Bryce Dessner, the Cincinnati-born Grammy Award-winning composer and musician and co-founder of indie rock band The National, has been nominated for an Academy Award.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the nominations for its 98th annual Oscars on Thursday. Dessner, along with Australian musician Nick Cave, was nominated for Best Original Song for “Train Dreams” in the Netflix period drama of the same name. Dessner composed the film’s score, as well. 

“[Dessner’s] nomination underscores the global reach of artists shaped in this region and highlights Cincinnati’s influence on the international creative landscape,” Film Cincinnati said in a press release following the announcement, adding he’s become one of the most sought-after composers in contemporary music.

Train Dreams, directed by Clint Bentley and starring Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones, is based on a 2011 novella by Denis Johnson and follows the life of Robert Grainier (Edgerton) as he works the land in the early 20th century, helping build the country’s future. The story’s told against the backdrop of the Pacific Northwest, the landscape of which played a big role in the score’s creation, said Dessner.

“I wanted to explore all those sounds and the poetry of the filmmaking. Also, a lot of [the film] is silent; a lot of the film has very little dialogue. It’s very much immersed in the environment so that just the sweep of the forest, the sense of the earth were really important for me in the music,” Dessner said during an interview with Netflix.

Train Dreams was the fourth film Dessner has worked on with the film’s director and co-writer Bentley and co-writer Greg Kwedar, having also co-composed the scores for Transpecos (2016) and Jockey (2021) with his brother and fellow The National founder, Aaron Dessner, as well as composed the score for Sing Sing (2023). 

Other songs nominated for Best Original Song include “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters, “Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless, “I Lied to You” from Sinners and “Sweet Dreams of Joy” from Viva Verdi!

The 2026 Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 15, and you can watch on ABC and Hulu. You can stream Train Dreams on Netflix now and listen to the song here or below:

The post Cincinnati-native and The National co-founder Bryce Dessner nominated for Academy Award appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

We’re getting a better look at the new music center being built in Greater Cincinnati.

On Wednesday, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and its subsidiary, Music & Event Management, Inc., known as MEMI, released new renderings of the upcoming Farmer Music Center, a new, state-of-the-art music and entertainment venue currently being built on the former site of Coney Island. The orchestra and MEMI also launched a new website and social media channels for the venue and released its official logos, as well as more details on the venue’s fan experiences and estimated economic impact.

MEMI says the music center’s design is a thoughtful reimagining of what a great concert night should be, with fans and stars at the center. Design elements include an innovative vertical design that offers better sightlines, cleaner sound and an intuitive layout. The venue will be able to seat up to 20,000 guests, including 8,000 reserved seats and space for 12,000 people on the lawn. Fans can also experience the venue’s four premium club spaces or two levels of box suites, which offer exclusive amenities and extra comfort.

The Farmer Music Center will also have more than 300,000 square feet of concourse and club space, with elevated food and beverage options available throughout the venue, including 25 full-service bars and concession stands, plus multiple grab-and-go kiosks. 

“This is a meaningful step forward for the project and for the future of live music in Southwest Ohio,” Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra President and CEO Robert McGrath said in a press release. “These updates give the community its clearest view yet of what will be the most innovative venue design in the region, one built to put artists and audiences at the center of every performance, while strengthening our ongoing commitment to the region’s cultural and economic vitality.”

The venue is expected increase total live events in the area by 30%, boosting tourism and support to small businesses and generating more than $100 million in annual economic impact, says MEMI. The Farmer Music Center will also create around $7 million in state tax revenue and $15 million in new city tax revenue over the next 10 years. And with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and MEMI’s unique funding model, net revenues will be reinvested into Cincinnati’s arts scene, helping fund the orchestra’s education programs, neighborhood concerts and orchestral programming. 

“A venue like this does more than bring great music to Cincinnati — it creates real momentum for the city,” said Mike Smith, CEO of MEMI. “From hotel stays and restaurant traffic to seasonal jobs, the economic ripple effect reaches far beyond the gates.”

