Get out in the spring air this month and catch a glimpse of the creative community that keeps the city going. From a one-year anniversary party for the city’s newest record store or local chamber orchestra concertnova’s latest immersive performance to an avant-garde performance in a local hotspot’s basement bar, these are just 11 shows happening around Cincinnati this month.

Wasteland Jazz Unit, Healing Trapeze, Ghost Brothers, Mark Shafer, Nocturnal Cellist featuring Ross Lewicki (NY) and Will Hayes (NY) at The Comet The Comet hosts a batch of experimental groups and musicians in the basement bar, including local exploratory noise rock group Wasteland Jazz Unit (pictured), Healing Trapeze, the emotive singer-songwriter project of Jordan Goff (The Yugos) and local experimental duo Ghost Brothers. They are supported by three like-minded musicians from New York, Nocturnal Cellist, pianist Ross Lewicki and solo guitarist Will Hayes. 7:30 p.m. April 2. Free. The Comet, 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside, facebook.com/events. Photo: Provided
Tweens, Artificial Go and MOP at Northside Tavern Cincinnati’s rock and roll sweethearts Tweens (pictured) join post-punk dance band Artificial Go to help kick off Artificial Go’s U.S. tour. MOP rounds out the bill. This show is sure to be one of the good ones. 8:30 p.m. April 3. $5. Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside, northsidetav.com. Photo: Provided
Turich Benjy, GrandAce, Swooty Mac and Casey Jones at CinSei Pop-Up Shop Keep summer going with this block party organized by CinSei, a black-owned pop-up cafe centered around manga, matcha tea and community that features some of Cincinnati’s best hip-hop artists and DJs. Performances include the future-leaning swagger of rising local artist Turich Benjy (pictured), the low fidelity groove of GrandAce, the laidback swagger of Swooty Mac and rapid-fire delivery of Casey Jones, in addition to a DJ set by Loren Heard and Jay Da Don. There will also be food from Funnel Cake Island and Town Frites food trucks, a cosplay contest and more. Maybe the world needs more block parties? 11 a.m. Aug 2. CinSei Pop-Up Shop, 1542 Pleasant St., Downtown, instagram.com. Photo: Mensaach
Fruit LoOops, Shinola, Idioms (Columbus) and Access to God at DSGN CLLCTV Cincinnati’s favorite deconstructivist punk group Fruit LoOops (pictured) returns with electro hardcore band Access to God along with Columbus band Idioms. 8 p.m. April 10. $10. DSGN CLLCTV, 4150 Hamilton Ave., Northside. Photo: Myles Elliott
Touchdown Jesus and Ed Schrader’s Music Beat (Baltimore) at MOTR Pub Local band Touchdown Jesus (pictured) blends styles freely (punk, psychedelic rock and roll, free jazz, etc.) but makes it into a cohesive and catchy whole. They’ll pair well with Baltimore duo Ed Schrader’s Music Beat. 9:30 p.m. April 12. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com. Photo: Zachary J. Pennington
The Dummy Ups at Southgate House Revival The Dummy Ups, a group of longtime Cincinnati musicians, celebrates the release of new recordings done at Todd Uttley’s Fuzzy Eyed Studio, including a revved-up, electrified version of the often overlooked 1978 hit, Hot Chocolate’s “Every 1’s a Winner.” The band makes two appearances this month, first at Southgate House Revival in the Lounge directly after the Alejandro Escovedo show in the Sanctuary that night, and later in the month on the 19th at the one-of-a-kind Junkers Tavern in Northside. 10:30 p.m. April 12. Free. Southgate House Revival, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport, southgatehouse.com. Photo: Provided
concertnova presents Meet in the Middle: Black Midwest Music and Photography at PAR-Projects Local experimental chamber orchestra and arts organization concertnova in partnership with PAR-Projects explores Black Midwestern identity through two mediums in this upcoming program, Meet in the Middle: Black Midwest Music and Photography. The press release reads, “MEET IN THE MIDDLE explores the convergence of time-based art (music) and static art (photography) to investigate shared narratives, particularly within BIPOC communities in the Midwest.” The performance will include pieces from living and historic Black Midwestern composers, such as William Grant Still, Shawn Okpebholo and Shelley Washington, featuring the Red Door Quartet with photography from Asa Featherstone IV, Amber N. Ford and Markel Randle. There will be a panel and open discussion featuring exhibit curator Featherstone. Guests will also get a commemorative photo with the price of admission. 3:30 p.m. April 13 and 14. $35 general, $20 young professional, $10 students. PAR-Projects, 1646 Hoffner St., Northside, concertnova.com. Photo: JP Leong
General Baxter, Dauber (New Jersey), Pout and Well Blended at DSGN CLLCTV Local gallery/venue DSGN CLLCTV hosts psychedelic garage rock from General Baxter (pictured), melodic punk band Pout and local experimental DJ Well Blended to support Dauber, the new band from bassist Mike Abbate of former acclaimed New Jersey trio Screaming Females. Dauber’s debut album was recorded by Cincinnati’s own recording engineer/musician John Hoffman (Vacation, BEEF). Time TBA, April 14. DSGN CLLCTV, 4150 Hamilton Ave., Northside. Photo: Tanner McDole
Artificial Go, The Jerome Westerkamp Band, Fan Club (Seattle) and Your Pest Band (Japan) at Feel It Records Shop Cincinnati-based label Feel It Records added a physical location this time last year on Ludlow in Clifton. They’ll celebrate the occasion with this anniversary show featuring performances from Feel It artists Artificial Go (pictured), along with a special performance from the Jerome Westerkamp Band led by Feel It artist Jerri Westerkamp of local bands Vacation and, also Motorbike, who just released a brand new record of concentrated and kinetic punk propelled by pure rock and roll energy. Shimmering punk group Your Pest Band from Japan and Seattle garage-punk group Fan Club are also part of the attraction. Get on down to get on down. 8 p.m. April 24. $10 suggested donation. All ages. Feel It Records Shop, 356 Ludlow Ave., Clifton. Photo: Provided
Aaron Magical, Lilito (Philadelphia), Paige Beller (Dayton) and TV Queens (Dayton) at MOTR Pub Aaron Magical (pictured), the melodic solo project from hard-hitting psych rockers Lemon Sky frontman Aaron Madrigal appears with Dayton multi-instrumentalist and impressive solo performer Paige Beller. The lineup also includes electro-pop band TV Queens, also out of Dayton, and Philadelphia chamber pop group Lilito. 8:30 p.m. April 26. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com. Photo: Aaron Magical Music Instagram
Sean Geil (The Tillers) and Joseph Huber at Southgate House Revival Cincinnati has a long history with the Southern side of American popular music. A lot of the country and western elements that helped form what became modern popular music happened in studios in Cincinnati, like King Records or Herzog Studios (on Race Street, where this paper’s offices are located), along with the WLW Midwestern Hayride. These two performers help carry on the traditions of that music. Sean Geil (pictured) of The Tillers, one of Cincinnati’s premier roots groups, and touring artist Joseph Huber keep the Americana, outlaw country flame alive. 8 p.m. April 27. $18 in advance, $20 at the door. Southgate House Revival, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport, southgatehouse.com. Photo: southgatehouse.com