How to see a concert every night this summer and spend $0

Luann Gibbs, Cincinnati Enquirer
·13 min read
Bring a folding chair and some sun protection and enjoy an outdoor concert this summer.
Bring a folding chair and some sun protection and enjoy an outdoor concert this summer.

Wherever you live in Greater Cincinnati, there'll be music in the air this summer every day of the week. From jazz, blues and the big sounds of the symphony to salsa, country and rock 'n' roll, our city's parks and public spaces have something to please every taste.

Here's a look at the fun and free music-centric events happening around the city. Some lineups are bound to change as the season goes on, so be sure to keep up with your event's website and social media accounts if you're getting excited about seeing a specific band.

ALL the music: Cincinnati's full 2023 concert calendar 🎵

MONDAYS

Jazz at the Park: Through Oct. 30

  • Details: 6-9 p.m., Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. May 8: Cybele McGazi. May 15: Mambo Combo. May 22: Ben Levin. June 5: Ron Jones Trio. June 12: El Ritmo De Manana. June 19: Mike Wade Quintet. June 26: Matt Tolentino. July 10: Patsy Meyer. July 17: Transatlantis. July 24: Dixie Karas. July 31: Estrado do Sol. Aug. 7: Bobby Sharp Trio with Jennifer Ellis. Aug. 14: Noise Police. Aug. 21: Spherical Agenda. Aug. 28: Faux Frenchmen. Sept. 11: April Aloisio. Sept. 18: Keigo Hirakawa Trio. Sept. 25: Steely Organ Trio. Oct. 2: Sergio Pamies. Oct. 9: Brad Myers & Mandy Gaines. Oct. 16: Daniel Bennett & the Dirty Shirleys. Oct. 23: Pamela Mallory. Oct. 30: Five Little Bears. washingtonpark.org.

TUESDAYS

Jazz at the Square: Through Sept. 26

  • Details: 6-9 p.m., Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown. May 9: Zion Sosa. May 16: Michael Mavridoglou. May 23: Keigo Hirakawa Trio. May 30: Craig Bailey & the Ohio Jazz Players. June 6: Jamey Aebersold Quartet. June 13: Mandy Gaines. June 20: Retro Nouveau. June 27: Taylor Nelson. July 11: Myles Twitty. July 18: Grace Lincoln. July 25: Chris Andrews. Aug. 1. Wendell Anderson. Aug. 8: George Carpten IV. Aug. 15: Phil DeGreg. Aug. 22: Marc Fields. Aug. 29: Eric Lechleiter. Sept. 5: Aaron Jacobs. Sept. 12: Animal Mother. Sept. 19: Dee Marie Band. Sept. 26: EWI Quartet. myfountainsquare.com.

Summer Concert Series: June 6-Aug. 15

  • Details: 7-9 p.m., Blue Ash Nature Park, 4337 Cooper Road, Blue Ash. June 6: The Procter & Gamble Big Band. June 13: Sycamore Community Band. June 20: Miami University Steel Band. June 27: Ohio Military Band. July 11: Fialla. July 18: Monday Night Big Band. July 25: Pete Wagner Band. Aug. 1: Cincinnati Brass Band. Aug. 8: Jump 'n Jive Big Band. Aug. 15: The New Liberty Dance Orchestra. blueashevents.com.

WEDNESDAYS

Reggae Unplugged: Through May 17

  • Details: 7-9 p.m., Washington Park, The Porch, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. May 3-17: Kaya. Washingtonpark.org.

JAMII Community Open Mic Night: Through Sept. 27

  • Details: 6-9 p.m., Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown. 15 open mic spots and two local performers each week. Hosted by Siri Imani. Runs on Thursdays in June. myfountainsquare.com.

Kevin Holness, whose stage name is Mighty Mystic, performs at Washington Park on July 12 as part of Reggae Wednesday.
Kevin Holness, whose stage name is Mighty Mystic, performs at Washington Park on July 12 as part of Reggae Wednesday.

