Cincinnati stages are no stranger to its share of worldwide artists. 

In 2023, Paycor Stadium’s audience transformed from football fans to fangirls when Taylor Swift made a stop on her iconic “The Eras Tour.” Riverbend has morphed into a sea of “Parrot Heads” with leis and a margarita in hand every time Jimmy Buffet came to town. 

Sometimes, you may even be able to hear the thundering bass bursting through MegaCorp when driving in Newport. 

Wherever you end up in the Tri-State area, there’s always someone playing music nearby. With the number of stars, including Cincinnati, on their tour stops, the city offers anything from a more intimate venue to a football stadium to accommodate the artists’ fanbase. 

This year, several artists are celebrating their milestone tours in Cincinnati. 

TRAIN makes their annual Riverbend appearance for the 25th anniversary of their album “Drops of Jupiter,” as well as Rod Stewart and Journey on their farewell tours. 

Other highlights include rap icon Cardi B returning to the stage after five years for her “Little Miss Drama” tour at Heritage Bank Center and celebrated British indie band The Wombats performing at Bogart’s after an eight-year absence from the city. 

Looking for a bit of a 2000s throwback? DJ Pauly D will be turning Bogart’s into Jersey Shore to beat those January blues at the end of the month. 

While thinking of warmer weather, Lainey Wilson and Allen Stone will accompany Chris Stapleton as his country music brings in the August heat. Ranging from celebrated country artists to R&B superstars to rock legends, these are the local concerts you need to have on your radar this year.

Riverbend and PNC Pavillion

Address: 6295 Kellogg Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45230

Friday, May 8

 -Satchvai Band featuring Joe Satriani and Steve Vai with Animals as Leaders

– Doors: 5:30 p.m.

-Showtime: 7 p.m.

Friday, May 21

• Hardy: The Country! Country! Tour with special guests Tucker Wetmore and Mccoy Moore
• Doors: 5:30 p.m.
• Showtime: 7 p.m.

Saturday, June 20

-Meghan Trainor: The Get in Girl Tour with special guests Icona Pop and Ryan Trainor

-Doors: 5 p.m.

-Showtime: 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, July 8

• Jack Johnson: Surfilmusic Tour with special guest Hermanos Gutierrez
• Doors: 6:30 p.m.
• Showtime: 7 p.m.

Monday, July 27

– 5 Seconds of Summer: Everyone’s a Star World Tour

-Doors: 6:30 p.m.

Showtime: 8 p.m.

Wednesday, July 29

• Train: Drops of Jupiter: 25 Years in the Atmosphere with special guests Barenaked Ladies and Matt Nathanson
• Doors: 5:15 p.m.
• Showtime: 6:45 p.m.

Saturday, August 1

-Evanescence 2026 World Tour with Spritbox and Nova Twins

-Doors: 5:30 p.m.

-Showtime: 7 p.m.

Thursday, August 6

-STYX and Chicago, the Windy Cities Tour-All the Hits…Your Kind of Tour

-Doors: 5:30 p.m.

-Showtime: 7 p.m.

Saturday, August 8

-Lynrd Skynrd & Foreigner: Double Trouble Double Vision Tour with special guest Six Gun Sally

-Doors: 5 p.m.

-Showtime: 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, August 9

• Rod Stewart: One Last Time with special guest Richard Marx
• Doors: 6 p.m.
• Showtime: 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, August 25

-The Return of the Carnival of Sins: Motley Crue with special guests Tesla and Extreme

-Doors: 5 p.m.

-Showtime: 6:30 p.m.

All tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or in-person at the Taft Theatre and The Andrew J. Brady Music Center box offices during business hours. Check the schedule for all operating hours. 

Bogart’s

Address: 2621 Short Vine St, Cincinnati, OH

Thursday, Jan. 29

-Lord of the Lost and The Birthday Massacre

-Showtime: 6 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 30

-DJ Pauly D

-Showtime: 8 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 5

-Bayker Blankenship

-Showtime: 7 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 13

-The Wombats

-Showtime: 8 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 20

-Badflower

-Showtime: 7 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 26

-Kameron Marlowe

-Showtime: 7 p.m.

Tuesday, March 3

-The Record Company

-Showtime: 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, March 11

-INZO

-Showtime: 8 p.m.

Thursday, March 12

-Avery Anna

-Showtime: 8 p.m.

Friday, March 13

-Pecos and the Rooftops

-Showtime: 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 14

-Jordan Jensen

-Showtime: 7 p.m

Tuesday, March 17

-The Happy Fits

-Showtime: 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 21

-Our Lady Peace

-Showtime: 8 p.m.

Monday, March 23

-Filter

-Showtime: 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 24

-Erra with Currents

-Showtime: 6:30 p.m.

Friday, March 27

-Two Feet

– Showtime: 8 p.m.

Saturday, March 28

-Circle Jerks

-Showtime: 7 p.m.

Wednesday, April 1

-Mammoth-Band

-Showtime: 7 p.m.

