Queen City Music Spotlight: Catch These 12 Cincinnati Concerts Featuring Local Acts in July

Northside Rock and Roll Carnival at Hoffner Park

The Northside Rock and Roll Carnival is a yearly tradition following the Northside Fourth of July Parade. Both bring out and celebrate everything that Cincinnati’s most creative neighborhood is known for: originality, eccentricity and a community filled with music. This year’s Carnival features 30 acts across three days to celebrate Independence Day, along with creative independence. The expansive list of performers includes locals like singer-songwriter Maura Weaver, driving cello and drums duo Lung (pictured), psych-garage band General Baxter, rapper Jay Hill, female-fronted garage rock from Isabelle Helle & Hell’s Bells and atmospheric pop from Sylmar in addition to out of town acts like the infectious soul-infused pop of Kendra Morris (New York City) and rising avant-punk group DANA (Columbus). July 4-6. Free. Hoffner Park, 1600 Blue Rock St., Northside, northsiderocks.com.

Cincinnati Pops Orchestra’s Red, White and Boom at Riverbend Music Center

Conductor John Morris Russell will lead the orchestra and the Cincinnati Pops Chorale, featuring two guest vocalists from the U.S. Army Chorus, through a program of selections celebrating Independence Day. They continue a yearly Fourth of July tradition of Red, White and Boom concerts along the Ohio River at Riverbend Music Center. The concert is followed by a huge fireworks display finale. 8 p.m. July 4. Starting at $15, military/veterans $5, Kids 17 and under free in lawn. Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Ave., California, cincinnatisymphony.org.

Bugsley, Dilly & The Doves and Leia Bulger at MOTR Pub

Up-and-coming female-fronted group Bugsley (pictured) is one of the city’s latest and greatest with their mix of moody and ethereal garage pop. They appear with Dilly & the Doves, a unique atmospheric kind of immediate alt-pop, blending funk-filled bass lines and traditional alternative rock and roll elements with a touch of hip-hop. Leia Bulger rounds out the bill. 9:30 p.m. July 5. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com.

KAE Savage, Aaron Crary, Fox the Paradox, Nineball, L Mac and Mitchell Sturkey at Treasuretronics

The lineup is rather eclectic for local synthesizer shop Treasuretronics’ latest edition of their First Friday Shows. The lineup is a gathering of electronic-leaning musicians like an electro hootenanny. 6 p.m. July 5. Free. Treasuretronics, 3916 North Bend Rd., Cheviot.

Perfect Stranglers, Lab Partners (Dayton) and Disaster Class at The Comet

Newer exploratory punk group Perfect Stranglers (pictured), featuring members of Old City, supports Dayton alt-rock/dream pop luminaries Lab Partners. Local moody-ambient project Disaster Class rounds out one of the most interesting bills of the month. 9 p.m. July 5. Free. Northside Tavern, 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside, facebook.com/events.

Jess Lamb & the Factory ft. Siri Imani and Sappha at MOTR Pub

Powerhouse pop songstress Jess Lamb (pictured) and her backing band The Factory, featuring some of the city’s best, appear with special guest Siri Imani at this event. Local rising electropop artist Sappha will also be on hand. This is sure to be one of the bigger events of the month. 9:30 p.m. July 6. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com.

Turich Benjy and MoneyTownDub for Cincinnati Art House ‘81

This ‘80s-themed celebration features an art gallery, fashion show and DJs with musical performances from rising Cincinnati-based hip-hop artist Turich Benjy and MoneyTownDub to celebrate the beginnings of hip-hop culture. Presented by Dead Rich Studios and Backend. 5 p.m. July 6. 2701 Spring Grove Ave., Camp Washington, Instagram.com.

Jon Spencer and IdleAires at MOTR Pub

Underground legend Jon Spencer will play a career-spanning set from his influential catalog of work at MOTR Pub. Spencer has been one of the most consistent musicians active for decades from the garage punk of Pussy Galore to the blues-punk of Boss Hog before officially becoming an alt-rock icon with the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. Cincinnati conceptual art-rock group IdleAires (pictured) supports in one of the events of the month, if not the summer. 8 p.m. July 18. Starting at $20. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com.

Quotah, Old City, killii killii (Louisville), and Kitty Frankfort at Northside Tavern

The otherworldly pop of Quotah (pictured), post-punk push of Old City and heartfelt songwriting of Kitty Frankfort joined by Louisville multi-genre benders killii killii make up one of the most varied and exciting lineups of the month. 8 p.m. July 20. Northside Tavern, 4165 Hamilton Ave., Northside, facebook.com/events.

Isabelle Helle & Hell’s Bells, Sir Gregory F.K. and Thelma and the Sleaze (Nashville) at MOTR Pub

Isabelle Helle and Hell’s Bells take garage rock in a darker direction though Izzi Krombholz Baron (Isabelle Helle herself) can craft a piece of airtight, on-point garage rock that shines like a light. They support explosive, all-female rock and roll outfit Thelma and the Sleaze from Nashville. Sir Gregory F.K. brings pure rock and roll to round out the bill. 8 p.m. July 21. $12 in advance and $15 at the door. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com.

Abiyah and Maurice Mattei at Northside Tavern

Abiyah (pictured) blends styles, genres and worlds — like the textures of electropop, the hypnotizing sound of trip-hop, the immediacy of punk and the bombastic rhythm of dancehall — expanding them into something new that creates a sound all her own. She shares the stage with Maurice Mattei, a prolific local artist and songwriter making a unique sound all his own. 8 p.m. July 28. Northside Tavern, 4136 Hamilton Ave., Northside, northsidetavern.com.

Tweens, Clickbait (Chicago), Cold Stereo and Black Surfboards at Feel It Records Shop

Feel It Records hosts one of the most exciting shows of the month featuring Tweens (pictured), Cold Stereo and Black Surfboards supporting Chicago’s Clickbait on the shop’s stage that is adorned with an Iggy Pop mural watching over things like a T.V. eye. 8 p.m. July 30. $10 suggested donation. Feel It Records Shop, 356 Ludlow Ave., Clifton.