The annual Rivertown Breakdown has been the finest showcase of local Roots music practitioners for nine years now. And the lineup for this year's event (Saturday at the Southgate House) once again provides a "Cincinnati Roots Music Scene 101" for Americana fans who might not realize what a strong scene we have right here along the banks of the Ohio River. The music ranges from Bluegrass and Folk to Jazz, Blues and beyond on all three Southgate stages.  

More than 700 independently-owned record stores in the U.S. are participating in the third annual Record Store Day Saturday, including three of Cincinnati's finest sources for local music: Shake It (live music starts at 4 p.m., headlined by The Seedy Seeds), Everybody's (music at noon with Magnolia Mountain and Kim Taylor) and Mole's (throwing down a cook-out and hopefully some live music).  

For Shiny and the Spoon, creating a whimsical, old-timey sound involves using subtlety and simplicity as a crafty tool. Tom Waits meets Ella Fitzgerald with a ukulele in the mix. Americana/Folk/Pop with a '20s spin. And this duo's clever style recently earned them a Cincinnati Entertainment Awards nomination in the New Artist of the Year category.  

This Sunday, local musicians and the fans who love them will be getting gussied up for the 13th Cincinnati Entertainment Awards honoring local musicians. The CEAs will be presented at a 7 p.m. ceremony at Covington's Madison Theater, a first for the event, and feature live performances from six nominated acts.  

Local musicians and the fans who love them will be getting gussied up for the 13th annual Cincinnati Entertainment Awards for Music Sunday night at Covington's Madison Theater. Even if you disdain the concept of award shows, the CEAs are always one of the best parties of the year and totally down to earth. The afterparty ranks up there too — buy a ticket and get into the post-ceremony shindig at The Mad Hatter, where The Fairmount Girls will hand out their Fashion Trashie Awards.  

Socially-aware and politically-minded musicians like U2 and Public Enemy could be accused of trying to move (proverbial) mountains with their music. On Sunday, several local musicians will be joining forces to do just the opposite. "Music for the Mountains" is a music-minded event aimed at halting the practice of mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia.  

Though known for a wide-range of musical styles, Greater Cincinnati has always had an especially strong Americana/Roots music scene. With the release of 'Nothing As It Was,' Mark Utley and his band Magnolia Mountain should instantly jump to the top of any list of the city's best Roots practitioners.