Dayton Music Insider: Spring has Sprung!

Credit: Libby Ballengee

Credit: Libby Ballengee

Spring is officially here - whether the weather decides to cooperate with us or not! So let's get out and celebrate the end of winter with live music!

Yet again, so many great options to choose from this weekend. Keep reading to find out all the details!

Friday March 23rd

Friday evening's live music roster boasts some of Dayton's most beloved musical acts, starting with  An Evening with Sharon Lane and Friends at Hannah's.  Joe Waters is planning on performing with Sharon, along with other surprise appearances I'm sure. Will be a lovely evening, for sure. No cover, so stop on out! Starts at 9pm.

Looking for a place to get your groove on? Head over to the Oregon District for a couple great shows for gettin' down with your bad self. I'd recommend checking out Nasty Bingo, a group that blends blues, rock and soul into infectious originals that you're sure to love! They'll be at Trolley Stop with Sparkeeta starting things off at 9:30pm. $5 cover.

Another funky group, Krunk Town Boogie  will be partying at Oregon Express. They are another group that blends a mix of styles - rock, blues, jazz, electronic psychedelic, and funk - to create truly original music. Very fun! No cover charge! 9:30pm.

Credit: Libby Ballengee

Credit: Libby Ballengee

Rock'n'roll more your style? It's going to be a good one at Jimmie's Ladder 11 with local bands Sidekick Complex (mix of r&b, hip-hop & rock), The Story Changes (features members of Hawthorne Heights) and Goodnight Goodnight (electronic indie rock up-and-comers). Music starts at 10pm. $5 cover. 21+

Blind Bob's has an extra fun night planned with  Speaking Suns  (feel good rock from Yellow Springs),  The Crooked Spines (dream pop from Athens), and ENZO  (new psychedelic rock group from Dayton) on the line-up. (Remember you can click hyper-links to check out the music before you go!) 9pm. $5 cover. 21+

Happy Chichestera singer-songwriter,-multi-instrumentalist, and producer from Columbus, is stopping by  Yellow Cab Tavern Friday evening. He's an original founding member of Royal Crescent Mob, Howlin' Maggie, and Twilight Singers. Darlene , a pop-punk trio from Cincinnati is also on the bill. Always fun to see new original Ohio bands! Doors at 8pm, $5, 18+

Credit: Libby Ballengee

Credit: Libby Ballengee

Yellow Springs fans are in for a treat with

(Covington) performing at

They are a 7-piece ensemble of 12-string guitar, violin, saxophone, keyboards, bass, and drums. Really cool, interesting sound that dives from melodic to hard driving rock. Personally love bands that play around with dynamics like that! Dayton's own

Boxcar Suite 

kicks off this great night of music. 10pm music starts.

North of town, get your blues and rockabilly fix with local vets Doug Hart Band and Cherry Lee & The Hot Rod Hounds at  Oscar's.  Super solid night of music! 9:30pm

Also performing on Friday evening is beloved local bluegrass / Americana group Berachah Valley at  Blue Note Bistro in Miamisburg. Along with the great music, you can enjoy the Bistro's cuisine and atmosphere, which is great for a date night! 9pm.

Saturday March 24th

Yellow Cab Tavern is again hosting a great night of music, featuring  Dawg Yawp  (Cincinnati), and local bands  Lioness and  Human Cannonball. These bands are all getting tons of buzz both in press and among fans. Another don't miss show! Doors open at 8pm and tickets are $9 in advance or $12 at the doors.

Strange Mechanics performing at  Hannah's on Saturday night is seriously going to be a cool show.  Strange Mechanics is a funk centered progressive jam band from Cincinnati, known for their epic live shows. If you are a funk, jam or reggae fan, this is one worth checking out. $10 admission. 9pm. 21+

So much fun stuff on Saturday, including the Grenades!?, Jounce (Brooklyn, NY), and SKRT  show at Blind Bob's. This indie show mixes elements of pop, punk, and straight up rock'n'roll. Definitely going to be a popular spot on Saturday night, so get your seat early! 9pm. $5 cover. 21+

17-year veteran Canadian psychobilly heavyweights Gutter Demons stop by South Park Tavern on their current tour. A rare opportunity to see this band on a small stage! Special local guests The Loveless kick things off.  9pm, $5 cover.

