Summer has officially begun and there are more events to celebrate than anyone could have time for. Whether it’s a band playing next to the Tyler Davidson Fountain downtown, a record release or live music celebrating Pride, Juneteenth or summer, CityBeat and Cincinnati artists, musicians and DJs have you covered. This list is just a little bit of what the city has to offer throughout June to start your summer off on the right note.

The Harlequins, Leggy and Kairos Creature Club (NYC) at Northside Tavern The spacey pop and chord organ kaleidoscope-psychedelia of Brooklyn’s Kairos Creature Club is a good bridge between Cincinnati psych-garage essentials The Harlequins (pictured) and the Barbie doll with a switchblade pop of Leggy who support the band at this midweek happening in Northside. 9 p.m. June 12. $10. Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside, northsidetav.com. Photo: Michael Wilson
DJ Boywife at Bogart’s Resident Cincinnati celebrity DJ, DJ Boywife, facilitates more dancing, parties and fun than anyone in the city right now. Celebrate Friday night at Bogart’s or, really, almost any night of the week (sometimes two places in one night) with DJ Boywife who will be hosting one of his biggest crowds yet at Bogart’s on June 14 with Sapphic Factory, “a modern queer joy dance party,” that moves from city to city. One dollar of each ticket sold goes to the LGBT National Help Center. A summer night out under lights and sound. 8:30 p.m. June 14. $25.50 or 4 tickets for $16.50 each. Bogart’s, 2621 Vine St., Clifton, bogarts.com. Photo: Caitlin Chrisenee Photo + Video
Matt St. George (album release), Kryst Kruer & the Secondhand Smoke and Anthony Asher at Southgate House Revival Local singer-songwriter Matt St. George has been making music since his youth, making a name for himself locally in earnest in recent years. He celebrates the release of a new album this month with a performance at Southgate House Revival alongside shimmering, female-fronted pop from Kryst Kruer & the Secondhand Smoke and Anthony Asher. Matt St. George and his band have a second release show planned for the following week at MOTR Pub with a different lineup for an additional celebration. 9:30 p.m. June 14. Free. Southgate House Revival, 111 E. 6th St., Newport, southgatehouserevival.com. Photo: facebook.com/mattst.georgemusic
Ben Levin Quartet featuring Art Gore at Caffé Vivace Local pianist and vocalist Ben Levin is a historian, preservationist and musician keeping old forms alive, frequently collaborating with musicians from other eras — including a recent collaboration and record with longtime Louisiana electric bluesman Lil’ Jimmy Reed. The Ben Levin Quartet features Levin on piano and vocals, Sean Carney on guitar and vocals, Walter Cash Jr. on bass and Art Gore on drums. Gore has played with Pharoah Sanders, Ahmad Jamal, Lonnie Liston Smith and George Benson, among others. Catch them in a setting respectful to the music at Caffe Vivace in Walnut Hills this month. 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. June 15. $15 food/drink minimum. Caffe Vivace, 975 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills, caffevivace.com. Photo: Provided by Ben Levin
Vacation, Tweens and Nautilus at High Stakes Harley-Davidson This listing might be one of the best shows of the summer — at one of the most unexpected venues. The event is the first show of the High Stakes Harley-Davidson Summer Concert Series and features Vacation (pictured) and Tweens, two of the city’s essential bands for a handful of years now. Vacation just released their new album Rare Earth with a release show last month, and have been touring in support of the record. Tweens co-headlined the North by Northside festival last month. Newer grungy, hard-hitting band Nautilus also appears at this show. The event listing promises food trucks, vendors, beer and “good times.” 5 p.m. June 15. Free. High Stakes Harley-Davidson, 8025 Action Blvd., Florence, highstakeshd.com. Photo: Jamie Morrison
Sistern, Fairmount Girls and Napsack (Cleveland) at MOTR Pub Sistern (pictured) and Fairmount Girls have been local legends for a while, having played at legendary and long-defunct Clifton venue Sudsy Malones and recorded at the former Ultrasuede Studio. Luckily, they’re still creatively active and vital parts of the city’s creative culture. They support Napsack out of Cleveland in the heart of summer Friday night. 9:30 p.m. June 21. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com. Photo: Brendan Bogosian
The Harlequins, Pretty Mean, Gonies, Metric Ton, Cairo Jag (Indianapolis, IN) and The Archaeas (Louisville, KY) at (DSGN)CLLCTV This show at (DSGN)CLLCTV is likely to be one of the most packed shows of the month and is another chance to see some of what makes the city great and celebrate Halloween at the same time. The show features long-running psych-garage rockers The Harlequins, newer driving female-fronted punks Pretty Mean, local fuzz-pop band Gonies, Metric Ton, Indianapolis band Cairo Jag and The Archaeas up from Louisville, all to celebrate the season with you. The show announcement says, “Costumes encouraged,” so scoot on over in your Halloween finest and join the other mummies, Frankensteins, Draculas and witches for a Halloween party that’s on another level. 8 p.m. Oct. 28. (DSGN)CLLCTV, 4150 Hamilton Ave., Northside, (more info to come). Photo: Alexzandra Roy
Sayler Park Sustains Festival at Nelson Sayler Memorial Park This riverside festival on the West Side features a full day of live music, including multi-time Cincinnati Entertainment Award winners for Best Folk and Americana Act, The Tillers; soulful folk from Rae Fisher; roots-inspired harmonies of The Montvales; traditional four-piece bluegrass outfit the Rabbit Hash String Band; and more. It’s billed as an event meant to teach “do-it- yourself sustainable practices” for daily life and engage the community. In addition to sustainability workshops and music, there will be food trucks, vendors and craft beer on hand. 12-10 p.m. June 10. Free. Nelson Sayler Memorial Park, 6600 Gracely Drive, Sayler Park. facebook.com. Photo: Katrina Flynn
Bad Trip to Cincinnati featuring Devin Burgess, Freedom Nicole Moore, Bad Genes and more at The Mockbee This packed show features local alternative hip-hop artist Devin Burgess, neo-soul singer Freedom Nicole Moore, Detroit underground hip hop artist Big Trip, Dayton hip-hop collective Bad Genes and a packed bill of performers, complete with a DJ, bringing a party to the tunnels of Brighton’s The Mockbee. Doors 7 p.m. Show 8 p.m. April 11. $10. The Mockbee. 2260 Central Pkwy, Brighton, eventbrite.com. Photo: OnlyShooterLeft
Motorbike and Dion Lunadon (New Zealand) at MOTR Pub This show is a fitting end to the first full month of summer at this all-out, knockdown, humdinger of a rock and roll demonstration. Cincinnati supergroup Motorbike supports Dion Lunadon, formerly of A Place to Bury Strangers, now making charged power-punk, under his own name. 9 p.m. June 28. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com. Photo: Alexzandra Roy