Over 3 days, you can enjoy exciting free live music, yummy brews and foods, cultural workshops, whiskey tastings, a 5k run/walk, bike ride, a children's area, and yes, a parade of kilts!
Keep reading to get the deets on this year's Celtic Festival, along with many other fun original music events around the Miami Valley.
Credit: Libby Ballengee
Credit: Libby Ballengee
Friday right after work, is when you can kick off the weekend at the 16th annual United Irish of Dayton Celtic Festival at RiverScape MetroPark. If you love live music, enjoy FOUR stages of continuous live musical and dance entertainment - over the entire weekend! This year's festival features seven headliners: Gaelic Storm, Scythian, Socks in the Frying Pan, We Banjo 3, The Elders, Skipper's Alley, and The Fitzgeralds, along with lots of local and regional entertainers. This event is rain or shine (stages offer covered seating). Visit www.daytoncelticfestival.com or call (937) 372-9788 for more information. Festival runs Fri., July 28, 5.30-11 p.m.; Sat., July 29, 11.30 a.m. – 11 p.m.; Sun., July 30, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. All ages! FREE!
Credit: Libby Ballengee
Credit: Libby Ballengee
Another weekend long festival is happening south of town too:
This 2-day festival is geared towards the bluegrass, newgrass, and Americana music lovers in the area, featuring
Restless Leg String Band, The Repeating Arms, Mudbone, Nikki Talley & Jason Sharp, Flatland Harmony Experience, Wyatt McCubbin, Smiling Joe, Crow Spoon Creek, StrungUp Bluegrass Band, Kris B's Midnight Railroad, and 710 Ashbury.
Wow! Loving this lineup? Head to The VFW Campgrounds
at 8718 Claude Thomas Rd. Franklin, OH. $35 day of show.
One of the area's upcoming festivals, Canoegrass , is hosting a preview night at Dayton Beer Company, with Harold Hensley of The Repeating Arms. He'll be performing his self-described lonesome indie folk with a twang! There will also be contests, raffles, and Canoegrass ticket incentives! Music from 8-10pm
Definitely one of the most anticipated shows of the weekend is This Pine Box and Andy Gabbard Dual Release Party, with Shrug at Yellow Cab. Take a listen to Andy Gabbard 's follow-up solo album Plenum Castle and promising young Dayton band, This Pine Box 's The Way Out. Special guests, Shrug will be opening the show. Very cool! Tickets are $7 in advance through Eventbrite or $10 at the door. $5 extra for under 21. 8pm doors. 8:30pm-11:30pm show. All ages!
One of the rockin' ladies of Dayton, Gretchen from Oregon Express, is hosting a seriously and equally rockin' birthday with local bands Tigersex, Dark Backward and R.I.N.D. Definitely will be ragin' over there - so get in on the party! 9pm-1am 21+ $5 cover. (PS... Happy Birthday Gretchen!)
Credit: Libby Ballengee
Credit: Libby Ballengee
Local bands
Others by No One, HEXADIODE, Lot Lizard,
and
are also rockin' out at
on Friday night. I know tons of local rock fans will be stoked for this line-up! Get on it! 9pm-1am 21+ $5 cover.
Missing singer songwriter nights? If so, be sure to check out the Song Writers in the Round with Charlie Tipton & Tony Herdman at Hannah's on Ludlow. Food specials are also on tap - so bring your appetite too! Show 9pm - 2am.
A great night of music is happening at South Park Tavern with A Sides / B Sides and Rite of Venus. Enjoy some bluesy grooves and straight rock'n'roll. 21+ No cover! 9pm.
Saturday you can enjoy one of the area's truly unique events: Ye Olde Yellow Cabaret XI - Faeries, Pixies, Sprites & Friends. It's an entertainment spectacle that features bands: Frenchy and the Punk and Echo Mecca, Sideshow: Calvicade of Curiosities, Bellydance: Troupe Roja, Fire Dancing: DaShane StarFox, Aerial Arts: Unicorn & Hooping: Kelsey Jean, Burlesque: Ember, Draglesque: Miss Stixin Stones, Music: DJ V-Ral. Personally love all the dance featured! There will also be lots of vendors at this Yellow Cab event too! Show 7pm-1:30am. All ages (under 18 must be accompanied by parent). $15 pre-sale. Day of show tickets available too.
Credit: Libby Ballengee
Credit: Libby Ballengee
Looking for an early show? Head over to Fifth Street Brew Pub for
Live Music: Slice of American Pie
from 5-7pm. Lovely way to spend an early Saturday evening with friends, brews and yummy food!
It's time for another Gem City Get Down at Blind Bob's Bar! Hosted by MC Picket Fence with music provided by Trunk Bound Regime & DJ Domestic Bliss. This time around this event supports Kiva.org, which has been able to help many small businesses around the globe! Just a $3 donation to get in! It's extra cool knowing the funds are going to such awesome causes! 9pm doors. 21+
Sunset Junkies are back at The Oregon Express, for a rockin' night with their friends Evil Eye Gypsy and Stella's Demise. Hailing from Lima, Sunset Junkies is set to impress the Dayton crowd with their hard rock riffs. Show 10pm. $5 at the door. 21+.
Get your groove on late night with The Mainline Funk at Hannah's on Ludlow. The Mainline Funk loves mixing in jam, blues, and reggae into their funky jams. Will definitely get ya dancing! 11pm-2am.
A brand new Dayton band, Slur, is hosting their first show at South Park Tavern. Congrats!! Joining them are Goon and Bundy And The Spins. Lots of anticipation for the is punk show!! Get your seat early! 10pm show. 18+ FREE!
Credit: Libby Ballengee
Credit: Libby Ballengee
Cleveland's super popular funk/hip-hop/jam band
is in town, performing with local bands
CozmikSpirit
and
Willy Clark
(acoustic set)
This show promises a wonderful mix of musical sounds! Yes! Doors at 9 p.m. $5 cover. 18+
Last but not least, out in Eaton, there will be lots of tears and hugs at the Good Bye Party of Manfred, the longtime owner of Taffy's of Eaton, and one of the area's biggest champions of live music! There will also be an introduction of the new owner. Lots of area musicians will be performing in Manfred's honor, including: Moriah Haven, Lani Williams, Bob Dellaposta, Deano Rogers, Jimmy Woollard, Gary D. Williams, Jennifer Taylor, Dave Hawkins, Kevin Loving, Mike Crook, and Darrell Montgomery ! 8pm-1am. No cover!
And as always, thank you for supporting live music!
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