, Triage and Kathy Wade with the Khalid Moss Quartet. Wade, the founder of the 11-year-old 'Hood events, which draws attention to her non-profit arts education organization, Learning Through Art, Inc., is having her performance recorded for a new CD, Kathy Wade, Klassic, LIVE. (learningthroughart.com)
· Local bands Junior Revolution, Mint 6 Ten, Moth and The Pinstripes have been selected to play on the Ernie Ball "Local Heroes Stage" at the Van's Warped Tour when it stops at Riverbend on July 22. Another band will be selected via the "Battle for Warped Tour" competition at Sudsy Malone's.
Ailinel and The Wankers have already sealed their positions in the Warped finals on July 20 at the Corryville club. Wednesday and Thursday, 10 more bands duke it out for the last two finals slots. On Wednesday, Northside Creeps, Azygous, Black Tie Bombers, The Kessel Run and A Present Day Nightmare compete; Thursday, it's End It All, Elbow Drop, My Latex Brain, Sket Brock and Kabakick. (sudsys.com)
· The always-impressive Cathedrals won the "Lollapalooza Battle of the Bands" contest at the Madison Theater on July 2. The band beat out competition from across the Midwest and will next perform at the two-day outdoor Alt music festival in Chicago's Grant Park. The band plays the "Planet Stage" at the fest on July 24, starting at 11:45 a.m. (lollapalooza.com)
· Lots of locals will be headed to Indianapolis for the Midwest Music Summit industry showcase/music fest, starting July 21. The Cincy contingent at the fest includes A Present Day Nightmare, Campfire Crush, Ian Ross, Wojo, The Light Wires, Junior Revolution, Turnbull ACs, Dr. Jones, The Spectacular Fantastic, The Sundresses, Chaselounge, 500 Miles to Memphis, Greg Mahan, Brent Heckerman and Emily Strand and the Town. (midwestmusicsummit.com)
More Local Notes
· On Saturday, Covington club The Mad Hatter hosts a benefit for the "Friends of Gentry Aubrey," a foundation memorializing a young man who was killed in a car accident on the Brent Spence Bridge in January 2004. The foundation will award a college scholarship in Aubrey's honor. Saturday's show features And Andy, Chaselounge, Tyler Thompson and St. Louis rockers Eero. (friendsofgentryaubrey.com)
· At the Southgate House Saturday, it's "Hammer Jam," a benefit for the "John G. Sampson Rhythm of Life Fund," which helps young musicians pursue their education by providing music scholarships at the School For Creative and Performing Arts. Sampson — aka "Hammer" — was a local drummer who played with numerous area bands in over 30 years on the local music scene. He passed away in June at the age of 50. Participating performers include the Cincinnati Blues Allstars, Acumen, Swarthy, The Heaters, George Sampson, Another Tragedy, Devona and the Demos, Larry Cervesa, Bastion and more. Music starts at 6 p.m.
· Local singer/songwriters Maurice Mattei and Rob Fetters join forces for the first time on Thursday for a free show at the Northside Tavern. Mattei plans to perform mostly new material from his upcoming CD (tentative title: Dead Rails), which is due by summer's end. Fetters (see Under the Influence, page 40) will also make an acoustic appearance on Friday at Bogart's, opening for his guitar-playing partner in The Bears, Adrian Belew (see interview, page 31). Bears drummer (and esteemed singer/songwriter in his own right) Chris Arduser will also perform prior to Belew's set Friday.
