10 concerts you don’t want to miss in Greater Cincinnati this February

When it comes to making plans for Valentine’s Day, or simply a fun, musical evening out, fans won’t want to miss these 10 concerts that are happening at venues across the region in February. From Lee Rocker of The Stray Cats, Over The Rhine and Little Big Town to The Hot Magnolias, Big Daddy Weave and The Belairs, there’s something on the calendar for everyone.

BUTLER PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Saturday, Feb. 1 at 7:30 p.m.

Fitton Center For Creative Arts, 101 S. Monument Ave., Hamilton

Guests can expect an amazing evening of live music and art as the Butler Philharmonic Orchestra presents a night of musical reflections on the “Shifty” art exhibition. The art exhibition will be on display from Saturday, Feb. 1 through Friday, March 27.

“This is a really exciting thing. It’s brand new art, and brand new music that are all local to Butler County,” said Ian MacKenzie-Thurley, executive director of the Fitton Center.

The evening will include the world premiere of a specially commissioned piece of new music composed by Paul John Stanbery, classical favorites from the Butler Philharmonic Orchestra and a live art creation on stage from print-maker and artist Billy Simms.

Tickets for the concert are $29 for Fitton Center members; $37 for non-members. The gallery opening reception from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. prior to the concert is free and open to the public.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.fittoncenter.org, or call (513) 863-8873 ext. 110. Connect with the Butler Philharmonic Orchestra at www.Butlerphil.org.

THE SHOOTOUTS

Saturday, Feb. 1 at 8 p.m.

Fairfield Community Arts Center, 411 Wessel Drive, Fairfield

As part of the One Stage series, The Shootouts will perform their signature brand of honky-tonk and traditional country music mixed with touches of Americana and western swing at the Fairfield Community Arts Center.

The band offers a welcome throwback to sounds that flowed out of Nashville, Texas and California in country music’s golden years.

Tickets are $18 for adults and $16 for seniors and students. For tickets, call the Fairfield Community Arts Center Box Office at (513) 867-5348, or visit www.fairfieldoh.gov/tickets. Connect with The Shootouts at www.shootoutsmusic.com.

LEE ROCKER

Friday, Feb. 7 at 8 p.m.

Fairfield Community Arts Center, 411 Wessel Drive, Fairfield

Grammy-nominated musician and Bass Player Hall of Famer Lee Rocker (of the Stray Cats) will be making a rare appearance in Fairfield on Friday, Feb. 7.

The Stray Cats’ mega hits “Stray Cat Strut,” “Sexy and Seventeen,” and “Rock This Town” have become part of the fabric of rock and roll. Rocker and his band will deliver many of these hits and more, including stories of his adventures on the road, in an intimate concert setting at the Fairfield Community Arts Center.

“Lee Rocker, it’s in his name, he rocks. He’s a Grammy-nominated musician, he’s a Bass Player Hall of Famer. He made his mark singing and playing that giant, upright bass (the double bass),” said David Sheldrick, marketing specialist for Fairfield Parks & Recreation.

The concert is part of the Fairfield Signature Sessions series. Tickets are $30 orchestra and $25 for stadium seating. For tickets, call the Fairfield Community Arts Center Box Office at (513) 867-5348, or visit www.fairfieldoh.gov/tickets. Visit Lee Rocker online at www.leerocker.com.

THE MENUS

Saturday, Feb. 8 at 8 p.m.

Sorg Opera House, 63 S. Main St., Middletown

The Menus have been a staple of the Southern Ohio music scene for nearly four decades. Audiences can expect them to bring the band’s power-packed brand of musical energy to the stage at the Sorg Theater. This will be a rocking musical party guests won’t want to miss.

Doors open at 7 p.m. The box office opens at 5 p.m. the night of the concert. Tickets are $20 in advance for premium seating. General seating is $15 in advance and $20 the evening of the concert. To purchase tickets and for more information, go to www.sorgoperahouse.org. Catch up with The Menus at www.themenus.org.

WILD CARROT AND THEIR ROOTS BAND

Friday, Feb. 14 at 8 p.m.

Fairfield Community Arts Center, 411 Wessel Drive, Fairfield

As part of the Wine, Women & Song series, Wild Carrot and their Roots Band will perform at the Fairfield Community Arts Center. Rooted in traditional American music, this award-winning group’s repertoire branches in diverse directions, from original tunes to swing, blues and traditional songs.

Tickets are $20 for cafe and $18 for stadium seating, hors d’oeuvres included. For tickets, call the Fairfield Community Arts Center Box Office at (513) 867-5348, or visit www.fairfieldoh.gov/tickets. For more info. on Wild Carrot, go to www.wildcarrot.net.

LITTLE BIG TOWN & CAITLYN SMITH

Friday, Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m.

