This year’s musical lineup features two returning acts. Over the Rhine and the Band of Sweethearts (featuring musicians Jay Bellerose, Jennifer Condos and Bradley Meinerding), of course, will again perform. The host band plays a special Friday night show at 7 p.m. for VIP ticket holders (which also includes a “farm-to-table picnic/cookout”), then plays an 8 p.m. set on Saturday. OTR performs an 8 p.m. trio set on Sunday to close out the festival. (Meinerding hosts an open jam on Sunday morning at 10 a.m.) Acclaimed Chicago Roots ensemble Birds of Chicago, a favorite of last year’s event, returns to 2017’s Nowhere Else Festival for performances on both Saturday and Sunday. Both acts are participating in a tribute to cult favorite Mark Heard at 5:15 p.m. on Saturday; Birds of Chicago, Over the Rhine and other artists participating in the festival contributed songs to Treasure of the Broken Land: The Songs of Mark Heard, a forthcoming tribute compilation album of songs by the late singer/songwriter.
Other national acts include the Red Dirt Boys, Carrie Newcomer and Carrie Rodriguez. The lineup is rounded out by two of Greater Cincinnati’s most popular Folk/Americana acts — The Tillers and Young Heirlooms. The bands kick off Sunday’s music lineup, with Young Heirlooms playing at 1 p.m. and The Tillers taking the stage at 2:30 p.m.
Nowhere Else attendees will also have a chance to interact with writers, visual artists and filmmakers during the fest via various unique workshops and Q&As. Food, wine, beer and coffee specialists will also be participating. Camping is available nearby and Nowhere Else is a family-friendly affair — kids 12 and under are admitted free.
For information on ticket packages and all of the festival’s events (as well as directions to the farm), visit nowhereelsefestival.com. Proceeds from the festival will be used to help Detweiler and Bergquist continue to restore a 140-year-old barn on the their property into a performing arts center.
Over the Rhine has three recording projects in the works, which you can still help fund with donations/pre-orders at overtherhine.com. The band will be rolling out a new studio album, a solo instrumental album from Detweiler and an “album of long-lost hymns, gospel songs and spirituals that have continued to haunt us over the years, filtered through the Over the Rhine lens” for international and national release later this year/early next year.
Taste Some Music, Too
The annual Taste of Cincinnati festival returns Saturday-Monday along downtown’s Fifth Street. Besides the usual array of good eats and drinks, the free event continues to offer a diverse sampling of Greater Cincinnati musical acts throughout Memorial Day Weekend.
Saturday performers include Azucar Tumbao, Robin Lacy & DeZydeco, Jamison Road and P. Ann Everson Price & the All Star Band. On Sunday, catch artists like Ricky Nye Inc., The Graveblankets’ Chris Arduser and George Cunningham, The Burning Caravan and The Ingrid Rachel Project. On Memorial Day, musicians slated to appear include The Tracy Walker Band, The Leroy Ellington Band, Greg Burton, Wilder, The Sonny Moorman Group, Tana Matz and Frenchaxe.
For the complete music schedule (and all Taste details), visit tasteofcincinnati.com.
CONTACT MIKE BREEN: [email protected]
