May marks the two-year anniversary of CityBeat’s spotlight articles highlighting performances from local artists each month, and, because of that (and because there is so much going on this month), this list is a little bit longer this time around. Here are some of the best (and still not all) shows, performances, presentations, recitals, concerts, pop-ups, festivals and more going on all around town this month to kick off what looks like one of the best summers ever in style. There are more shows of every variety than any one person could catch, but it’s worth trying.

Blunt Blades, Stallone N’ Roses, Sugar Tradition (Detroit) and Fen Fen (Detroit) at Feel It Records Shop Virginia transplant label Feel It Records has become a central part of Cincinnati music since moving to town a few years back, and when Torn Light left for Chicago at the beginning of the year, it left a hole in the local music community that Feel It Records has luckily quickly filled. The shop’s first in-store performance sets a nice tone for what can hopefully be expected from the trusted label’s first physical location. Local garage rock central figures Blunt Blades and Stallone N’ Roses (pictured) along with Detroit sensations Sugar Tradition (also on Feel It’s label) and Fen Fen, also from Detroit, make up the bill for this inaugural Feel It in-store performance. 7 p.m. May 3. $10 suggested donation. Feel It Records Shop, 356 Ludlow Ave., Clifton. Photo: Provided by Stallone N' Roses
Sarah Asher and Ira Wolf (Montana) at The Comet Originally scheduled to open the Loon’s new location just down Hamilton Ave., local folk songstress Sarah Asher (pictured) will bring her powerful and nuanced sound to fill out the bill shared by country artist Ira Wolf at the outdoor Grotto stage at The Comet. Wolf, coming from Montana, incorporates the wide-ranging touches of the Nashville sound for her poignant songs exploring life’s familiar ups and downs. 7 p.m. May 4. $15 in advance and $18 at the door. The Comet, 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside. Photo: Scott Beseler
Concert:nova and Brianna Matzke: Tremor at The American Sign Museum Dr. Brianna Matzke, a musician, educator and producing artistic director of concert:nova, among several other titles, created the Response Project in 2014 to commission works in response to pre-existing ideas or artwork, and after an essential tremor diagnosis, she turned her medical news into creativity. The event will feature a solo piano performance of five new pieces composed by Hanna Benn, Molly Joyce, Adeliia Faizullina, Matthew Evan Taylor and Forrest Pierce followed by a panel discussion exploring the theme of the project. Free valet parking available. 6 p.m. May 5. Pay what you can; suggested donation of $20. American Sign Museum, 1330 Monmouth Ave., Camp Washington, concertnova.com/concerts. Photo: Ryan Back Photography
Siren Suit (Album Release), Louise, Dustbin, Feral Friends and Planchette at MOTR Pub Powerhouse alt-rock band Siren Suit recorded their latest record, Weight, at the legendary Inner Ear Studio in the D.C. area with Don Zientara (Minor Threat, Fugazi, Bad Brains). The band celebrates the release at home on the MOTR Pub stage with a varied lineup of locals including hardcore punk band Louise, folk act Dustbin, hard-hitting rock band Feral Friends and meditative, ambient cello pieces from Planchette. 9:30 p.m. Sept. 23. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com/shows. Photo: Jared William Bowers
Burritofest at The Comet This sprawling four-day festival at The Comet organized by Burrito Boys Booking is now in its third year. This edition will feature locals like Lung (pictured), Fairmount Girls, Us, Today, Maria Keck (with full band), The Laurelys, Nevernew and Carriers among a ton of others in addition to notorious surf rock band Daikaiju and a special mystery guest on Friday night. The event will use the whole building with performances in the main room, in the outdoor grotto and in the basement. A handful of comedians will also perform for Bombs Away! Comedy on Saturday night, and the Comet Bluegrass All Stars will do their regularly scheduled Sunday performance. Various times May 9-12. Pay what you can. The Comet, 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside, facebook.com/events. Photo: Jesi Cason