The Farmer Music Center will be located on the former Coney Island site, next to Riverbend Music Center along Kellogg Avenue in Cincinnati’s California neighborhood and Anderson Township, with a planned opening for spring 2027. The public can follow its progress and get updates on the venue’s new website and social media channels.

The post New renderings and details of Greater Cincinnati’s upcoming state-of-the-art music venue released appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

A national music magazine is putting a spotlight on one of Cincinnati’s most popular jazz clubs.

Caffè Vivace in Walnut Hills was included in DownBeat Magazine’s 2026 guide of the Best Jazz Venues, an annual list that highlights premier jazz venues around the world. DownBeat is one of the most respected and longest-running jazz publications in the world, and venues, which are chosen by editors and contributors, that are included in its annual guide meet high standards for artistic quality, sound, consistency and commitment to jazz.

Best known for its curated programming and performances from both emerging and established artists, Caffè Vivace says the honor reflects its ongoing commitment to hosting high-quality international and local live jazz musicians in an intimate and artist-centered setting. The guide is also widely read by touring artists, managers, booking agents and serious jazz audiences, helping put Caffè Vivace on the radar of both artists and listeners. 

“We are honored to be recognized by DownBeat,” Caffè Vivace owner Brent Gallaher said in a press release. “This acknowledgment recognizes and celebrates our mission to support artists and create a welcoming space where great music can thrive.”

You can see the full annual list in the February 2026 issue of DownBeat. Visit Caffè Vivace’s website or social media for upcoming shows.

Caffè Vivace, 975 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills. More info: jazzvivace.org.

The post Walnut Hills’ Caffè Vivace named one of world’s best jazz venues by music magazine appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

The annual Railbird Music Festival will return to Lexington next June with a packed lineup of some of the best acts in country, folk and rock music, featuring headliners like Tyler Childers and the Lumineers.

Organizers released the full lineup of the 2026 Railbird Music Fest Monday, which returns to Lexington’s Infield at Red Mile Saturday and Sunday, June 6-7. More than 30 artists will perform across three stages, with acts including Zach Top, Ella Langley, Caamp, Mt. Joy, Sam Barber, Muscadine Bloodline and more. Attendees can also enjoy curated bourbon experiences.

The Lumineers will headline June 6, followed by Tyler Childers on June 7. You can see the full lineup on the poster below.

Tickets go on sale Wednesday, Oct. 22 at noon. You can sign up for Railbird’s SMS list for reminders and a link to purchase tickets. Two-day general admission begins at $265, but organizers say that price will increase at 1 p.m. on Wednesday. One-day general admission begins at $175. You can also upgrade to GA+, VIP or Platinum tickets. Purchase tickets and parking passes here.

Learn more at railbirdfest.com.

The post Railbird Music Fest Releases 2026 Lineup appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

A former University of Cincinnati Bearcats football player (and, okay, okay, also tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs) is marrying one of the biggest superstars of all time.

The Grammy Award-winning Taylor Swift and multi-Super Bowl champion Travis Kelce announced their engagement on social media today, making an otherwise very average Tuesday something much sparklier for Cincinnati swifties.

“Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,” Swift posted on Instagram, tagging the post with her song “So High School,” which is very much about her romance with Kelce. The post features several engagement photos in a fairytale-esque garden, including one of Travis on bended knee and another that’s a close-up of the diamond ring — an Old Mine Brilliant Cut designed by Artifex Fine Jewelry’s Kindred Lubeck, according to E! News. As of this writing, the post has garnered over 13 million likes.

America’s sweetheart Taylor and Ohio boy Travis started dating in 2023. According to the couple, that summer, Kelce attempted to give her his phone number via friendship bracelet during her Eras Tour stop at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City that July. After that didn’t work, Kelce talked about the attempt on his and his brother Jason Kelce’s podcast, New Heights.

