Many of our favorite groups conclude their seasons in the next few days. From Grateful Dead to Beethoven, there is plenty of music on tap. Our rich jazz scene holds its own and you can experience a “walking concert.” There’s not quite 525,600 minutes of culture, this week, but surely spring is the season of love.
Wednesday, May 6
Memorial Hall, Live Dead & Brothers | 8 p.m. 1225 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. 513-977-8838. DETAILS: Live Dead and Brothers roll into town to perform all-things Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers, reviving the 1960s and ’70s with legacy and actual members of the bands. More than your everyday tribute band, Berry Duane Oakley, Les Dudek, Mark Karan, Scott Guberman and Pete Lavezzoli recreate the magic of these co-billed concerts and the golden era of psychedelic blues and the “jam band” scene.
Thursday, May 7
Clifton Cultural Arts Center, Chandler Carter | 6:30 p.m., 3412 Clifton Ave., Clifton. 513-497-2860. DETAILS: “Smokey,” “captivating” and “rare” are words used to describe Chandler Carter’s sound. This Cincinnati-grown singer made it to Hollywood as a competitor on American Idol. The CCAC spring-summer concert series takes place up on the rooftop. Bring your own chair and get there early enough to score seats by the fire pit. Drinks are available from CCAC’s fully stocked bar.
Concertnova, “From One to Another” | 7:30 p.m. National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 50 E. Freedom Way, The Banks. DETAILS: For this unique “walking concert,” instrumental and vocal duos will be stationed at various points throughout the museum while the audience travels through galleries, gathering spaces and stairwells to experience the full program. The music is intended to respond to the museum’s exhibitions and its location along the Ohio River. Performers include violinists Anna Reider, Korah Cuff and Kun Dong; guitarist Brandon Coleman; violist Joanne Wojtowicz; cellists Drew Dansby and Daniel Kaler; clarinetist Citlalmina Hernandez; soprano Victoria Ellington; and pianist Brianna Matzke. Composers include Henry Purcell, Carlos Simon, William Grant Still, Jesse Montgomery and others. Repeats May 8.
Cincinnati Opera, “The Afrofuturist Salon” | 6:30 p.m. Artsville, 5021 Whetsel Ave., Madisonville. 513-241-2742. DETAILS: Underscore is Cincinnati Opera’s fun, imaginative pre-season series of events designed to get us pumped up for the regular summer season. This concluding event serves as an introduction to the new Afrofuturist opera “Lalovavi” through an evening of ”hair, art, music and creative expression.” The evening features “Lalovavi” librettist Tifara Brown, wig designer Tiara Jones, loctician and make-up artist Shabrina Monet and University of Cincinnati professor of Africana Studies Cassandra Jones for a conversation about Black futurism, storytelling and self-expression.
Friday, May 8
Smoke On the River BBQ Fest | 5 -11 p.m. Festival Park, Riverboat Row, Newport. DETAILS: The festival focuses on fresh, high-quality ingredients and ribs, chicken and brisket from some of the best BBQ purveyors in the region. Add plenty of cold drinks, music and the beauty of the Cincinnati skyline for an outstanding spring evening along the Ohio. Runs through Sunday, May 10.
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, “Beethoven & Tchaikovsky” | 11:00 a.m. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. 513-381-3300. DETAILS: The CSO season concludes with a dramatic flourish. Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 73, famously known as the “Emperor” and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4, with that powerful, opening brass fanfare, headline an evening led by guest conductor Roderick Cox. Jennifer Higdon’s “Fanfare Ritmico” opens the program. Renowned British pianist Stephen Hough takes the stage for the Beethoven. Repeats Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Cincinnati Music Theatre, “Rent” | 7:30 p.m. Jarson-Kaplan Theater, Aronoff Center, downtown. 513-621-2787. DETAILS: Jonathan Larson’s Tony Award, Pulitzer Prize-winning musical based on Puccini’s “La Boheme” concludes CMT’s mainstage season. The musical follows a group of impoverished, but artistic, friends living in Manhattan’s East Village. “I’ll Cover You,” “Light My Candle,” and “Rent” are just some of the favorites. Oh, yeah. 525,600 minutes. How could we forget “Seasons of Love?” Get your tickets quickly. Seats are limited. Runs through May 16.
