This new year promises new events, releases, highlights and likely even fresh bands and artists, all rooted in Cincinnati’s vibrant creative music community. January offers a chance to resolve to experience more of what the city has to offer or check out something new. Here are just some of the events around the city to take you anywhere, from an underground punk show to a honky tonk or to a posh nightclub and anywhere in between to start your new year off right.

Joe’s Truck Stop at Southgate House Revival Start the new year off with an old-fashioned Southern partying tradition — what Hank Williams called “Honky Tonkin’.” Local roots favorite Joe’s Truck Stop will host Honky Tonk Thursdays in January and February at Newport’s Southgate House Revival. The get-togethers will include dance classes at 7 p.m. featuring guest instructors teaching two-steps, waltzes and more ahead of the 7:30 p.m. dance. Beginners are encouraged to come out. On top of that, there’ll be vintage and Western wear pop-ups and food to make it a real shindig worth stepping out to. 7 p.m. on Thursdays in January and February. $10. Southgate House Revival, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport, southgatehouse.com. Photo: Catie Viox
Muwosi at Ghost Baby Muwosi, whose stylish neo-soul approach and voice as smooth and lavish as the velvet seating that lines the glammed-out underground bar that is Ghost Baby, performs three sets throughout the night under the chandelier and mirror ball light of the former subterranean storage tunnels turned posh nightclub. 8:15 p.m., 10:15 p.m. and 11:45 p.m. Jan. 10. Free. Reservations encouraged. Ghost Baby, 1314 Republic St., Over-the-Rhine, ghost-baby.com. Photo: Samuel Greenhill
Sappha and Guests for Capricore at Somerset Imani Productions hosts this varied showcase of local talent and celebration of Capicorn at the stylish and expansive high-concept bar Somerset. The night starts out with an earth-themed poetry open mic hosted by Lucky Lee in the lounge before moving to the main bar for performances from local pop star on the rise Sappha (pictured), DJ and hip-hop artist Devin Burgess (otherwise known as Kei$ha) and singer Luna Bruja, all hosted by local designer and MC, Gregory. There will also be handmade jewelry and work from artist Morgan Bochenek. 9 p.m. Jan. 11. Free. Somerset, 139 E. McMicken Ave., Over-the-Rhine, instagram.com. Photo: Bailey Bayer
Ricky Nye w/ Josiah Wolf and Teddy Mechley at Schwartz’s Point Hot off the recent sold-out shows with his former band, The Raisins, local award-winning and internationally praised piano player and vocalist Ricky Nye will lead a trio of heavy hitters at the historic Schwartz’s Point jazz club from 7-10 p.m. for this Sunday session. Nye performs all over the world, helping keep older music traditions alive. He was inducted into the International Boogie Woogie Hall of Fame in 2013 and is a frequent winner of local awards. 7 p.m. Jan. 12. Free. Schwartz’s Point Jazz & Acoustic Club, 1901 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, thepointclub.weebly.com. Photo: Lisa Duesing
Kae Savage, Grandace, Fox the Paradox, Nineball and Zac Lexa for Digital Disruption at The Comet Digital Disruption, billed as “a night of genre-bending sounds,” features varied takes on electronic music and hip-hop and approaches things from a different angle. The night features grunge-influenced hip-hop from Kae Savage (pictured), glitched visuals and subverted industrial hip-hop from Fox the Paradox, Grandace’s inventive and atmospheric hip-hop, fast-paced acid house from Nineball and soundscapes from Zac Lexa. 9 p.m. Jan. 16. Free. The Comet, 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside, instagram.com. Photo: Kae Savage
West Union, Deej & Her Band and Swan Dive at MOTR Pub Deej (pictured) makes a type of slightly timeless and hypnotic slow-burn soul that would fit in any era of pop music from the last 50 years. She’ll perform with her band to bring the songs to life and appears with one of the city’s newest bands, West Union. Swan Dive rounds out the bill. 9:30 p.m. Jan. 18. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com. Photo: Sydney Gregory
The Dolly Daredevils, The Sweet Spot (Akron) and The Beakes at The Comet This Sunday night rock and roll show features the raw power of garage rock from the all-female trio The Dolly Daredevils (pictured), soulful, female-fronted rock and roll from Akron’s The Sweet Spot, and the debut of new local band The Beakes. 9 p.m. Jan. 19. Free. The Comet, 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside, facebook.com/events. Photo: Nikita Gross
Touchdown Jesus, Your Arms Are My Cocoon (Chicago) and Devils Cross Country at The Comet Touchdown Jesus (pictured), featured on CityBeat’s 2024 best of local music playlist, Cincinnati Wrapped, blend genre, tone and style into explosive freeform compositions that pull from free jazz, math rock and punk among others but maintain the strength of easy appeal and catchy listenability. Your Arms Are My Cocoon, on tour from Chicago, juxtaposes screaming emo era-influenced vocals with tender, lo-fi electronic melodies. Devils Cross Country’s varied and melodic noise rock rounds out the bill. 9 p.m. Jan. 24. Free. The Comet, 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside. Photo: Zachary J. Pennington
The Montvales, The Harmed Brothers (Oregon) and Rae Fisher at Woodward Theater Also from the CityBeat best of 2024 list, The Montvales (pictured) make a somewhat rare local appearance this month. The show is a return of sorts to their Woodward Theater performance early last year celebrating the release of Born Strangers, a fully realized record of the duo’s moving songwriting working within the traditions of country and roots music while challenging ideas and taking on a range of emotions. The duo and their band appear with The Harmed Brothers, Americana pop from Portland, Oregon, along with local serial collaborator and heartfelt vocalist Rae Fisher. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 25. $15 in advance and $18 on the day of the show. Woodward Theater, 1404 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, woodwardtheater.com. Photo: Katrina Flynn
DJ Boywife, DJ Rory Corp and DJ Liot at Mecca There’s something wild in the night in Cincinnati and a touch of high gloss glam for local nightlife. This should be an ideal example of this glamor, featuring DJ Boywife (pictured), DJ Rory Corp and DJ Liot at Over-the-Rhine’s Mecca for “Corporate Rave” at this Saturday night party and throwback to rave. CityBeat released a story late in the summer on the recent renaissance in club culture in the city and it only seems to be growing. With events like this happening every weekend across the city, Cincinnati club culture is alive and thriving. Time TBA Jan. 25. Mecca, 27 E. 15th St., Over-the-Rhine. Photo: Logan Oleson