“I was disappointed that she doesn’t talk before or after her shows because she has to save her voice for the 44 songs that she sings,” Travis said. “So I was a little butt-hurt I didn’t get to hand her one of the bracelets I made for her. If you’re up on Taylor Swift concerts, there are friendship bracelets, and I received a bunch of them being there, but I wanted to give Taylor Swift one with my number on it…. She doesn’t meet anybody—or at least she didn’t want to meet me, so I took it personal,” Travis said in the July 26, 2023 episode.

While the friendship bracelet didn’t catch Taylor’s attention at first, that podcast episode did.

“This all started when Travis very adorably put me on blast on his podcast, which I thought was metal as hell,” Taylor told TIME when she appeared in the December 2023 “Person of the Year” issue. “We started hanging out right after that. So we actually had a significant amount of time that no one knew, which I’m grateful for, because we got to get to know each other.”

While the world celebrates the engagement, Travis’ college alma mater wants to remind everyone he (and now by extension, Taylor) are “Bearcats for Life.”

“It’s a (Bearcat) love story. Taylor just said yes! Congrats,” UC shared in an Instagram post Tuesday. Travis played for the Bearcats as a tight end from 2008 to 2012.

The post Taylor Swift is Engaged to a Former University of Cincinnati Football Player appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

Organizers have announced the fourth headliner to perform at America’s River Roots Festival in October.

On Monday, organizers revealed that innovative R&B artist Janelle Monáe will kickoff the headline music series at America’s River Roots Festival on Thursday, Oct. 9.

Monáe is a singer, rapper, songwriter, actress and activist. She has been nominated for ten Grammy Awards and is the recipient of the Billboard Women in Music Rising Star Award. Fans have speculated that Monáe could be releasing new music in the near future, citing a series of cryptic posts on Monáe’s social media that show her creating original music on a guitar and Orchid synthesizer.

The pop and R&B artist joins other River Roots main stage headliners Mt. Joy, Weezer, Maren Morris and Walker Hayes. Tickets to the headline music series can be purchased by visiting americasriverroots.com/music.

The festival will also feature free performances from national and regional artists across themed stages along the riverfront, including:

• Sawyer Point Stage (Gospel & Cultural Rhythms)
• Schmidlapp Stage (Jazz, Gospel)
• Freedom Center Stage (R&B, Blues)
• Covington Stage (Bluegrass, Country, Americana)
• Newport Stage (Southern Rock, Blues)
• Yeatmans Cove Stage (Cross-Genre)
• Public Landing Stage (Regional Music)

Apart from music performances, festivalgoers can expect riverboat cruises, bourbon tastings and bottles in Newport, the Craft Brewmaster Experience with tours and tastings in Smale Park, a local artisan bazaar on the Purple People Bridge and more.

America’s River Roots Festival takes place from Oct. 8-12 along the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky riverfronts. To learn more about America’s River Roots Festival, visit americasriverroots.com.

The post Janelle Monáe to Kickoff the Headline Music Series at America’s River Roots Festival appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

A new multi-venue and genre-spanning music and arts festival will debut in Covington this weekend.

The Arcade Music Fest will feature 80 artists spanning multiple genres across eight stages, with more than 30 local vendors and a showcase of visual art. The festival takes place on Friday, Aug. 8 and Saturday, Aug. 9.

The festival is co-founded by Emma Ranney, the general manager of Revival Vintage Bottle Shop, and musician Jared Metz, who both hope to use the festival to put a spotlight on the local music scene.

“Cincinnati’s music scene is thriving in a city that lost its two biggest festivals, Bunbury and MidPoint Music Fest. As musicians, we wanted to curate a large-scale music festival to showcase our wildly eclectic music scene, but in a new way,” Ranney said in a press release.

The historic Arcade Tunnel becomes the star of the show during the Arcade Music Fest, transformed into a glowing, immersive main stage.

The rest of the festival will take place on stages located in and around Covington’s Central Business District, with each stage dedicated to showcasing a different music genre. These stages include: Folk/Americana stage (Revival Bottle Shop), R&B Stage (Madison Live), EDM Stage (Galaxie), and a combination of Rock/Pop/Indie genres at Second Story, Olde Town Tavern and an outdoor stage on Pike Street.

