Music scene · Cincinnati

Cincinnati's musical DNA runs through King Records, where James Brown built an R&B empire, and the city's scene still blends rockabilly, soul, and hip-hop across the Ohio River basin. The Southgate House Revival in Newport, just across the river, hosts indie rock and punk bands in a converted Victorian mansion. Over-the-Rhine's MOTR Pub and the surrounding district sustain a grassroots indie and blues scene, while the city's jazz history lives on in rooms along the historic Vine Street corridor.

Cincinnati's musical legacy centers on King Records, founded by Syd Nathan in 1943. The label became one of the first racially integrated workplaces in the city, recording country, R&B, and early rock under one roof. James Brown built his funk empire at King. The city's Ohio River location created crossroads between Southern and Midwestern sounds.

The Southgate House Revival in Newport hosts indie rock and punk in a converted Victorian mansion. MOTR Pub in Over-the-Rhine books grassroots indie and blues. Bogart's near the University is a mid-size venue for touring rock and hip-hop. Memorial Hall in Over-the-Rhine hosts larger concerts.

Artists such as James Brown, who recorded his revolutionary funk catalog at King Records, and Bootsy Collins, who started as a teenage bassist at King before joining Parliament-Funkadelic, emerged from Cincinnati.

Newcomers should visit MOTR Pub in Over-the-Rhine to connect with the grassroots scene. The Folk School of Cincinnati offers classes and jam sessions. The Cincinnati Music Accelerator provides mentorship for emerging artists.