Voting for (and the traditional griping over) this year’s Cincinnati Entertainment Awards is off to a fast and furious start in just the first week since the ballot was opened online at www.citybeat.com. If you haven’t voted yet, you have a few weeks to go — the voting will be closed at noon on Nov. 11.
Since you have a little time, why not make your vote really count and hit the local club scene over the next couple of weeks to watch and listen to the nominees, several of whom have local performances scheduled? Here’s a sampling of the CEA nominees you can catch this coming week (NOTE: Take this as friendly guidance and not endorsement of any nominee):
Saturday at Arnold’s, Reggae/Ska crew The Newport Secret Six (nominated in the World/Reggae category) perform a free, 9 p.m. show. Punk nominees Situation Red open for Punk legends Misfits at the Southgate House Thursday, while the Zachary Burns Band (up for the Blues trophy) play with Buxton and Oso Bear at the venue’s Parlour Monday.
Roots Rock band Josh Eagle and the Harvest City kick off a Midwestern tour Wednesday with a show downtown at FB’s. Duo-turned-group Shiny and the Spoon (up for Folk/Americana and Album of the Year for Ferris Wheel) play MOTR Pub Thursday at 10 p.m., opening a free show by Grace Adele and the Grand Band. Ricky Nye (the Boogie Woogie piano specialist nominated in the R&B/Funk category for his work the Paris Blues Band) has multiple shows this week (like most every week). Catch Nye (in various configurations) Wednesday at Chez Nora, Thursday at Arnold’s, Friday at Van Zandt Restaurant in North College Hill and Sunday at the Leo Coffeehouse showcase at Norwood’s Zion United Church of Christ (visit queencityballadeers.org for details).
Of course, you can catch up with a few of the nominated artists at their regularly scheduled weekly gigs any time you’d like. The Faux Frenchmen (Jazz) play Sitwell’s every Wednesday and Allyn’s Café every Monday. Country nominee Dallas Moore — whose rockin’ Florida this weekend — plays every Wednesday at the Knotty Pine in Cheviot and every Tuesday at Fairfield’s Win Place or Show. Jazz nominee Mike Wade plays the Schwartz Point Jazz Club every Wednesday and Sonny’s All Jazz Lounge every Sunday (Wade also performs Saturday at the Blue Wisp Jazz Club with Khalid Moss). Fellow Jazz nominees The Qtet play every Thursday at Stanley’s Pub.
Them Bones (nominated in the Blues category) perform and host open mic every Sunday at Mansion Hill Tavern in Newport (this week, they’ll play Newport on the Levee Sunday at 1 p.m. and at Stacey’s Place Friday, as well). The Comet Bluegrass Allstars continue their every-Sunday residency at their Northside namesake, The Comet, and Tropicoso continues its long-running Monday night residency at The Mad Frog in Corryville.
There’s a good chance other nominees will be performing over the next few weeks before CEA voting concludes. Poke around on the web, do a little audio sampling and then check out the sites of acts that pique your interest. Then get out to the clubs to check ’em out and make plans to attend the big show. The 15th annual Cincinnati Entertainment Awards ceremonies (with performers to be announced) are set for Nov. 20 at Covington’s Madison Theater.
Be sure to visit the music blog at citybeat.com for daily posts and frequent Cincinnati Entertainment Awards news, notes and more.
CONTACT MIKE BREEN: [email protected]