Reggae Wednesday: May 24-Aug. 23

  • Details: 6-10 p.m., Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. May 24: Earthkry. June 14: TBA. June 28: TBA. July 12: Mighty Mystic. July 26: Ark Band. Aug. 9: The Flex Crew. Aug. 23: Hurricane. washingtonpark.org.

Wednesdays in the Woods: May 31-Aug. 9

  • Details: 7 p.m., Burnet Woods Bandstand, 3298 Clifton Ave., Corryville. May 31: Comet Bluegrass All-Stars. June 7: Daglio. June 14: Positive Vibe Band. June 21: Tracy Walker. June 28: The YOLO Band. July 5: Raquel & the Wildflowers. July 12: Burning Caravan. July 19: Dayton Salsa Project. July 26: Sound Body Jazz Orchestra. Aug. 2: Jake Speed & the Freddies. Aug. 9: Remember. Cliftonculturalarts.org.

Acoustic Lunch Series: June 2-Aug. 30

  • Details: 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Piatt Park, 100 Garfield Place, Downtown. Cincinnati-based duos and soloists perform Wednesdays and Fridays. Lineup TBA. cincinnati-oh-gov.

THURSDAYS

Salsa on the Square: Through Sept. 28

  • Details: 7-10 p.m., Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown. May 4: Tropicoso, Liz and the Get Down Cincinnati. May 11: Kumbia Latina, MaSalsa. May 18: Mambo Combo, SalsaNati. May 25: Somos Musica y Sabor, Heather Sommer. June 1: Son Del Caribe, SalsAires. June 8: The Amador Sisters, Volare. June 15: Dayton Salsa Project, Cuban Salsa Cincinnati. June 22: Tropicoso, SalsAires. June 29: Zumba Band, Diana Hoffman. July 6: Nuyorican LF, Chevere LF. July 13: Dayton Salsa Project, Heather Sommer. July 20: Son Del Caribe, Liz and the Get Down Cincinnati. July 27: The Amador Sisters, Cuban Salsa Cincinnati. Aug. 3: Nuyorican LF, Chevere LF. Aug. 10: Dayton Salsa Project, Diana Hoffman. Aug. 17: Max Rosado, Volare. Aug. 24: Al Son Del Iya, Cuban Salsa Cincinnati. Aug. 31: Son Del Caribe, Chevere LF. Sept. 7: Somos Musica y Sabor, Liz and the Get Down Cincinnati. Sept. 14: Fabiola Mendez, SalsAires. Sept. 21: Tropicoso, Diana Hoffman. Sept. 28: Latin Beat Project, Volare. Myfountainsquare.com.

Salsa on the Square returns to Fountain Square.
Salsa on the Square returns to Fountain Square.

Rockin’ the Roebling: May 18-Aug. 31

  • Details: 6-10 p.m., Smale Riverfront Park, Schmidlapp Lawn, Downtown. May 18: Floyd & the Walkmen. May 25: Natural Progression. June 1: Marsha Brady. June 8: Sylmar, Electric Indigo. June 15: Brother Smith. June 22: The Menus. June 29: DV8. July 6: Noah Wotherspoon. July 13: Season 10, Antematter. July 20: Trauma Illinois. July 27: 500 Miles to Memphis. Aug. 3: The Foles, Steve Covington & the Humble Strays. Aug. 10: Erin Coburn. Aug. 17: Crown Watts. Aug. 24: Positive Vibes Band. Aug. 31: Naked Karate Girls. cincinnati-oh.gov.

