Two very different venues are celebrating anniversaries this weekend with two-day blowouts. But they do share at least one quality. Both are very supportive of local music, with schedules dominated by acts from the Cincinnati area. Clifton Heights’ Rohs Street Café, an intimate coffeehouse space, turns 8 years old, while downtown’s Rock & Roll bar Mainstay is honoring its second anniversary. Below are both venues’ plans for tonight’s (Friday) and Saturday’s festivities.—-
The music lineup at Rohs Street Café is heavy on Jazz (drawing on talent from the nearby CCM), Folk and other acoustic music, which works great for the room and its modest PA system, but the Café isn’t afraid to rattle the walls and host Alternative, Indie and Rock groups regularly as well. Visit the Rohs Street site here for upcoming shows and more info about the venue.
Rohs Street’s two-night anniversary event kicks off tonight with a lineup that reflects that diverse, open-minded booking policy. The 8 p.m. show features local artits Shadowraptr, Molly Sullivan, The Sleeping Sea, Marissa Rinehart, Dan Orlando and the Band of Hopefuls and Jasmine “Wonky Tonk” Poole. Admission is $4.
Saturday, Rohs Street presents Gypsy Jazz faves The Faux Frenchmen for a “Swingin' Spring Formal.” The fun starts at 7 p.m. and it’ll cost ya $5.
Mainstay Rock Bar took over the space downtown formerly occupied by The Poison Room two years ago, presenting local and national Rock bands of varying stripes on its first floor and sprucing up the upstairs — dubbed the Betty Bar — for dance nights and DJ events. Take a look a the Mainstay website here. (WARNING: For those at the library or their desk in a quiet workplace — and especially those with weak hearts — be sure to turn your computer's volume down when visiting Mainstay's site. The boogie of classic Rock tune "Black Betty" blares as soon as you enter.)
Tonight’s live music starts at 9 p.m. Headliners The Lions Rampant are releasing their new 7-inch, red-vinyl single (free to the first 100 people in) and quality rockers Oso Bear and The Kickaways will help make the night a showcase of contemporary Cincinnati Rock & Roll at its finest. DJ Gerald Shell spins tunes upstairs for a Final Friday dance party at 10 p.m.
The celebration keeps going Saturday at Mainstay with an equally superb lineup. Indie Pop duo Bad Veins take a break from work on a new LP to join Electro twosome You, You’re Awesome and hip hoppers Gold Shoes for an electric night of melodies and beats. Music starts at 9 p.m., while DJs Nati Kid and Mike B from legendary Cincinnati-based turntable squad Animal Crackers start the grooves in Betty Bar at 10 p.m.
Mainstay is turning Sunday into part of the anniversary celebration by making its “Karaoke Fantastic” night an “all-star edition.” Members of The Dukes, Banderas, Mad Anthony, Bad Veins, The Minor Leagues and many other local groups are slated to show up and do their best “You Lost That Loving Feeling,” “Love is a Battlefield” or whatever karaoke klassic they feel like mangling. The karaoke kraziness run 8 p.m. until closing time.
Stop in to both venues to show your appreciation for their dedication to booking original local music.
