September is one of the best months for outdoor concerts. There is usually little rain, less humidity, warm days and mild nights – perfect for experiencing epic live performances. This month’s concert calendar features a variety of shows and offers plenty of entertainment for your hard-earned money.
Here’s a look at some of the shows you won’t want to miss.
September 6: Kelsey Waldon
Country singer and songwriter Kelsey Waldon will open local music maven Dan McCabe’s newly renovated Liberty Theater. The Kentucky born and raised artist signed to John Prine’s Oh Boy Records in 2019 and has shared the stage with Prine, Willie Nelson, Tanya Tucker, Sturgill Simpson and Jamey Johnson, among others. This performance will kick off Waldon’s headlining tour in support of her latest album, There’s Always a Song. Opening the bill will be Anthony Ray Wright.
Details: Whiskey City’s Liberty Theater, 229 Walnut St., Lawrenceburg. $22, $18 in advance. whiskeycityslibertytheater.com.
September 7: Ohio is for lovers
This all-day, free-admission music festival features a diverse, regionally inspired marketplace with a range of activities, including the popular “Dunk-a-Punk” booth. The lineup includes Hot Mulligan, Silverstein, Hawthorne Heights, Senses Fail, The Devil Wears Prada, Turnover, Knuckle Puck, Real Friends, Anberlin, Arrows In Action, Emery, Snarls, Maura Weaver, Saturdays At Your Place, Slow Joy, The Raging Nathans, For Your Health, Leggy, Touchdown Jesus, Better Anyway and Glassworld.
Details: Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Township. $79.50 includes parking. riverbend.org.
September 10: John Legend: A night of songs and stories with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
Critically acclaimed, multi-platinum recording artist John Legend presents intimate reworkings of his biggest hits, tells stories from his life and career, and performs select pieces from his latest release, Legend, in his first-ever performance with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra.
Details: Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Township. Lawn $40, gazebo from $110. riverbend.org.
September 11: Outlaw Music Festival
They’re not getting any younger, folks, so if you appreciate the creative output of these legendary songwriters, head to Riverbend and party with Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp and Southern Avenue.
Details: Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Township. Lawn seating is $35. Pavilion seating is available through verified resales only. riverbend.org.
13th-14th September: Whispering Beard Folk Festival
The vibe is good at this family-friendly folk festival, which showcases local and regional bluegrass, folk and Americana acts. You can bring small soft coolers, an empty or unopened water bottle, seating (folding or camp chairs, blanket/towel) and strollers. Leave dogs, glass bottles and alcohol at home. Both basic camping and RV camping are available for an additional fee. Note that generators, campfires and charcoal grills are prohibited, but camp stoves and gas grills are fine.
The lineup includes Mt. Pleasant String Band, The Tillers, Easy Tom Eby, Chicago Farmer Trio, Joe’s Truck Stop, The Harmed Brothers, The Monvales, Willy Tea Taylor, Carriers, Maria Carrelli, Stripmall Ballads, Buffalo Wabs & the Price Hill Hustle , Hillbilly Chic, Uncle Mike Carr, Frontier Folk Nebraska, Krystal Peterson, Whiskey Bent Valley Boys and Yousra.
Details: Carriage House Farm, 2872 Lawrenceburg Road, North Bend. Weekend pass $75, single day pass $50. RV camping (no electricity) $100, campsites $85. whisperingbeard.com.
14 September: Signs of life: The American Pink Floyd
If you’re too young to have seen British psychedelic rockers Pink Floyd tour in their heyday, or if you want to relive the magic of the band’s phenomenal live performances, this tribute act could be just the ticket. The Signs of Life show recreates the music, sound effects, lighting and video of a Pink Floyd concert, and best of all, admission is free.
Details: RiversEdge Amphitheatre, 116 Dayton St., Hamilton. $40 VIP, free general admission. riversedgelive.com.
17th-28th September: Indy Jazz Fest
This festival brings together an array of international stars, modern masters and Indy natives. The festival kicks off with the evening Sunset Series, September 17-22 at The Jazz Kitchen (5377 N. College St.) and The Cabaret (924 Pennsylvania St.), followed by the grand finale at the Everwise Amphitheater in White River State Park featuring Chaka Khan, Marcus Miller, Michael Franks and Steve Allee’s Magic Hour Band.
Details: Everwise Amphitheater, White River State Park, 801 W. Washington St., Indianapolis. From $55. Indyjazzfest.net.
September 18: The Marley Brothers: The Legacy Tour
Ziggy. Stephen. Julian. Ky-Mani. Damian. The sons of legendary reggae artist Bob Marley unite for a historic, one-of-a-kind tour to celebrate their father’s music, influence and legacy. This show could be the best bargain of the summer.
Details: Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Township. $30.50 lawn, $45.50 from pavilion. riverbend.org.