RiversEdge Concert Series: May 25-Sept. 16

  • Details: 7-10 p.m. Thursdays, 7-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, RiversEdge Amphitheater at Marcum Park, 116 Dayton St., Hamilton. Most shows take place on Thursday; schedule varies for some shows. May 25: Eggy, Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country. June 1: 90 Proof Twang, Zach Top. June 8: Veronica Lewis, Eddie 9V. June 15: Led Zeppelin 2, Gyasi. June 22-24: Whimmydiddle. June 29: The Harlem Gospel Travelers, Buffalo Nichols. July 4: That Arena Rock Show, The Classic Rock Experience. July 8: Kanin Wren's Taylor Swift Experience, Rachel Holt. July 13: Fooz Fighters, Nirvani. July 22: CFG & the Family, Gina & Johnny Band. Aug. 3: Back in Black, Sweet Sister Mercy. Aug. 10: Nightrain, Theatre of Crue. Aug. 17: Cordovas, Scotty Bratcher, Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel. Aug. 24: Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, Cristina Vane. Aug. 31: Satisfaction: Rolling Stones Tribute, The Billy Rock Band. Sept 9: Jared's Jam. Sept. 16: Signs of Life: The American Pink Floyd. VIP upgrades available. riversedgelive.com.

Roots Revival: June 1-Aug. 31

  • Details: 7-9 p.m., Washington Park Bandstand, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Live bluegrass, roots and Americana. Lineup TBA. washingtonpark.org.

Party band Naked Karate Girls are always a fun time. See them around Cincinnati at several free outdoor concerts.
Party band Naked Karate Girls are always a fun time. See them around Cincinnati at several free outdoor concerts.

Live on the Levee: June 1-Aug. 31

  • Details: 7-9 p.m., Newport on the Levee, 1 Levee Way, Newport. June 1: Naked Karate Girls. June 8: 3 Day Rule. June 15: Floyd & the Walkmen, June 22: Dat Band. Other dates TBA. newportonthelevee.com.

Summer Concert Series: June 1-Sept. 28

  • Details: 6-9 p.m., The Square at Liberty Center, 7100 Foundry Row, Liberty Township. June 1: 3 Piece Revival. June 8: The Lifters. June 15: The Chuck Taylors. June 22: 90 Proof. June 29: The Sunburners. July 6: Red Idle Rejects. July 13: Revival. July 20: Lady Joya. July 27: Rolled in Stone. Aug. 3: Michelle Robinson Band. Aug. 10: Billy Rock Band. Aug. 17: Final Order. Aug. 24: Zack Attack. Aug. 31: Blue Leafs, Turn to Stone. Sept. 7: Naked Karate Girls. Sept. 14: The Whammies. Sept. 21: Bourbon Road. Sept. 28: Saffire Express. liberty-center.com.

The Takeover: June 1-Aug. 24

  • Details: 6-9 p.m., Union Centre, Clock Tower, 9285 Centre Pointe Drive, West Chester Township. Live music, food trucks, beer and more. Runs June 1-Aug. 24. June 1: The Remains. June 8: DV8. June 15: Abe's Lincoln. June 22: Soul Pocket. June 29: Naked Karate Girls. July 6: Thunderstruck. July 13: Michelle Robinson Band. July 20: Lt. Dan's New Legs. July 27: Pandora Effect. Aug. 3: Dancing Queen: ABBA Tribute. Aug. 17: 90 Proof Twang. Aug. 24: The Whammies. westchesteroh.org.

Groovin' on the Green Concert Series: June 8-Aug. 31

  • Details: 6 p.m., Village Green Park, 301 Wessel Drive, Fairfield. Live music on select Thursdays in the Dora district. Family-friendly activities, food trucks and giveaways. June 8: Thompson Square. June 22: Cassette Junkies. July 6: Cumberland Run. July 20: Crash Test Dummies. Aug. 3: Forever Diamond. Aug. 17: Steven Page (formerly of Barenaked Ladies). Aug. 31: The Fortunate Sons. fairfield-oh.org.

Crash Test Dummies will play Fairfield's Groovin' on the Green July 20.
Crash Test Dummies will play Fairfield's Groovin' on the Green July 20.

