Don't be a-scared of a little heat; there's lots of live music to be heard out there today in the Cincinnati area. Should you choose an outdoor event, be sure to hydrate, sunscreen up and try not to complain too much.
You can work up a sweat in the comfort of AC at Covington's Madison Theater tonight. Successful local EDM/DJ/Dance promoters Next Era and Dub Collective present producer and recording artist Big Chocolate, a self-described "small white dude with the big name" who has risen quickly in the world of Electronic music. He'll have the Madison hopping with his blend of Dubstep, Drum and Bass and Electro, with a little help from like-minded support acts Krowd Khemistry, Lady Bandit and Project Rain.
Big Chocolate is also a prolific video blogger; check out his "Daily Vlog" channel on YouTube here.
Showtime for the all-ages show is 9 p.m. Tickets are $10.
• If you like a little "live Rock band" in your Electro mix, head to Corryville's Mad Frog tonight for a performance by Ithaca, NY-based group Jimkata. The band has a sound that's a mix of catchy modern Pop Rock with an ’80s lean via big hooks, danceable rhythms and ornamental synths. Showtime is 10 p.m.
• The popular Spirit Song music festival returns to Kings Island starting today. The three-day event has become one of the biggest Contemporary Christian music festivals in the Midwest and this year's lineup might be the strongest yet. The lineup includes a lot of "crossover" acts (like tonight's headliners Switchfoot) and artists mostly only known to CCM fans. Local Rock group Mosteller joins the biggies for today's Spirit Song opener. The concert welcomes all ages and begins at 4 p.m. Tickets are $48.99 (if you're planning on going multiple days, you can find bargains with multiday passes).
Before you go, be sure to ask yourself "HWJH?" ("How Would Jesus Hydrate?"). Hint: He wouldn't be turning that precious water into wine today!
• Also worth a good sweat is the free "Salsa on the Square" series at 7 p.m. today on Fountain Square. Today's featured Salsa music-makers: Son Del Caribe. As always, dance instructors will be on hand to assist you if you dance more like Franklin Delano Roosevelt than Franklin Diaz!
• Rock band Collective Soul, which had a string of hits in the late ’90s/early ’00s, performs "An Evening With …" style tonight at Bogart's.
From the press release: "The band plans to make each night unforgettable. In addition to Dosage, they will perform other songs from a catalog that has sold over 10 million albums worldwide and produced seven #1 radio hits during their nearly 20-year career. Those in attendance can expect to hear 'Shine,' 'December,' 'The World I Know,' 'Where The River Flows' and many others."
Showtime is 8 p.m. and tickets are $20.25-$28.
Click here for even more live music events tonight in Cincinnati.
