Often 'round these parts, when something goes under, most people stand around and bitch about it as they watch it sink. This weekend's "Jammin' On ..." festival — featuring all original local music acts — shows how positive the opposite reaction can be. When it was announced that the annual Jammin' On Main festival wouldn't happen, a core group of local musicians/local music supporters (including Cari Clara's Eric Diedrichs and Ryan Malott of 500 Miles to Memphis) came up with the "Jammin' On ..." idea to fill the void left in the Main Street Entertainment District. The result is an impressive two-day fest, focusing on the area's rich, original music scene. As word spread, the event added venues and artists, ultimately coming up with what could be the biggest all-local fest in the area ever. And no current or former members of Styx will be there!
· Friday at alchemize, the line-up features Jake Speed and the Freddies (9 p.m.), The Griefs (upstairs, also at 9 p.m.), The Virgins (10 p.m.), Viva La Foxx (11 p.m.), Pernicious Knifs (midnight) and Pearlene (1 a.m.). Indie Rock DJ duo, Boy Radio, spins upstairs from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. At Jefferson Hall Friday, it's JC3 (9 p.m.), Kohai (10 p.m.), The Defrost Star (11 p.m.), The Newbees (midnight) and Chaselounge (1 a.m.).
Neon's — which, ironically, recently announced a booking switch away from original music — will have three stages in play.
On Friday, in the club's main room, The Woos (9 p.m.), The Vinyltones (10 p.m.), The Swarthy Band (11 p.m.), Goose (midnight) and Staggering Statistics (1 a.m.) perform. On the awesome outdoor patio stage, check out Cari Clara (9 p.m.), Ruby Vileos (10 p.m.), The Fairmount Girls (11 p.m.), The Sundresses (midnight) and The Cathedrals (1 a.m.). The artists featured on Neon's upstairs stage Friday (formerly the "Sugar Lounge") are The Waywards (9 p.m.), Lovely Crash (10 p.m.), Len's Lounge (11 p.m.) and Campfire Crush (midnight).
Over at the Rhythm and Blues Café (or RBC, which has picked up Neon's original music schedule), fans can witness For Algernon (9 p.m.), Wussy (10 p.m.), Bulletproof Charm (11 p.m.), Noctaluca (midnight) and Culture Queer (1 a.m.).
· The fun starts all over again Saturday, with an equally compelling line-up. At alchemize, performers include Mohenjo Daro (9 p.m.), The Minor Leagues (10 p.m.), (in)camera (11 p.m.), The Spectacular Fantastic (midnight) and Chalk (1 a.m.).
Jefferson Hall has Giant Wow (9 p.m.), the Elliott Ruther Trio (10 p.m.), Dayton's amazing Captain of Industry (11 p.m.), Clabbergirl (midnight) and G. Burton and Hyde Park Outrage (1 a.m.) on Saturday. RBC's Saturday line-up features Screaming Mimes (9 p.m.), 17 Days (10 p.m.), Lucky (11 p.m.), The Stardevils (midnight) and Buckra (1 a.m.).
Saturday at Neon's entry stage, it's Roscoe Justice Band (9 p.m.), Turnbull ACs (10 p.m.), The Kentucky Struts (11 p.m.), Strawboss (midnight) and 500 Miles to Memphis (1 a.m.). On Neon's patio, check out The Stapletons (9 p.m.), Fizzgig (10 p.m.), greatmodern (11 p.m.), Langus (midnight) and Moth (1 a.m.). On Neon's upstairs stage, The Whitney Barricklow Band (9 p.m.), Ellison (10 p.m.), Sallow (11 p.m.) and wil-o-ee (midnight) are slated to perform.
Check jamminonevent.com for any last-minute line-up changes.
More Local Notes
· More good news for local music fans who want to journey Downtown for shows. This week, a new club — The Viper Room Cincinnati — opens in the former home of dance venues The Spy Club and Fathom, promising a variety of local, national and regional music throughout the week. On Wednesday, the club presents local Blues crew, Them Bones; Thursday features local singer/songwriters Brian McCabe and Zach Breedlove; and Friday and Saturday it's Jerry's Little Band, the local Dead-lovin' Jam band that is branching out to more venues following the closing of their usual homebase, the BarrelHouse. Owner Tony Dotson says the new club is set up a like a "small Bogart's," with high quality lights and sound, and he plans to open another Viper Room in Nashville at the end of the month. For the club's full lineup, check viperroomcincy.com.
· The Cincy Blues Society has put out the call to area Blues bands to get involved in their upcoming, annual "Blues Challenge" competition, which can net the winners slots at this summer's Queen City Blues Fest and the chance move on to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Interested artists can call 513-385-5862 for details. The Blues Challenge's live play-offs are set for June 5 at Germania Park in Mount Healthy.