19–22 September: Bourbon & Beyond
Billed as the “world’s largest music, food and bourbon festival,” this festival delivers all three. The lineup includes: Neil Young, Beck, Dave Matthews Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Zach Bryan, Whiskey Myers, Cody Jinks, Tommy Prine, Tyler Childers, My Morning Jacket, The National, Matchbox 20, Fleet Foxes, Lyle Lovett, The Wallflowers , Arlo Parks, Suzanne Vega, Black Pumas, The Last Revel, Melissa Etheridge, The Head and the Heart, Chris Isaak, Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers, JJ Gray & Mofro, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Young the Giant, Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band, Soul Asylum, Son Volt, The Dip, The War on Drugs, The Beach Boys, Mt. Joy, Milky Chance, Dinosaur Jr., Sunny Day Real Estate, The War and Treaty, Lucius and dozens more.
Details: Highland Festival Groups, Kentucky Exposition Center, 937 Phillips Lane, Louisville. Four-day passes from $350, single-day passes from $130. Camping from $100. bourbonandbeyond.com.
20 September: Nelly
If you missed Nelly’s opening performance at the Janet Jackson show at Riverbend earlier this summer, here’s your chance to sing “Shake Ya Tailfeather.” As part of the Ohio Lottery Cincinnati Reds Post-Game Concert Series, you can see the three-time Grammy Award-winning rapper/singer and actor perform live after the Reds’ game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Details: Great American Ball Park, 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, downtown. Game tickets start at $14. Court passes are sold out. reds.com.
September 20-22: Lost Lands Festival
Where prehistoric creatures roam, bass reigns. This Jurassic-themed rave party features giant dinosaurs, lasers and an incredible lineup of electronic dance music DJs. This festival is a blast and we’re sorry to report that all general admission tickets, VIP tickets and camping/glamping options are sold out, but you might get lucky at the site’s official ticket exchange where you can get on the waitlist.
Details: Legend Valley, 7585 Kindle Road, Thornville. Sold out. lostlandsfestival.com.
20 – 22 September: The Backwoods Fest
This affordable arts, crafts, food and music festival is held in the same city and on the same weekend as Lost Lands, so be sure to factor that in when calculating your travel time. The festival features over 300 vendors, more than 30 different types of food, and three days of bluegrass music. It runs Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting.
Details: Backwoods Fest, 8572 High Point Road, Thornville. $12, free for children under 10. Free parking. thornvillebackwoodsfest.com.
September 24th – 29th: Talk Low Music Festival
Local label White Sepulchre Records brings national and international musicians to Cincinnati for this new music festival celebrating experimental music in the ambient, jazz, indie rock and electronic music genres. The multi-venue festival’s lineup includes legendary new age/ambient artist Laraaji, KMRU (Kenya), Desert Liminal (Chicago), Claire Rousay (LA), Five Sided Stars, Galcher Lustwerk (NYC), Maria Chavez (Peru), Shermvn, Joy Guidry (NYC), Niecy Blues (Charleston) and the Johnson-Montgomery-Prymek Trio.
Details: DSGN CLLCTV, 4150 Hamilton Ave., Northside; Woodward Theater, 1404 Main St., Over-the-Rhine; Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. Sixth St., Downtown. $150 for all shows plus T-shirt, tote bag and 1 album, $90 for all shows minus the swag, $20 for a single show. talklowfest.cargo.site.
26 – 29 September: Louder than life
Now in its tenth year, this Louisville hard rock festival is a must-attend event for metalheads, featuring some of the biggest names in the genre: Slipknot, Slayer, Motley Crue, Korn, The Offspring, Slothrust, Halestorm, Five Finger Death Punch, Till Lindemann, Evanescence, Anthrax, Juliette Lewis and The Licks, Black Stone Cherry, Ho99o9, Disturbed, Chevelle, Mastodon, Skillet, Body Count, Three 6 Mafia, Judas Priest, Breaking Benjamin, Staind, Gojira, and dozens more.
Details: Highland Festival Groups, Kentucky Exposition Center, 937 Phillips Lane, Louisville. Four-day passes from $320, single-day passes from $130. Camping from $100. lounderthanlifefestival.com.
September 30: Benson Boone: Fireworks and Rollerblades Tour
Boone began his career by sharing snippets of his music on TikTok, where he gained more than 1.7 million followers. He caught the attention of Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds, who signed Boone to his label Night Street Records (in partnership with Warner Records) and whose first single, “Ghost Town,” charted in 13 countries. Boone received the seal of approval from Taylor Swift and performed as the opening act for one of her Eras tour dates at Wembley Stadium in London, along with Paramore. His show here in Cincinnati sold out quickly, so verified resale is your best chance at tickets. Note that there is a delivery delay for mobile tickets until 72 hours before the show, at which time all resale tickets are also available. Daniel Seavey opens the show.
Details: Icon Festival Stage at Smale Park, 25 Race St., Downtown. Sold out. bradymusiccenter.com.