Friday, April 3

• Teenage Bottlerocket
• Showtime: 6:30 p.m.

Friday, April 10

-Aly & AJ

-Showtime: 8 p.m.

Tuesday, May 12

-Shadow of Intent

-Showtime: 6 p.m.

Wednesday, May 13

• Stephen Lynch
• Showtime: 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 1

-Benjamin Tod

-Showtime: 8 p.m.

All tickets can be purchased at Bogarts.com or Ticketmaster.com. 

Paycor Stadium

Address: 1 Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH

Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25

-Cincinnati Music Festival Presented by P&G

-Featuring Tyrese, Ledisi, Charlie Wilson, Nelly, 803FRESH, SWV, Trey Songz, Mary J. Blige, Doug E. Fresh and Heatwave

-Showtime: 7 p.m. 

Saturday, August 1

-Chris Stapleton’s All-American Road Show featuring Lainey Wilson and Allen Stone

-Showtime: 6 p.m.

-Presale begins at 10 a.m. on Jan. 15

All tickets can be purchased at LiveNation.com or Ticketmaster.com. 

Madison Live!

Address: 734 Madison Ave, Covington, KY

Saturday, Feb. 21

-Exhorder, Ringworm, Phobia, Slowhole

-Showtime: 8 p.m.

Saturday, March 7

-Needle//Fear, Obsidian Mind, Wave Painter, Peasant Crown, Tabz

-Showtime: 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 19

-Burning Witches, War Hammer, Critical Khaos

-Showtime: 8 p.m.

Saturday, March 29

-Merkules “The Controlled Chaos Tour”

-Showtime: 7 p.m.

Saturday, April 4

-Hirax, Savage Master, Desolus

-Showtime: 7:30 p.m.

• 4*4 Featuring DJ Seol
• Showtime: 8 p.m.

Saturday, April 11

-Crowbar with EyeHateGod Matinee Show

– Showtime: 2 p.m.

-Crowbar, EyeHateGod, Emanating Peace, These Eyes and Primal Force

-Showtime: 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 22

• Uada and Mortiis- The Witches of Dystopia tour MMXXVI
• Showtime: 7 p.m.

Tuesday, May 12

-Unprocessed, Allt and Midwinter

-Showtime: 7:30 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at LiveNation.com. 

MegaCorp Pavillion

Address: 101 W 4th St. Newport, KY

Sunday, March 15

-Dark Star Orchestra

-Showtime: 8 p.m.

Saturday, April 11

-49 Winchester

-Showtime: 8 p.m.

Tuesday, April 14

-Lake Street Drive

-Showtime: 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 25

-Ethel Cain with 9Million

-Showtime: 8 p.m.

Tickets for all events can be purchased at Promowestlive.com or in-person at the box office from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. during operating hours. 

The Andrew J. Brady Music Center

Address: 25 Race St. Cincinnati, OH

Monday, Feb. 23

• Excision
• Showtime: 6 p.m.

Sunday, March 8

-Mariah the Scientist: Hearts Sold Separately Tour

-Doors: 6:30 p.m.

-Showtime: 8 p.m.

Monday, March 30

-Boys Like Girls: The Soundtrack of Your Life Tour with special guests IDKHOW and Arrows in Action

-Doors: 5:30 p.m.

-Showtime: 7 p.m.

Saturday, April 18

-Nate Smith: Long Live Country Rock and Roll Tour with special guests Josh Ross and Brandon Wisham

-Doors: 6 p.m.

-Showtime: 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 6

-YUNGBLUD: Idols- The World Tour

-Doors: 6:30 p.m.

-Showtime: 8 p.m.

*NOTE: THIS SHOW IS SOLD OUT*

All tickets can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com or in-person at the box office during business hours. 

Heritage Bank Center

Address: 100 Broadway St, Cincinnati, OH

Wednesday, Feb. 4

• GHOST: Skeletour World Tour 2026
• Doors: 6:30 p.m.
• Showtime: 8 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 20

-Boys 4 Life Tour featuring B2L & Bow Wow with Jeremih, Waka Flocka and Amerie

-Doors: 6:30 p.m.

-Showtime: 8 p.m.

Tuesday, March 10

-Three Days Grace: Alienation Tour with I Prevail and The Funeral Portrait

-Doors: 5 p.m.

-Showtime: 7 p.m.

Thursday, March 19

-Cardi B- Little Miss Drama Tour

-Doors: 6 p.m.

-Showtime: 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 26

-The New Edition Way Tour with New Edition, BoyzIIMen and Toni Braxton

-Doors: 6:30 p.m.

-Showtime: 8 p.m.

Saturday,June 13

• Journey: Final Frontier Tour
• Doors: 6 p.m.
• Showtime: 7:30 p.m.

Monday, July 27

-Forrest Frank: The Jesus Generation Tour with Tori Kelly and Cory Asbury

-Doors: 5:30 p.m.

-Showtime: 7 p.m.

