· The "Songwriter Night" that has taken place at Allyn's Cafe every Tuesday night for a decade has been part performance showcase, part local music scene networking haven and part hangin'-out-with-musical-friends hotspot. Local producer/singer/songwriter/guitarist
Brian Lovely ran the night for the first four years or so, then
Eric Diedrichs (singer/songwriter, then for The Simpletons, now for Cari Clara) took the wheel and has been driving it the past six years. The focus of the night is performance, as a variety of local songwriters have made it a living, breathing "Petri dish," allowing them to try out new tunes in front of a real (and attentive) audience. Over the years, it's developed into an almost communal thing, with many fans and musicians making it their regular Tuesday night "going out" date.
This Tuesday, Diedrichs and his musical pals celebrate a decade of "Songwriter Night" as well as its new home, Downtown's Poison Room, with "Hullabaloo III." The first two Tuesdays (this week and July 24) are going to be blowout showcases. This Tuesday, "Hullabaloo III" kicks off the series with a head-spinningly good lineup: Mike Landis, Gregory Morris, Bill Alletzhauser (The Hiders, Ruby Vileos), Kristen Key, Ryan Malott (500 Miles to Memphis), Brad Stenz (MOTH), Dan Mecher (Turnbull AC's), Brad Schnittger (The Sundresses), Beth Cheek (Lovely Crash), Wake the Bear, Wil Cope, Kyle Knapp, Tracy Walker, Brett Rink, Stuart Mackenzie (The Lions Rampant), David Wolfenberger, Josh Hisle (Lost in Holland), Peter Adams and Greg Mahan.
On July 24, the lineup so far features The Vanilla Pony (Jason Snell of The Chocolate Horse), Lisa Walker (Wussy), Ryan Adcock, Craig Dockery (Vinyltones), Reuben Glaser (Pearlene, Viva La Fox), Michael Olivia (The Harlequins), Will Jacobs (The Royal Brigade), Kelly Evans and several othres.
The music starts around 9 p.m. each week. There's no cover charge, and the events are open to music lovers 18 and up. (myspace.com/poisonroom)
· Another exciting multi-act showcase always greeted with much anticipation (and is also free to get into!) is Edensong, the long-running outdoor series that each summer brings a host of local music talent together for Friday night shows at Eden Park. The events (which run each Friday in July at 8 p.m.) are presented by the Queen City Balladeers in conjunction with the Cincinnati Park Board.
Edensong has been operating for over 40 years and the lineups continue to feature some of the city's finest songwriters and performers, leaning more toward the acoustic/Folk realm but never hesitating to reach a little outside of that comfort zone. This Friday, Edensong features Liz Bowater, Greg Jowaisas, The Sheds, Joe Jencks and Swamp Fox. The musicians perform at Seasongood Pavilion. (qcballadeers.org)
· Saturday at Rohs Street Cafe in Clifton Heights, Greg Mahan, Brian Ewing, Chris Haubner & Jim Pross, Kelly Evans and Jenny Ward play the benefit concert "A Moveable Feast II: The Gathering of Songwriters." The event began in Denver as a way to present singer/songwriters in a more "music-friendly" environment. With Rohs Street being one of the better "listening rooms" in Cincinnati, Satire Records' Jack Redell helped put the Cincy lineup there and steered the proceeds to Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity and Free Trade Coffee. Music starts at 8 p.m. (onlyamoveablefeast.com)
More Local Notes
· It'll be extra hot downtown this weekend, as the CincyLatino Festival returns to Sawyer Point Saturday and Sunday (noon-11 p.m.). What would a celebration of Hispanic culture be without lots of music? We'll never know, because for the past four years the festival has presented great musical acts from around the world. This year's international guests include Puerto Rico's Rolando Morales-Matos and Andy Montañez (playing Saturday night), and Costa Rico's Pimienta Negra (Sunday). Two local Salsa acts will also appear -- Son del Caribe (7 p.m. Saturday) and Tropicoso (Sunday at 7 p.m.). Head down to Fountain Square Friday at 5:30 p.m. for the CincyLatino edition of "Rock the Square." Free dance instruction begins at 5:30 p.m., then you can show off your moves at when Zumba! takes the stage. All events are free. (escapelatino.com/cincylatino)
· Andy Perkins and Joe Thompson, formerly of the area bands Hilltop Distillery and 24hourflu, debut their latest musical entity, Mala In Se (also featuring drummer Keith Leeds) this Friday at The Comet in Northside. Thompson says the project is different from their previous bands. "We're playing with a double-bass drummer and doing some pretty evil/fast stuff," he says. Knife the Symphony headlines the free, 10 p.m. show. (myspace.com/malainsemusic)
CONTACT MIKE BREEN: mbreen(at)citybeat.com
