On March 8, Jess Lamb will bring her musical talents, powerful presence and ambitious artistic vision to Radio Artifact in Northside. Celebrating International Women’s Day, Jess has curated an event that will not only feature her iconic voice and music, but also many of the female artists who make up her indie music label, City Queen Sounds. The evening will be a musical experience that will have people dancing, singing and shouting at the top of their lungs for more.
Jess began her musical journey as a young child, learning to play the piano by ear while attending her neighborhood Pentecostal church. Capitalizing on the power of spiritual music, Jess spent her youth forming and nurturing her artistry. She latched onto the deep soul connection that music brought, not only to her family, but to everyone she would eventually collaborate with.
Jess, along with her brother, guitarist and producer, Kenny Lamb, began recording songs in their church basement, on an 8-track recorder, leaning into spiritually-based songs. Together, the two siblings fostered a love for the healing effects of music, a passion that Jess continues to bring to her music and also to the unforgettable shows she creates.
Jess, now a voting member for the Recording Academy and a GRAMMY U mentor, believes deeply in the strengths of musical collaboration. It was this belief that became the impetus for creating her own independent music label, City Queen Sounds. A proud promoter of local music — female artists in particular — Jess has a growing roster of some of Cincinnati’s best musicians, instrumentalists and producers gracing the label, many of whom will be appearing at the City Queen Sounds Showcase at Radio Artifact.
“I lean into the spiritual aspects of collaborating with others and lifting our voices as one,” Jess tells CityBeat. “Harmonization actually raises our serotonin levels.”
The Jess Lamb Band is made up of several rotating members, including Siri Imani on vocals, Warren Harrison on synth, Amanda Eldridge on bass, Nate Trammel on drums, and many others. And no matter what the lineup is on any given show, the experience is not soon forgotten.
The lineup for this showcase includes Imani, sappha, Annie D, Victoria Lekson and more.
Jess Lamb plays Radio Artifact on March 8 at 8 p.m. More info: allevents.in/cincinnati.
This story is featured in CityBeat’s March 5 print edition.
This article appears in Mar 5-18, 2025.