*NOTE: THIS SHOW IS SOLD OUT*

Tickets are available for purchase at HeritageBankCenter.com or in-person at the box office Monday-Friday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

The post The ultimate guide to 2026 concerts  appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

Inhailer Radio has announced the lineup and details for their annual Indie 500, a weeklong celebration of independent musicians with guest DJs, beginning Monday, May 19.

Inspired by Cincinnati’s own 97X Modern Rock 500, the official countdown — from No. 500 all the way to No. 1 — of the best indie songs according to Inhailer Radio will air Memorial Day weekend. Over the course of three days, from May 24-26, Inhailer will broadcast the countdown from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Special guests include current and former Inhailer radio DJs, Cincinnati 97X and WNKU alumni and several special surprise hosts — including members of Cincinnati band The National.

Unique to this year’s celebration is the inclusion of “Qualifying Laps,” which provide listeners with a “high-energy preview of the artists and anthems in contention” for the race to the final countdown. This special segment will air daily from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. May 19-23.

“We wanted to go even bigger this year,” Inhailer Music Director Nils Illokken said in a press release. “The Indie 500 isn’t about ranking the greatest songs of all time — that’s an impossible task. It’s about celebrating the music we love, the songs that have helped shape Inhailer Radio. There’s just too much great music in our daily rotation for 500 songs to ever feel like enough, and we didn’t want to be locked into the same list year after year. With the addition of Qualifying Laps, we get to showcase even more of our favorites and build real momentum heading into the big show over Memorial Day Weekend.”

Additionally, Inhailer is launching a limited-edition Indie 500 2025 commemorative t-shirt, which is available for pre-order on their website.

Listeners are able to stream the event for free on inhailer.com, on the Inhailer Radio iOS and Android apps or on the Cincinnati station WGUC 90.9 HD 3.

For updates, announcements and exclusive content, follow along on Inhailer’s TikTok, Instagram and FaceBook accounts. 

The post 500 Indie Songs, 3 Days: Inhailer Radio’s Epic Countdown Returns appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

Cincinnati’s ethereal grunge band Lung will release their fifth studio album, The Swankeeper, on May 30.

Comprised of classically opera-trained singer and cello player Kate Wakefield and former Foxy Shazam bassist Daisy Caplan on drums, Lung has garnered praise for their “loud, dissonant, innovative and fearless” sound by publications like Fair Shakes and Just Dessert. Since forming in 2016, Lung has continued to create an atmospheric blend of heavy-hitting drums and intense cello, cementing themselves as distorted musical machines.

Wakefield states that the opening track of the album, “Everlasting Nothingness,” is a wild ride from start to finish. In a press release, the singer/cellist says, “It is a roller coaster of a track, and is a fitting beginning to our record. It almost invites you to spin out.”

“The roller coaster of reality and what it is to be “sane” on a tiny planet spinning through an endless horrifying and beautiful Universe,” Wakefield continues.

The concept of The Swankeeper was birthed from a song off the album called “Clown Car,” about which Wakefield states, “The Swankeeper came from a character that grew out of our song ‘Clown Car.’ She made it onto a later track as well. In my mind she is almost like a missing tarot card, and you aren’t quite sure whether she’s a god or a villain, whether she’s bringing truth or fiction. She’s probably all of it.”

The first single from the album, “The Mattress,” was released on April 22 and is to be followed by singles “Lucky You” on May 14 and “Clown Car” on May 22. Each song is accompanied by a strange and mystical music video crafted by the band’s visual artist Rachelle Caplan in response to the abstract lyrics and deeper meaning within each track.

“The lyrics about the Swankeeper sort of came out almost in a possessed way,” Wakefield says. “Those are some of my favorite lyric moments, when lyrics write themselves. The Swankeeper in my mind is this mystical unknowable force, possibly a liar, graceful and ominous, inviting you to ‘Follow the Failed Leader.’”

Their first solo album since 2022’s Let It Be Gone, the band says The Swankeeper was “a longer songwriting process than previous albums.” The album draws from nearly four years’ worth of songs in order to craft an oddball sound. Experimenting with distorted drum machines, samples, found sounds and vocal effects among others, the band credits sound engineer John Hoffman’s creativity as a large part of their creative process.

“We just went there with this one,” Wakefield says. “We let ourselves be weird — be out there. We let the songs drop any self-consciousness, and just strut out and be freaks…I hope this album makes people feel more alive, and seen in their aloneness, in the strange quiet feelings of being human.”

For more information on Lung and to pre-order The Swankeeper, visit lungtheband.com.

Listen to “The Mattress” from Lung’s forthcoming album, The Swankeeper:

The post Cincinnati Band Lung to Release New Album ‘The Swankeeper’ appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

Every year, our readers vote on the best places and things in the city for our Best Of Cincinnati issue. When it comes to where to enjoy live (and often local) performances and a couple of drinks, CityBeat readers have spoken: Here are the top 10 bars in Greater Cincinnati to throw back some drinks while enjoying live music.

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