Queen City Music Spotlight: Catch These 11 Cincinnati Concerts Featuring Local Acts in January | Cincinnati

Michael Oliva, frontman of longtime local explosive psych-garage band The Harlequins will be adding a solo venture to his resume this month as he makes an appearance every Wednesday in January for MOTR’s artist in residency program. The month starts off on Wednesday, Jan. 3 with Carriers and Soften followed by Zoo and Waning Jan. 10, Bugsley and Jay Hill on Jan. 17 and The Dolly Daredevils and Pretty Mean on Jan. 24. The final date of the residency ends with Coast Off and two sets from Oliva, including a repertoire-expanding set featuring Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra violinist Eric Bates. Wednesdays at 9 p.m. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/events.

Some groups and singers make country, roots and bluegrass music that seems to roll out of the past and into the world, anew. Many of the artists in this residency, including local roots band Joe’s Truck Stop, are these sorts of country music innovators, helping to keep regional melodies alive. The varied lineup changes each week and includes pop-ups and an art show. The residency starts off with local country duo Bedel & Hibbard for a night labeled Truck Stop Story Hour. Week two features music and an art show with musician and artist John K. Victor followed by the Honky Tonk Truck Stop Ball for week three featuring Corn Johnson & CoRn, a two-step dance instruction and a vintage and western pop-up. The residency finishes off with Truck Stop Writers Round featuring Rae Fisher and Harlot, along with a potluck. Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. Free. Southgate House Revival, 111 E. 6th St., Newport, southgatehouse.com.

Stop off at the bottom of the hill on Vine Street in the corner club positioned on a fork in the road in one of the city’s most unique buildings, Schwartz’s Point, to listen to some jazz this month. Local French horn player Melvin Jackson has performed with orchestras but has made jazz part of his repertoire in recent years. Jackson and his quartet will perform a set of atmospheric compositions from jazz great Thelonius Monk at Schwartz’s Point on this first Friday night of the year. 8:30 p.m. Jan. 5. Schwartz’s Point. 1901 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, thepointclub.com.

Local piano prodigy Ben Levin has performed boogie-woogie piano, blues and old rock and roll since he was a kid. In the handful of years since, he’s made records of his own and performed with late King Records legend Philip Paul and others. Levin will be leading a band through some of the culture-influencing records made at the groundbreaking Cincinnati label, King Records, at Memorial Hall for this special look at local history as part of the series. Learn some history and hear it, at the same time. Maybe even feel it. 7 p.m. Jan. 8. $12, $10 for students, $11 for veterans. Memorial Hall, 1225 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, memorialhallotr.com.

Maura Weaver landed on CityBeat’s recent Best Local Songs of 2023 list and for good reason with her resonant and emotional songwriting with tasteful touches. See her perform solo on the same bill as another singular local artist, Rae Fisher. They’ll be supporting Chicago bedroom-pop, folk act Ulna, whose sound touches on some of the hallmarks of the great Elliott Smith. 8 p.m. Jan. 9. Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside, northsidetavern.com.

Local artist Umin uses electronics, percussion, acoustic and other created instruments to build songs like a patchwork of instrumentation and melodies all countering and colliding and somehow finding cohesion. The night also features local ambient synth project Hare Hunter Field. Electro-pop act Kelly Eryn & The Midnight Vigil round out the lineup. 9 p.m. Jan. 11. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com.

The atmospheric female duo of guitar/vocals and drums, Sharp Toys, play the Comet in Northside with exploratory Americana roots guitar player and singer Night Owl. Garage pop band Paper Airplane round out the bill. Jan. 12. More info to come. The Comet, 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside, cometbar.com.

Spiderhand, consisting of Vivien Rusche, David Morrison, Jon Kerz and Derek Stinson, is a band made up of local legends that have been active since the first wave of punk, in some cases, but sound as vibrant and immediate as any band working in the city today. The band’s song “Motor of the Universe” was featured on CityBeat’s Best Local Releases of 2023. Local punk bands Nevernew and The Actual Fuck round out the bill. 9 p.m. Jan. 13. Free. Taproom on Ludlow, 360 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, facebook.com/events.

Local up-and-coming garagey-rock and roll band Kid in the Well perform with another newer local band, the melodic alt-rock band Girl Gordon. The two bands support Illinois soul-rock band The Holdovers. Whether you’re maintaining your New Year’s resolution or not, get your Comet burrito and see some of the newest Cincinnati rock and roll. 10 p.m. Jan. 25. Free. The Comet, 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside, facebook.com.

Mol Sullivan has been a longtime staple as a singer-songwriter in Cincinnati with her powerful and expressive vocals, songwriting and often innovative arrangements. In the last year or so of releases, Sullivan has topped even herself with a handful of seemingly effortlessly inventive art-pop singles and equally expressive videos. It all led up to the release of her debut full-length album titled Goose, out this month, with this release celebration featuring Cincinnati R&B-flavored avant-pop artist Leo Pastel and Chicago singer-songwriter and Goose album producer, Sima Cunningham. 8 p.m. Jan. 26. $17 in advance and $20 at the door. Woodward Theater, 1404 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, woodwardtheater.com.