“Traffic” by Fruit LoOops “Traffic” is the latest single off the band’s recently released record, You’re Somebody’s World, from Torn Light Records. It’s in line with the band’s unhinged and combustible noise rock sound that seems to pull from industrial clatter and noises from the digital age as much a generation of punk and rock and roll. Photo: Adriana Noritz
Vacation (Record Release), The Drin and The Missed at Northside Tavern Vacation have been at the center of Cincinnati rock and roll for a handful of years now, and for good reason. Their latest record, Rare Earth, out this month, proves their staying power. The new material continues the band’s raw and explosive immediacy, like the spark that keeps burning at the core of rock and roll while also dynamic and nuanced, making for the rare whole picture of creativity from a rock and roll band. Luckily, they also happen to be a Cincinnati band. The release is celebrated with local atmospheric and industrial groove punk band The Drin and Cleveland female power punk group The Missed. Put a circle around this one because it’s not to be missed. 9 p.m. May 17. $10 cash, $12 Venmo. Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside, northsidetav.com. Photo: Jamie Morrison
Us, Today and After Hours (Indiana) at The Lounge Experimental drums, guitar and vibraphone trio Us, Today play with South Bend, Indiana duo After Hours in the atmospheric basement bar, The Lounge. 8:30 p.m. May 17. The Lounge, 3938 Spring Grove Ave., Northside. Photo: Bandcamp
Leggy, Isabelle Helle and The Hell’s Bells and Sharp Toys at MOTR Pub A night of female lead rock and roll with local alt-pop heroes Leggy (pictured), catchy female-fronted garage rock from Isabelle Helle and The Hell’s Bells and moody guitar/vocal/drums duo Sharp Toys. 9:30 p.m. May 18. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com. Photo: Travis Bradner
Rhy!, Sappha and Sakkara at MOTR Pub Donuts N’ Akahol and Inhailer Radio present some possible soon-to-be Cincinnati exports: Locals Rhy!, Sappha and Sakkara are all radio-ready takes on pop. Catch them at this fine start to Memorial Day weekend soiree. 9:30 p.m. May 24. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com/shows. Photo: Bailey Bayer
Tweens In-Store at Shake It Records Local record store/institution Shake It Records continues the celebration for their 25th anniversary with Tweens performing with the full band amongst the candy-color walls lined with every music lover’s wants and needs. The series of in-store performances to celebrate the store/label’s 25th anniversary have featured local favorites Maura Weaver, Jay Hill of Patterns of Chaos and The Dummy Ups over the last few weeks, adding to the Shake It’s past in-store performances from local luminaries and legends. The 25th birthday celebration is set to conclude with Record Store Day on April 20. 7 p.m. April 13. Free. Shake It Records, 4156 Hamilton Ave., Northside. Photo: Morgan Winston
Cartier WOW at J Salandino Collections Start your Friday night off with a pop-up fashion show and a performance from one of the city’s rising hip-hop acts, Cartier WOW, who’s been featured in writeups from The Source and Sheen Magazine in recent weeks. Cartier Wow just released a new track, “RACKS,” in addition to a self-titled album last month — both dripping with charisma and drive. This is your chance to see the rapper in a unique and intimate setting. The event listing reads, “Cartier WOW and J Salandino Collections presents The Cartier Le Noir pop up fashion show.” 5 p.m. May 31. Free. J Salandino Collections, 1 Levee Way, Newport, eventbrite.com. Photo: Newamericanaesthetic
Brainiac, Mary Henry and Exit Angles (West Virginia) at Woodward Theater Originally from Dayton, Brainiac invented their own genre-bending version of punk in the ‘90s, an alternative to alternative before the passing of vocalist Tim Taylor. They recently regrouped and will be appearing at the Woodward Theater on tour with Exit Angles (members of Lincoln). Local group, Mary Henry (pictured), will open. 8 p.m. May 31. $25 in advance and $30 day-of. Woodward Theater, Main St., Over-the-Rhine, woodwardtheater.com. Photo: Millie Desmarais
Spoils and Kiwi Jr. (Toronto) at MOTR Pub Spoils’ infectious and melodic laid-back alt-pop put them at the center of the music scene when they came around a couple years back, and they’ve stayed there since. The band are in the process of recording their next record but will be making an appearance for this date at MOTR with Toronto Sub Pop Records act Kiwi Jr. 9:30 p.m. May 31. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com. Photo: Provided by Spoils