Headliners Coastal Club, Departure Lounge, Devin Burgess, Audley and Patterns of Chaos will be performing on the Arcade Tunnel and Madison Live stages.

Live performances will take place from 6-11 p.m. each night, with an after party at Madison Live on Friday and at a secret location on Saturday.

Entry to the music festival is free, but VIP tickets will give you access to an exclusive bar, professional photo booth, BLINK-grade activations by Dan Shields and Kemper Studios and Madison Live’s Pizza Boiz “Super Local” hip‑hop showcase. One-day VIP passes are $25 and two-day VIP passes are $45; VIP tickets can be purchased here.

For more information about the Arcade Music Fest and to see the entire lineup, visit arcademusicfest.com.

The post New Genre-Spanning Music and Arts Festival to Debut in Covington This Weekend appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

Cincinnati’s next big music venue now has a name after a big donation.

MEMI, a subsidiary of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) that manages live entertainment venues, including Riverbend Music Center and the Andrew J Brady Music Center, announced Thursday that its new state-of-the-art music and entertainment venue being built on the site of the former Coney Island will be called the Farmer Music Center after a $60 million gift from the Farmer Family Foundation. The organization says it’s the largest philanthropic commitment to the arts in recent Cincinnati history.

“We are deeply grateful to the entire Farmer family, represented by the Farmer Family Foundation, for their vision, support and belief in the life-changing power of music,” Robert McGrath, CSO president and CEO, said in a statement. “This extraordinary gift from the Farmer Family Foundation reflects a tremendous vote of confidence in the project and represents a transformative investment in Cincinnati’s future, one that will enhance the quality of life in our region for generations to come. By naming this venue ‘The Farmer Music Center,’ we honor the family’s generosity and ensure that its legacy will be forever linked to the cultural vitality of Cincinnati.”

MEMI says the Farmer Music Center is expected to open in spring 2027 and will generate $82 million in annual economic impact, create hundreds of jobs and increase tourism to the region. In its first 10 years, it’s expected to provide $15 million in city tax revenue and $7 million in state tax revenue.

“Music and live entertainment have long played an important role in bringing people together,” Scott D. Farmer, trustee with the Farmer Family Foundation, said in the press release. “It energizes communities, creates shared experiences and drives meaningful economic impact. We’re proud to support the creation of The Farmer Music Center to enhance the quality of life and serve as a catalyst for growth and connection across the region.”

The Farmer Music Center will feature a cutting-edge vertical design to appeal to both concertgoers and artists, plus the capacity to seat 8,000 people and a general-admission lawn that can host 12,000 more. Upgraded amenities will include expanded concessions and restrooms, a 300,000-square-foot concourse and a new club space that takes advantage of the vertical design.

In addition to the economic boost MEMI expects the venue to provide, the Farmer Music Center will also help support the CSO through it and MEMI’s unique funding model. MEMI reinvests all its net revenue into the CSO, allowing the CSO to continue offering its music programming, as well as educational programs and community concerts.

MEMI says it will hold a press conference later this summer to offer more details on the Farmer Music Center.

The post MEMI Announces Name of New State-of-the-Art Music Venue in Anderson Township appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

The Queen City is full of local musicians putting out great music — and CityBeat wants to help them promote their music in a new way.

We’re putting together a special “Local Record-O-Rama” feature for an upcoming print issue, out on newsstands July 9. The feature — which will also be published on our website — will be a roundup of music put out by Cincinnati musicians in the past year.

If you’re a Greater Cincinnati area musician or band who has dropped any tracks, albums or EPs in the past year, we’d love to include you.

To be considered, simply fill out our Local Record-O-Rama form by June 27.

Don’t miss your chance to be featured alongside other talented artists from the Greater Cincinnati area.

The post Drop New Music in the Past Year? CityBeat Wants to Hear It 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.