Music on the River: June 8-Aug. 24

  • Details: 7-9 p.m., Civic Park, 111 E. High St., Lawrenceburg. Family-friendly activities, food trucks, local vendors, beer and whiskey garden and live music. June 8: Cash Unchained: Johnny Cash Tribute. June 15: Arena: Duran Duran Tribute. June 22: Five Lights. June 29: Cody Ikerd and the Sidewinders. July 6: Sounds of Summer: Beach Boys Tribute. July 13: Magic Bus: Woodstock Era Tribute. July 20: Fleetwood Gold: Fleetwood Mac Tribute. July 27: Eagles Project: Eagles Tribute. Aug. 3: Crush: Bon Jovi Tribute. Aug. 10: Walt Sanders: A Tribute to Elvis Presley. Aug. 17: Whoa, Man!: Women of Rock Tribute. Aug. 24: Satisfaction: The International Rolling Stones Show. downtownlawrenceburg.com.

Summer Music Festival: June 15-Sept. 21

  • Details: 6-10 p.m., Ault Park, 5090 Observatory Circle, Mount Lookout. The third Thursday of each month, enjoy live music, craft beer, wine, hard seltzers and margaritas, local food trucks. Kids’ entertainment by Cincinnati Circus and Beech Acres from 6-8 p.m. June 15: Naked Karate Girls. July 20: Marsha Brady Band. Aug. 17: Floyd & the Walkmen. Sept. 21: Michelle Robinson Band. Aultparkac.org.

FRIDAYS

Indie Friday: May 5-Sept. 29

Amped Up: May 12-Sept. 29

  • Details: 7-10 p.m., Sawyer Point and Yeatman’s Cove, Mehring Way, Downtown. Live music, pickleball, food and more on select Fridays and Saturdays. May 12: Timestamp. May 13: Model Behavior. June 16: My Girl Friday. July 28: Vinyl Countdown. July 29: Just Add Beer. Sept. 29: What About Jane. cincinnati-oh-gov.

Friday Flow: June 2-Sept. 1

  • Details: 6-10 p.m., Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Weekly R&B series. Lineup TBA. Washingtonpark.org.

First Friday Live Music: June 2-Sept. 1

  • Details: 6 p.m., Kyle Plush Pavilion, Stanbery Park, 2221 Oxford Ave., Mount Washington. Lineup TBA. facebook.com.

SATURDAYS

Fifth and Vine Live: May 6-Oct. 7

  • Details: 7-10 p.m., Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown. May 6: Cinco Cinco. May 13: The Menus. May 20: Strutter: Kiss Tribute. May 27: 2nd Wind. June 3: Soul Quest. June 10: Jump: Van Halen Tribute. June 17: Tequila Fest. June 24: DJ. July 1: Taylor Swift Tailgate. July 8: Naked Karate Girls. July 15: Classic Rock Experience. July 22: Cincy Soul. July 29: Sabbath: Ozzy and Black Sabbath Tribute. Aug. 5: Soul Quest. Aug. 12: Soul Pocket. Aug. 19: Kashmir: Led Zeppelin Tribute. Aug. 26: 2nd Wind. Sept. 2: Naked Karate Girls. Sept. 9: Four Horsemen: Metallica Tribute. Sept. 16: Grunge. Sept. 23: Soul Pocket. Sept. 30: Moon Festival. Oct. 7: Eliminator: ZZ Top Tribute. myfountainsquare.com.

Fun at Ezzard Charles Park: May 13-Sept. 9

  • Details: 4-7 p.m., Ezzard Charles Park, 500 Ezzard Charles Drive, West End. Live music, games and fun for whole family every second Saturday. May 13: Positive Vibe Band. June 10: Boxing Festival. June 18: Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. July 8: Push Play. Aug. 12: Soul Criminal. Sept. 9: Temani. cincinnati-oh-gov.

Oakley After Hours: May 13-Sept. 9

  • Details: 5-9 p.m., Geier Esplanade, Oakley Square, Madison Road, Oakley. Live music, MadTree beer for purchase, face painting, balloon animals and kids’ activities. May 13: The Cassette Junkies. Sept. 9: End of summer celebration. Other dates TBA. Oakleynow.com.