Taft Theatre, 317 E. 5th St., Cincinnati.

Little Big Town and special guest Caitlyn Smith will bring their “Nightfall” Tour to the Taft Theatre for two shows, Feb. 14 and Feb. 15.

Little Big Town — Karen Fairchild, Phillip Sweet, Kimberly Schlapman and Jimi Westbrook — first entered the music scene over 20 years ago with hit songs “Boondocks,” “Bring It On Home,” “Good As Gone” and the Grammy-nominated “Little White Church.”

To kick off 2020, the band released its ninth studio album, “Nightfall,” on Jan. 17.

With the 2018 release of Caitlyn Smith’s debut album, Starfire, she quickly established herself as one of the brightest rising stars in Nashville. Now, with her follow-up project, Supernova, the singer-songwriter has garnered acclaim from Rolling Stone, Billboard and others.

Tickets start at $49 (plus applicable fees.) Doors open at 7 p.m. For more information, and to purchase tickets go to www.tafttheatre.org, www.littlebigtown.com and www.caitlynsmith.com.

BIG DADDY WEAVE WITH THE MCCLURE’S

Thursday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m.

Christ’s Church, 5165 Western Row Road, Mason

Presented by World Vision, Big Daddy Weave and special guests Paul and Hannah McClure (The McClure’s) of Bethel Music will bring the “When The Light Comes” Tour to Christ’s Church in Mason.

The tour supports Big Daddy Weave’s latest album release, When The Light Comes. Big Daddy Weave’s popular songs include “Audience of One,” “Every Time I Breathe,” “Fields of Grace” and “Without You,” and more.

General admission tickets are available for $19.95 (plus applicable fees); premium and early admission ticket packages are also available. For more on the concert, or to purchase tickets, visit the Christ’s Church website at www.ourchristschurch.com. For the latest news and tour dates, visit www.bigdaddyweave.com and www.mccluresmusic.com.

OVER THE RHINE

Saturday, Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m.

Miami University Hamilton, Parrish Auditorium, 1601 University Blvd., Hamilton

Ohio-based band Over the Rhine will return to Parrish Auditorium as part of the Miami Regionals Artist Series. Fronted by husband and wife team Linford Detweiler (keyboards, electric bass and vocals) and Karin Bergquist (vocals, acoustic guitar and piano), audiences can expect to hear many Over the Rhine favorites, along with some new songs from their latest release, Love & Revelation.

Tickets for the concert are $36 for adults, $34 for seniors (ages 62 and up), faculty and staff, students and children ages 12 and under. Tickets are available at www.miamioh.edu/Regionals/ArtistSeries, or by calling the Miami University Box Office at (513) 529-3200 ext. 1. Tickets are also available at the cashiers’ windows at both the Hamilton and Middletown campuses of Miami University. (The show is expected to sell out.)

Keep up with the latest news from the band at www.overtherhine.com.

THE BELAIRS: 50’S & 60’S ROCK N’ ROLL SHOW BAND

Saturday, Feb. 22 at 8 p.m.

Sorg Opera House, 63 S. Main St., Middletown

The Belairs will bring their 1950’s and 1960’s music review to the Sorg on Saturday, Feb. 22. This Las Vegas-style performance is complete with costumes and choreography. The Belairs feature four-part harmony and humor mixed with audience participation, and impersonations of stars of the past, including tributes to Roy Orbison, Dion, Dusty Springfield, Billy Joe Royal, Neil Diamond and more.

Doors open at 7 p.m. The box office opens at 5 p.m. the night of the concert. Tickets are $25 in advance for premium seating. General seating is $20 in advance and $25 the evening of the concert. To purchase tickets, go to www.sorgoperahouse.org and at www.thebelairsshow.com.

THE HOT MAGNOLIAS MARDI GRAS NIGHT

Saturday, Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m.

Fitton Center For Creative Arts, 101 S. Monument Ave., Hamilton

The Fitton Center will host a Mardi Gras Night as The Hot Magnolias return on Saturday, Feb. 22. The evening will be filled with New Orleans Cajun/Creole jazz music, dance and a party guests won’t want to miss.

The Hot Magnolias are an eight-piece New Orleans Cajun/Creole jazz band that formed in Cincinnati. The group’s music showcases vocals, horns, banjo, saxophones, electric guitar, drums, bass and keyboards. The band performs a range of musical styles from 1920s traditional jazz music to 1970s funky dance songs.

Guests are encouraged to dress up or wear costumes and Mardi Gras masks.

Tickets are $29 for Fitton Center members and $37 for non-members. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.fittoncenter.org, or call (513) 863-8873 ext. 110. Connect with The Hot Magnolias on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheHotMagnolias.

About the Author