Essex Studios, “Art in Motion” | 6-10 p.m. 2511 Essex Place, Walnut Hills. 513-476-2170. DETAILS: Performers from as many as 10 local dance troupes glide through the Essex during this season’s art walk, enhancing your experience as you view works by and talk with a multitude of artists in their studios. Add in live music, food and art for sale and it should make for a fun evening. Repeats Saturday.
Saturday, May 9
Appalachian Community Development Association, Appalachian Festival | 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Village of New Richmond. 513-251-3378. DETAILS: Spend your Mother’s Day weekend connecting (or re-connecting) with our region’s rich Appalachian heritage and traditions. The lovely riverside town of New Richmond will be transformed into a mountain village with fabulous food, art, Porch Pickin’ and other traditional music. Native American culture is also represented with drumming and dancing along the way. Repeats Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Caffè Vivace, Nicole Zuraitis | 7 & 9 p.m. 975 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills. 513-601-9897. DETAILS: Grammy-winning jazz singer, songwriter and bandleader Nicole Zuratis makes a stopover in our fair city for an evening of original work. Based in New York City, Zuratis is noted as a “trailblazing artist who is redefining vocal jazz.” Her album “How Love Begins” won the 2024 Grammy award for Best Vocal Jazz Album. Tickets are going fast. Get yours today.
Sunday, May 10
Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra | 2 & 7 p.m. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. 513-381-3300. DETAILS: Have you ever been to a CSYO concert? This is your opportunity to hear 200 of the most talented musicians our region has to offer. At 2 p.m., the Concert Orchestra (grades 7-12) performs “Fanfare for Common Ground” a brass fanfare by Martin Hebel to open its program, also featuring works by Jordan Jinosko, Ching-chu Hu, Angelica Negron and Harold T. Burleigh. At 7 p.m., the elite Philharmonic (grades 9-12) completes the day with works by Anna Clyne and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, concluding with Modest Mussorgsky’s monumental “Pictures at an Exhibition.” Youth orchestras are critical for the sustainability of classical music and the art form of the orchestra. They produce your future orchestra members, audiences and donors. Two of your Culture FIXers spent many happy, fulfilling years in this orchestra and grew up to be players, attendees and contributors. Don’t miss these important concerts. Support the next generation.
Collegium Cincinnati, Mendelssohn Trios | 3 p.m. Knox Presbyterian Church, 3400 Michigan Ave., Hyde Park. 513-321-2573. DETAILS: Violinist Manami White, cellist Tom Guth and pianist Matthew Phelps perform both of Felix Mendelssohn’s Piano Trios on this the concluding concert of the Collegium season. This will also be Phelps’ last concert as artistic director, as he departs to take another position in Tennessee. Mendelssohn was a prolific composer, but his chamber music output was small. The Piano Trio in C minor, Op. 66 and Piano Trio in D minor, Op. 49 are similar in structure with movements of somber intensity and lyrical melody. The piano parts are especially virtuosic and Mendelssohn was known to have played them himself, from memory, on numerous occasions.
Washington Park, Art on Vine | Noon-6 p.m. 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. DETAILS: Get out for some fresh air and mosey through works by as many as 80 artists in beautiful Washington Park. View some of the best our region has to offer as you search for that must-have painting or unique piece of clothing. Food trucks are on site and The Porch will be open for the beverages of your choice. Always a relaxing afternoon. Wear good walking shoes and don’t forget your wallet. You won’t be sorry.
Monday, May 11
Woodward Theater, The Garcia Project | 8 p.m. 1404 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-345-7981. DETAILS: Since 2010, The Garcia Project has performed “full, unaltered, classic Jerry Garcia Band setlists from 1976-1995.” Here’s a great chance to experience the spirit and magic that keeps this legendary band alive. Repeats Tuesday.
Tuesday, May 12
Jazz at the Square, Brooks Giles Quartet | 5-8 p.m. Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., downtown. 513-621-4400. DETAILS: Vocalist and saxophonist Brooks Giles and his friends take the stage for this week’s installment. Grab a table with friends and enjoy a drink before heading home. Or, take a moment for yourself after that grueling day-at-the-desk. Jazz always makes it all better.
Discover more from Movers & Makers
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.