Credit: Libby Ballengee

Credit: Libby Ballengee

Soul singer / songwriter

(Indianapolis) is back at

Trolley Stop

on Saturday night.

Like Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, Sam Cooke, or Otis Redding? Check out Bashiri! Music starts at 9:30pm. $5 cover.

The Vibea multi-genre band that mixes hip hop, funk, soul, and rock'n'roll, is performing a free show at Oregon Express on Saturday nightSpecial guest Ben Clonch gets the night rolling first. No cover! 21+

Mike Milligan & Steam Shovel, a soulful blues rock group from Kokomo, Indiana is in town performing at  Tumbleweed Connection . These road warrior veterans are celebrating 25 years of touring, opening for the likes of B.B. King and Buddy Guy. Definitely a good one to check out for blues fans in the area. 9:30pm.

Grateful Dead fans are going to be stoked to hear that tribute band Arrows of Neon  are back at one of the favorite stomping grounds, Jimmie's Ladder 11. They really do an amazing job recreating the most exciting era of GD music. 10pm. $5 cover. 21+

Credit: Libby Ballengee

Credit: Libby Ballengee

If you are south of town, or up for a bit of a drive, I'd recommend checking out

at

in Middletown.

High Altitude

will get the night started at 8:30pm, followed by

Chris Bro's 

solo set at 9:30. Subterranean goes on at 10pm, performing two sets of mind-expanding improv. Sure to be lots of great musical collaborations all night! $5 cover.

If you're into country music, there's a real interesting show happening at Peach's Grill in Yellow Springs. Steve Hammond's Experimental Honky Tonk  will perform their "outsider country and weirdo Americana" music. Sounds like a good time to me! 10pm.

Last but not least, please consider supporting the Tim Kauffman Benefit at Blue Note Bistro in Miamisburg. They are helping raise money for their friend with Stage IV cancer. He and his family need support during this unforeseen time and you can help.

There will be three 90-minute performances to raise money for Tim and his family. The first show starts at 6:00pm, the second at 8:00pm and the third at 10:00pm. The full dinner menu will be served at the 6 o'clock and 8 o'clock shows. Appetizers and drinks only at the 10 o'clock show. There is a $10 per person cover charge at the door will go to Tim's benefit as well as %15 of all food and drink revenue for the evening!

Sunday March 25th

Credit: Libby Ballengee

Credit: Libby Ballengee

On Sunday you can catch one of Dayton's best performing arts groups, the

Bach Society

They will be celebrating the familial talent shared by Johann Sebastian and his sons Wilhelm Friedemann, Carl Philipp Emanuel, and Johann Christian. They left a legacy of music that inspires all musicians! Don't miss

Sebastian & Sons 

performance with a special appearance by

Human Race Theatre CoTickets here. 

4pm at the

Kettering Adventist Church.  

Note: at 3:00pm, an hour before the concert, musicologist

from New England Conservatory offers a view into the music and the legacy of the Bach family.

Another eclectic event in Yellow Springs this weekend is being presented by   Chamber Music in Yellow Springs series.  Brazilian Guitar Quartet  offers a unique combination of six- and eight-string guitars allows for exploration of original and unusual repertoires. They have been praised by the Washington Post for its "seductive beauty" and "virtuosic gusto." Individual tickets are $25 for adults and $7 for students. 7:30pm at the First Presbyterian Church of Yellow Springs ( map here ).

If you're Sunday Funday includes some late night fun, check out Razdabar Sound & Management's Artist Showcase featuring performances by DeShawn Knight, Ernest Mag Moore, JiGi Deniro, Jason Hampton & the band for the evening, Freakquency! Doors 9pm. Music 10pm. $5 cover. 21+

As always, thank you for supporting live music!

Your Dayton Music Insider,

Libby Ballengee

Featured Image: Photo by Stephanie Baker of Dayton band Grenades!? 

Note to Readers: The information above is for March 2018. This is a listing of interesting original music shows in the Miami Valley region, but is by no means definitive. There are always lots of shows happening! Click hyperlinks to find out more about the bands, venues, and events, including start times, directions, and ticket information. If I don't list a price, it wasn't listed. Typically cover charges for local shows are $5.  You can keep up with my live music adventures on Facebook, Instagram, or  Twitter

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