Dayton Music Insider: Wham Bam & Juicy Jams!

This week, it was interesting to note, that Thursday (aka Bootleg Friday) has stolen the show from the weekend. For some reason, it's an evening absolutely packed with amazing shows! Definitely one heck of a way to kick off the weekend!

Read on to find out about this weekend's regional festival, Wham Bam Thank U Jam, along with all the other juicy jams happening around Dayton!

Weekend Long Festivals

Credit: Libby Ballengee

Credit: Libby Ballengee

Fam, this is your friendly reminder that Wham Bam Thank U Jam  is this weekend, south of town near Oxford. This weekend long celebration of love and life, through music, is a true party! Loads of live music, a massive bonfire, and non-stop smiles! Just what the Dr ordered after the hate and negativity we've experienced the past week. Need to turn that frown upside down? Boogie on down to College Corner and lay your worries aside!

Enjoy live music from The Almighty Get Down, Baoku, Bauner Chafin Band, Earth Tongue, Electric Orange Peel, Far From Eden, Founding Fathers, JoJo Stella, The Mainline Funk, Sharon Lane, Terrapin Moon, Willy Clark Band, Zane & The Sway + many more!

Ticket info: $50 pre-sale at authorized outlets here. $60 at the gate.  Each ticket includes entry to Celebration Friday, August 18 thru Sunday, August 20th. Choice of camping sites and free parking. There is an Early Bird Thursday option where you pay $10 at the gate + regular ticket. Will Call is located at the front gate. Happy Wham Bam to you all!

Thursday August 17th

Credit: Libby Ballengee

Credit: Libby Ballengee

Back in Dayton, music fans are super excited for

Levitt Preview Concert 

featuring

The Suffers,

an 8-piece Gulf Coast Soul act that is getting rave reviews across the nation!

This concert is a sneak peek of the Levitt experience, before the construction gets started on the new Levitt Pavilion going in at Dave Hall Plaza. And just like all the Levitt shows to come - it's free! All ages welcome!

Show starts promptly at 7:00PM. BYO lawn chair, blanket, and cooler. Stop on by for a great evening of FREE music!

Across town, there is another opportunity for free music at

RiverScape MetroPark’s. 

Their Summer Music Series, presented by Dayton.com, continues with the

Dayton Jazz Orchestra

(

). Bring a lawn chair and your dancing shoes for a great night of music! Weather dependent.

7:30pm - 9:30pm. All ages! Free!

Thursday night is packed with live music, so hang on, we're just getting started! Up at Rose Music Center, enjoy a blast from the past with The O'Jays with The Ohio PlayersThe O'Jays are excited to show off the electrifying energy they've had for over 50 years. They're performing along with Dayton's own The Ohio Players. Sweet! Doors 7pm. Show 8pm. Tickets start at $23.50. Ticket prices include parking and are subject to applicable Ticketmaster fees and day of show increase.

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This week you can also enjoy one of the

Showcase

Yellow Cab. 

This week's acts feature

Matt Cary, Kyleen, Timothy Michael, Debbie Decasio,

and

Golden Guy

. Music from 8pm-11:30pm.

Hannah's on Ludlow is proud to announce their new Jazz Night at Hannah's, every Thursday from 8:30pm-11pm. Check it out!

A unique punk-country show is happening over at  South Park Tavern Thursday night with  The Punknecks and Orca Love . The former is on tour from Hollywood, and ready to make a splash in the DYT! Be sure to stop out and show them some hometown love! Music from 9-11pm.

One of my fave live music events of the week is the Medicine Wheel at Oregon Express. It's a free show every Thursday, featuring two sets of wailing guitars from Chris Coalt Sr and Chris Coalt Jr, along with Chuckie Love and Rob Brockman from Suberranean. Word on the street is that a very special touring musician might be making a cameo as well! Gonna be hopin'! Music starts at 10pm. (PS... This is a great post-show after The Suffers concert at Dave Hall Plaza - walking distance!)

Credit: Libby Ballengee

Credit: Libby Ballengee

Out in Beavercreek, you can get your live music on as well! Check out The Brian Wallen Quartet a t Spinoza's inside the Fairfield Mall. The Quartet featuers John Lardinois, Ben Cooper, Brian Spirk and of course, Brian Wallen. They are set to deliver 2 sets of hard drivin', full contact, shootin from the hip bluegrass. Music from 6:30pm-10pm.

