It’s starting to feel like early fall is the new summer when it comes to music festivals in Cincinnati. This week we have two unique and infinitely cool fests from which to choose.
• The Hip Hop/Electronic Ubahn fest, which had a massively successful debut in 2013, returns for its second year this weekend, running Friday and Saturday at its unique underground location — in the tunnel that is home to the underused Cincinnati Metro Transit Center (220 Central Ave., Downtown), between Third Street and Pete Rose Way.
Cincinnati-area artists joining national acts like A$AP Ferg, Keys N Krates, Noname Gypsy, Milk N Cooks, The White Panda, Gladiator and Malcolm London include Cal Scruby, Buggs Tha Rocka, Trademark Aaron, Capitol Thrill, Bit Flip, JSPH, DJ Apryl Reign, DJ Drowsy, DJ D-Lo, ETrayn, Firecat 451, Meiosis and many others. The event will also feature art installations, a variety of vendors and skateboard/BMX demonstrations. Saturday, beginning at 3 p.m., there will be a “street dance” competition called Heroes Rise, which will feature freestyle dance battles, DJ showcases and more.
Accomplished Self Diploma-represented DJ ETrayn (who co-hosts Friday’s festivities with Yates Bruh) says the fest is a great way to shine a spotlight on local artists.
“I think the opportunity to play the same stage as a national headliner is great for an artist from the city,” he says. “There’s a lot of talent out there, and sometimes the only thing missing is opportunity (and) people in front of them to see their work. This gives them a chance to show an established crowd their talents and potentially gain new supporters.”
Tickets (available through cincyticket.com) are $30 for a one-day pass or $40 for a two-day pass. Gates open at 7 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday. The festival is open to fans 18 and older. (The Heroes Rise event is open to all ages.)
The full Ubahn schedule and more info can be found at ubahnfest.com.
• The first Ladyfest Cincinnati festival (featured in CityBeat’s cover story last week) begins Thursday and runs through Saturday in various venues (mostly in Northside), showcasing women in activism as well as a vareity of artists. There will be workshops, visual art exhibitions, film screenings and poetry readings throughout Ladyfest, as well as lots of music from local and touring artists playing Punk, Hip Hop, Rock, Experimental music and much more.
Ladyfest Cincinnati begins Thursday at Ice Cream Factory (2133 Central Ave., Brighton). After the 7:30 p.m. film showcases, local Noise artist Nebulagirl kicks off an experimental music lineup that includes Dayton, Ohio’s DROMEZ and Chicago’s Forced Into Femininity.
On Friday, Ladyfest music begins at 8:30 p.m. with an acoustic set by The Perfect Children at The Listing Loon (4124 Hamilton Ave., Northside). Northside Tavern (4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside) hosts local Ladyfest performers The Slippery Lips, Fairmount Girls and Fists of Love on Friday. The Comet (4579 Hamilton Ave., Norhtside) has Smut and Swim Team Friday, while Northside Yacht Club (4227 Spring Grove Ave., Northside) presents Indianapolis’ Mr. Clit & the Pink Cigarettes, who are joined by local Punk crew Black Planet and others.
Record shop Black Plastic (4027 Hamilton Ave., Northside) gets the Ladyfest musical lineup rolling Saturday at 7:15 p.m. with a set from Roxie Conquistador (Jennifer Simone and Lexington’s Ancient Warfare also play the store Saturday). Saturday at The Listing Loon, music begins at 8:30 p.m. with Nern Ostendorf. Local Indie/Post Rock group Us, Today kicks of Northside Yacht Club’s Ladyfest lineup on Saturday. Local faves Kate Wakefield and Wussy play Saturday at Northside Tavern. And The Comet has hard-hitting Cincinnati groups Sour Ground, Abraxas and GNAT!
Another Ladyfest venue on Saturday is Apartment 23 (1601 Chase Ave., Northside), which will feature Hip Hop, Electronic music and more beginning at 10:15 p.m. LeTechnopuss13s, Mahogany Reign, Abiyah and LoAhmmi are among the local artists appearing at Apartment 23.
Be sure to visit ladyfestcincinnati2015.sched.org for the complete schedule and more information. You can also purchase advance tickets at the site ($10 for a one-day ticket or $24 for an entire-festival pass).
CONTACT MIKE BREEN: [email protected].
