Summer music's peak weekend has arrived

The Miami Valley Music Fest is an annual festival held in Troy, which combines art and giving by showcasing the region's best musicians and providing grants to regional charity organizations. This year's festival runs Friday June 29 through Saturday June 30. Tickets run from $35 and up, and includes options for single-day, weekend, VIP, and RV passes. It's truly a magical weekend that captures all the great local talent I've featured every week, and a way to give back to our communities. #CharityRocks!

The United Irish of Dayton's annual

is the largest free music festival in downtown Dayton. It combines the top contemporary Celtic music acts fr

om around the world, with talented local dance troupes, yummy food and of course, beer! The festivities run Friday, July 29-Sunday, July 31. It's truly a wonderful time down at Riverscape, where you can enjoy the best of downtown. And good news, there is a shuttle service so parking is not an issue! Find out more about the shuttle service

.

Friday, July 29

One of the absolute "don't miss" shows of this weekend is the Wheels of Soul Tour, featuring Tedeschi Trucks Band, Los Lobos, and North Mississippi All Stars. What a fabulous group of musicians to put together, and right here in our back yard at The Rose Music Center! Hailed as "a magical night of soul-inspired music" (LA.com),"a show that eclipsed five hours and perhaps every other tour going on this summer" (Vegas Seven), and "THE rock 'n' soul tour for the summer" (USA Today), Wheels of Soul 2015 set the stage for what's sure to be an incredible 2016 run. Tickets start at $51. Doors 6 p.m., show 7 p.m.

Bluegrass fans who are downtown, be sure to swing by Tumbleweed Connection in the Oregon District to see local faves Sawgrass perform. Show starts at 9:30 p.m.

Female-fronted power pop band Six Stories Told (from Walden, NY) and Drop the Act (from New Castle, PA), are bringing their pop rock tour to South Park Tavern this evening. It's always fun to check out new bands from out of town!

Local rockers

, Bison Machine, The Mound Builders, and Strange Arithmetic are performing ragin' sets at Blind Bob's. 9 p.m. $5 at the door, 21+.

Can't get enough Celtic music this weekend? You're in luck! Father Son and Friends are a group that play Traditional Celtic Music in an American style found more in the Appalachian Mountain Region. They will be at Dublin Pub from 8 p.m.-12 a.m.

Outside of Dayton, stop by Peach's Grill in Yellow Springs to see Stark Folk Band, performing with Lord Kimbo. Stark Folk has a couple members who are truly some of my first rock'n'roll allies, so please show them some love! No cover! 10 p.m. showtime. 18+ with ID.

Reminder: Both the Miami Valley Music Festival (in Troy) and the free Celtic Festival (downtown Dayton) are going on today, as mentioned previously.

If you're not rockin' out one of the festivals this evening, then my next choice would be seeing The Cliftones and Ernie Johnson from Detroit at Trolley Stop. Amazing local reggae and funk bands that are a perfect compliment to a summer night, especially with that fabulous patio scene! 9:30 p.m. $5 cover. 21+.

Country Music Hall of Famers, The Oak Ridge Boys, are bringing their golden voices to The Rose Music Center's stage. For anyone who is an old-school country music fan, this is an amazing opportunity to see these legends. Tickets start at $23.50. Doors 6 p.m., show 7 p.m.

Rock fans have tons of choices this evening! They are invited to party with JOUNCE, Grenades!?, The A.M. Soul Society, & Modern Vices at Blind Bob's! It's a helluva good line-up, so you know it's gonna be fun. Usual rules apply : $5 at the door, 21+.

Down the street at Oregon Express, ThunderTaker's Protostar EP release show is happening, supported by Dip Spit and McGuff & the Dumpster Fires. Congrats on the EP release! I'm sure spirits will be high at this show! $5 cover. Doors at 9 p.m. 21+.

Across town, and conveniently located adjacent to the Celtic Festival, rock fans will be entertained by the Cincinnati's J Carl Smith Project at Riff Raff Tavern. 8:30 p.m. show.

Over at Jimmie's Ladder 11 you can catch

and

. These bands bring a mix of styles to the stage, from psychedelic, blues, alternative, hard rock and folk. Something for everyone! Show starts at 10 p.m. $5 cover. 21+.

Another post Celtic Festival party at Dublin Pub this evening, featuring 9 Castle Close. They pride themselves on adding a new dimension to the Celtic rock scene. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. show.

Out in Yellow Springs, catch Yikes at Band at Super-Fly Comics & Games at 8pm. Later you can see The Shady Grovers at Peach's Grill at 10 p.m. No cover at the latter show! 18+.

Reminder: Both the Miami Valley Music Festival (in Troy) and the free Celtic Festival (downtown Dayton) are going on today, as mentioned previously.

Sunday, July 31

Sunday Funday just got a lot cooler over at Jimmie's Ladder 11. You can catch three awesome singer/songwriters from the area perform a daytime set, featuring David Payne, Harold Hensley, Kent Montgomery. 3-6 p.m.

Late night, check out Joshua Goodloe, Sean Patrick and the Newgrass Revolution, Charlie Jackson at Blind Bob's. 9 p.m. $5 cover. 21+.

Reminder: The free Celtic Festival (downtown Dayton) is going on today as well, as mentioned previously.

Tuesday, August 2

Attention 90's rock fans, Goo Goo Dolls, Collective Soul, and Tribe Society are all performing at The Rose Music Center. These guys dominated the charts, and they are planning to do the same live. Tickets start at $49. Doors 6 p.m., show 7 p.m.

The fabulous Ms Diana Ross is here! Incredibly, the pop legend who started her reign in the 60's with The Supremes, is on tour once again and performing at The Rose Music Center. (Are they on a roll or what?!). Needless to say, she is a true icon in the music world, and one of the greatest female vocalists of all time. Don't miss an opportunity to see her live! Tickets start at $24.50. Doors 6 p.m. Show 7 p.m.

As always, thank you for supporting live music!