Friday August 18th

Friday night Joe Bonamassa is performing at Fraze Pavilion , in what is being called "The Guitar Event of the Year."  Hailed worldwide as one of the greatest guitar players of his generation, Grammy-nominated blues-rock guitar icon Joe Bonamassa makes his way to the Dayton area with a stellar band of legendary musicians. Tickets are $89 - Lawn & Terrace. There is a 20% student & military discount with valid ID at Fraze FanFare only (limit 2). Show at 8pm. Not familiar with Joe? Download a Free Song from Joe Bonamassa at www.jbonamassa.com/freemp3

Punk fans will be heading over to Jimmie's Ladder 11 to see Big Wooly, Devious Ones, Sagermen, and Amber Gregory . Friday night punk rock party with Detroit Garage Punkers, Devious Ones! 9pm. $5 cover.

Credit: Libby Ballengee

Credit: Libby Ballengee

The Pinkertones are back! Your favorite '90s era Weezer tribute act is back at Blind Bob's, along with special guests,  Temper, Temper, Temperature, performing At the Drive-in's album "Relationship of Command." It's a tribute show kind of night! Doors at 9pm. $5 cover. 21+

Saturday August 19th

One of the premiere events of the weekend is David Payne's EP Release Show at Yellow Cab. It promises to be an intimate night of songs, stories, and photographs from Dayton. Featured Performers include David Payne (The New Old-Fashioned), Tod Weidner (Shrug), Joe Anderl (1984 Draft), Tim Pritchard (Boxcar Suite), and Harold Hensley (The Repeating Arms). What a fabulous crew! Featured Photographers are also on display, with Bill Cunningham, Chris Corn, Jennifer Taylor, and Jay Woessner. Doors at 7. Music at 8. $5 cover.

Alternative / indie / hard rock fans are in for a treat at  Blind Bob's  Saturday night with Manray,  Mad Anthony (Cincinnati)Honah Lee  (Trenton, NJ) and Cloud Shroud. Doors at 9pm. $5 cover. 21+

Also in the Oregon District, you can catch the electric mix of Todd the Fox, Dip Spit, and Age Nowhere at Oregon Express. A little bit country, a helping of hip hop, and a whole lot of rock'n'roll! 9pm. 21+ Cover tbd

Outside of Dayton, there is plenty of great music to enjoy! The Anniversary Gala at Blue Note Bistro in Miamisburg is one not to miss! They are celebrating their one year anniversary with free hors' duerves, champagne and games start at 9pm. Dinner service will feature Chuck Evans at 5pm, Todd the Fox at 6:30pm and then Kelsey Mira at 9pm. The event will also have games and fun to help raise funds for the Miamisburg Bicenntenial that will occur next year. A great time to celebrate all around!

Credit: Libby Ballengee

Credit: Libby Ballengee

Singer Songwriters Raggedy Edge are performing at the  Clifton Opera House Saturday evening as well. This 2-piece indie pop folk rock group is born of an Americana folk rock tradition steeped in bluegrass, country, and blues, and with an easy-going schmaltz that is entertaining and easy to understand. There's a $10 donation at the door. 7:30-9:30pm

Rock out to ThunderTaker and Founding Fathers with special guests The Lucid Furs (MI)  at Courtyard Lounge in Englewood. It's going to be a solid night of earth-moving grooves, psychedelic homage, and head-banging! 9pm. 21+ $5 cover.

Sunday August 20th

Get your funk on Sunday night with Brian Culbertson and George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic at Rose Music Center! For those not familiar, Brian Culbertson is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist, writer and producer who crosses genres between contemporary jazz, R&B, and funk. NOTE: Culbertson will open the show and Parliament Funkadelic will close the show. Doors 6pm. Show 7pm. Tickets start at $23.50. Ticket prices include parking and are subject to applicable Ticketmaster fees and day of show increase.

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Later on Sunday, head over to

Blind Bob's

for a

Night of the Beats, featuring Eruftuf, Tawny Indian, Off the Meat RackBig OZ aka Debbie,

with DJ sets by

 209 SINS & Brett F. 

8pm. $5 cover. 21+

And as always, thank you for supporting live music!

Your Dayton Music Insider,
Libby Ballengee
Note to Readers:  The information above is for August 17th-20th, 2017. If I don’t list a price, I’m not sure what it is. Typically cover charges for local shows are $5. Click hyperlinks to find out more about the bands, venues, and events, including start times, directions, and ticket availability.   Keep up with my live music adventures on Facebook, Instagram, or  Twitter. Enjoy the show! 

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