Owl's Nest Community Concerts: May 13-Oct. 7

  • Details: noon-4 p.m., Owl's Nest Park, 1984 Madison Road, Evanston. May 13: Tracy Walker. July 15: Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Oct. 7: (2-6 p.m.) Mambo Combo. cincinnati-oh.gov.

Westwood Live: May 27-Sept. 23

  • Details: 6-9 p.m., Westwood Town Hall, 3017 Harrison Ave. Live music and family fun in the Dora district on the fourth Saturday of each month. Lineup TBA. cincinnati-oh-gov.

Keehner Park Summer Concert Series: June 3-Sept. 4

  • Details: 7-9 p.m., Keehner Park, 7211 Barret Road, West Chester Township. June 3: West Chester Symphony Orchestra and ice cream social. June 10: New Horizons. June 17: Miami University Steel Drum Band. June 24: The Gamut. July 1: no concert. July 8: River's Edge Brass Band. July 15: Monday Night Big Band. July 22: University of Cincinnati Community Band. July 29: Shakespeare in the Park. Aug. 19: Penthouse Dogs. Aug. 26: BlueStone Ivory. Sept. 4: West Chester Symphony Orchestra. westchesteroh.org.

Saturdays in the Park: June 3-July 22

  • Details: 10 a.m., Inwood Park, 2308 Vine St., Mount Auburn. June 3: Josh Strange Trio. June 10: Daven Roberson Trio. June 17: Jump ‘n’ Jive Band. June 24: Ti & D Band. July 1: Mill Creek Drifters. Jul 8: Zak Morgan. July 15: AprinasRevolutionaryLove. July 22: The Twi-Lites. Cliftonculturalarts.org.

Summer Concert Series: June 3-Aug. 5

  • Details: 4-10 p.m., Sawyer Point and Yeatman’s Cove, Mehring Way, Downtown. Live music, food, family-friendly games and more the first Saturday of each month. June 3: Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass, Jake Speed & the Freddies, Henhouse Prowlers. July 1: Erin Coburn, The Classic Rock Experience, Thunderstruck. Aug. 5: The Cliftones, 500 Miles to Memphis, Husbands. cincinnati-oh-gov.

Music at the Esplanade: June 3-Aug. 26

  • Details: 5-7 p.m., Smale Riverfront Park, Castellini Esplanade, Mehring Way, Downtown. June 3: Sawyer Roberson. June 10: The Dreaded Mids. June 17: Mary River. June 24: Temani. July 1: Sawyer Roberson. July 8: The Sweet Peas. July 15: The Foles. July 22: Union Son. July 29: Jube and Jake. Aug. 5: Tracy Walker. Aug. 12: Run Katie Run. Aug. 19: Traveling Jam. Aug. 26: Gettier. cincinnati-oh.gov.

Cincy Blues Fest: July 15

  • Details: 2-11 p.m., Village Green Park, 301 Wessel Drive, Fairfield. Kids' zone, food trucks, beer and live blues with Bywater Call, Ben Levin & Lil' Jimmy Reed, Sugaray Rayford, Blues in the Schools Band, Ralph & the Rhythm Hounds, Johnny Fink and more. Bring chairs or blankets, but leave your tents, umbrellas and pets at home. cincyblues.org.

SUNDAYS

Concert in the Park Series: June 11-Aug. 27

  • Details: 6-8 p.m., Nisbet Park, 126 S. Karl Brown Way, Loveland. Enjoy the Dora district, get food from a local restaurant and have dinner in the park with live music on select Sundays. June 11: Linus Tate. June 25: Elvis Tribute Show. July 16: School of Rock. Aug. 13: Rooster Ridge. Aug. 27: Bourbon Road. lovelandoh.gov.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: You won't spend a dime for these outdoor summer concerts in Cincinnati