Dayton Music Insider: Music festivals galore!

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Credit: Libby Ballengee

Credit: Libby Ballengee

As the kids go back to school, the adults go out to play! That is my only explanation for the plethora of musical goodness going on this weekend! The entire Miami Valley region is packed with music festivals.

Keep reading for details on these festivals, and for incredible standalone shows as well. I encourage you to get out of the house and support these wonderful events! Countless hours have gone into crafting these showcases of local talent. Plus they are a lot of fun, and we could all use a little more fun in our lives, right?

Weekend Long Festivals:

The 11th Annual

Hog Jam 

makes a move to a new location this year. This year the festivities are taking place at Adventures on the Great Miami in Tipp City. There you can canoe or kayak, as well as enjoy two stages of live music, and of course, the hog roast! The music includes great acoustic acts, as well as some of the funkiest bands in the land! Weekend pre-sale

are just $40, and $50 at the gate, which includes camping. The festival starts Friday Aug. 26 at noon, and runs through late night Saturday Aug. 27.

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South of town, down in Oxford, another long standing music festival takes place this weekend. The 15th Annual Ohmstead Music Festival features music styles ranging from reggae, rock, hip-hop, jazz, jam, acoustic, and electronic, keeping the festival as diverse as possible! Online tickets are sold out as of publication, but at the gate tickets appear to be $60. Music gets started at 5 p.m. Friday Aug. 26 and runs through late night Saturday. For more information, click here.

Out in Yellow Springs, you can partake in the Clifton Gorge Music & Arts Festival, which starts at 4 p.m. Friday Aug. 26 from 4-11 p.m., and runs from 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday Aug. 27. There is a singer / songwriter contest, as well as music from Eric Jerardi, Todd the Fox, Ty Cooper, Kyle Elderidge & The Rhythm Rounders, and more! This festival also includes chainsaw carving competitions, fire dancers, and a beer tent. Who could ask for more?!

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Credit: Libby Ballengee

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Credit: Libby Ballengee

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Credit: Libby Ballengee

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Credit: Libby Ballengee

Downtown, Blind Bob's celebrates their

with an epic, all weekend party that is filled with some of my favorite local rock bands. Friday night's line up includes Grenades!?, The Saturday Giant, Yardboss, and The Boxcar Suite. Saturday night Night Beast, Swimming With Sharks, Electric Banana, and Automagik are on the bill. Wow! Now that's going to be a good time! 9 p.m. both nights. I'm assuming there is the usual $5 cover at the door.

There are also several ethnic festivals going on this weekend as well, which of course feature live music. Check out the African American Cultural Fest, the  Dayton Lebanese Festival , and the  Ohio Valley Indigenous Festival.

Friday, August 26th

New York City's Kings & Queens comes to town, supported by local bands Goodnight Goodnight, The Meal Tickets, and Trey Stone at Jimmie's Ladder 11. Tickets are $7 (with service fees) in advance or $10 day of show.

Topher James & The Biscuit Brigade are back at Trolley Stop this Friday. This is music to get your soul flowing and your feet dancing! I adore his voice and songwriting. Check them out - seriously! Show runs from 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. with breaks. $5 cover typically at the door.

Enjoy 2 sets of live music from JoJo Stella at Peach's Grill. This Bowling Green based band is influenced by funk, rock and soul, with elements jazz and improvisation, blended perfectly for the Yellow Springs crowd! Music starts at 10 p.m. Ages 18+ with ID. No cover!

West of town, please support the YWCA Wine & Beer Tasting Fundraiser at TAFFYs of Eaton with the a wonderful singer / songwriter, the lovely  Moriah Haven . You will be able to taste 5 wine or 5 beer or mix and match, with a nice big cheese tray with fruits. YUM! Show starts at 7:30 p.m. $20 for all! To register click here.

Saturday, August 27th

For Blues fans, don't miss the chance to see the legend himself, Mr Buddy Guy, along with young virtuoso, Johnny Lang at Fraze Pavilion. Both incredible musicians, needless to say. Tickets start at $30, and do go up $5 day of show. 7:30 p.m. showtime.

Death metal fans, Belphegor is in town, performing at Oddbody's Music Room, along iwth Origin, The Shining, and Abigail Williams. Tickets for this show are $30 at the door. Ages 18+.

Anyone out there miss Weezer? Oh sure you do! Check out a tribute show with The

Undone Sweaters

(gotta love the name!) and local rock band

at Jimmie's Ladder 11. 9 p.m. I assume a $5 cover at the door.

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Credit: Libby Ballengee

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Credit: Libby Ballengee

In the Oregon District, rock'a'billy band Cherry Lee & The Hotrod Hounds  are performing at Tumbleweed Connection. Love the combo of that band at that bar. Too fun! Over at Oregon Express, check out a rock show with  Ty Cooper, Scarecrow Sideshow, and Monocle.

Up north there is some fun stuff going on. In Vandalia, at Oscars Bar, they are hosting a Hard Rock Fest, featuring ThunderTaker, McGuff and the Dumpster Fires, Death By Fetish, and Grey Cloud Nein! $5 at the door. Proceeds benefit a fellow musician! 9 p.m.-1:30 a.m.

In Troy, don't miss the Concert on the Lawn with CAAMP , which features two gifted young musicians. Columbus natives, these long time friends have easy engaging harmonies and a folksy, Mumford-and-Sons love of story and string. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Troy-Hayner Cultural Center.

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Sunday August 28th

Omega Music presents a "live music crawl"on District Day,  to celebrate the diversity of live music available in The Oregon District.  Note: All venues are free entry and all ages during the course of the crawl.

Omega Music's District Day Music Schedule:

2 P.M. - Etch at Toxic Brew Company

3 P.M. - Cricketbows at Oregon Express Bar and Restaurant

4 P.M. - Speaking Suns at Blind Bob's Bar

5 P.M. - Omega DJs at Lily's Bistro and Shawn Stanley Duo at Trolley Stop

6 P.M. - D.I.R.S. Drill-Team at Trolley Stop's Street Side Courtyard

"Weird Al" Yankovic is bringing his wild and wacky Mandatory World Tour to the Rose Music Center on Sunday evening. Needless to say, he's always entertaining! Tickets start at $33, which include parking and are subject to applicable Ticketmaster fees and day of show increase. All events are rain or shine. 6 p.m.doors, 7 p.m. showtime.

Late night, there is one of my favorite line ups of the entire weekend at Blind Bob's, which includes Old News, Joshua Powell & the Great Train Robbery, Grayson David Schick, and Michael Tomlins. If you love Americana style rock'n'roll, don't miss this show! 9 p.m.-2 a.m. $5 at the door.

Tuesday, August 30th

A true powerhouse will be singing Tuesday night at Fraze Pavilion. The amazing Bonnie Raitt is making a stop in town with the Richard Thompson Trio. What a combo! Bonnie Raitt is Grammy Award winning, and considered one of the greatest singers of our time. Richard Thompson has been called "the finest rock songwriter after Bob Dylan and the best electric guitarist since Jimi Hendrix." For music lovers, this a gem of a show! Tickets are $46 and go up $5 day of show.

Wednesday, August 31st

Family Jam Productions presents a special event, the  Big Damn Homecoming Jam  at Therapy Cafe. One of my favorite horn players, Skabone Stan, is returning to town, and many Dayton musicians are joining him in an epic jam including Chris Houser (from The Werks), Dino Dimitrouleas, Ronald Frost, Anthony SaxTone Arrington, Jonny Dread, Tony Herdman, Bryan Watson, Bryan Russell, Alex Delk, Marcus Cornwell, Eric Henry, Melissa Nicole Henry, Kat Brennan, Phil Bradley-Hutchison, Tracy Sax Lakes, Joseph Bradley-Hutchison, and Ryan Tobe. Certainly a cannot-miss occasion! Doors open 8 p.m. Music and food start at 8:30 p.m. Cover charge $5. 

As always, thank you for supporting live music!

Your Dayton Music Insider,
Libby Ballengee
Note to Readers:  The information above is for Aug 26th - 31st, 2016. If I don’t list a price, I’m not sure what the price is. Typically cover charges for local shows are $5. Please click the hyperlinks to find out more about the bands, venues and events, including start times, directions, and ticket availability.   Check out the latest shows I’m promoting @theVenusChild . You can keep up with my adventures on Instagram  here or follow me on Twitter  @LibbyBallengee . Cheers!

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