What’s happening in Black Cincinnati in 2024
Cincinnati African American Events this year.
Hip-hop, R&B, soul, Jazz, reggae, gospel, old school, and symphony live-music concerts happening in Cincinnati in 2024
Black composers, plays, museum exhibits, comedy shows, concert series, operas, dance recitals, local music, and festivals in Cincinnati.
Black Cincinnatians can routinely and affordably enjoy the performing arts, fine arts, musicians, entertainers, comedians, program initiatives, and more. Arts and entertainment can help improve physical and mental health.
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See what’s happening in Black Cincinnati this week!
Feel free to submit an event to be considered in this article. All Cincinnati African American Events listed are as current as the publication date. Readers are encouraged to confirm the information before acting.
2024 Cincinnati African American Events
ArtsWave Flow Pass
Show Series Pass
Ongoing
Multiple Venues
An African American arts experience. The series features five unique, Black-centered events, including the African Modernism in America art exhibit, August Wilson’s “How I Learned What I Learned,” Mercurial Landscapes Evening of Dance, and the American Manifest by Charles Gaines.
Avery*Sunshine
Concert
March 30, 7:30 p.m.
The Ludlow Garage (Clifton)
Avery*Sunshine is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist known for her eclectic style of music, which blends elements of Jazz, soul, funk, and R&B.
Mercurial Landscapes
Ballet Performance
April 5 through April 7
Aronoff Center for the Arts (Downtown)
The mixed-repertory evening of dance features four dynamic contemporary works, including a premiere by African American choreographer Rena Butler and costume design by Asha Ama Bias-Daniels.
Stew
Play
Through April 7
Playhouse in the Park (Mt Adams)
Stew draws an unforgettable portrait of three generations of Black women as they take turns preparing a stew.
Randall Goosby with George Shirley
Chamber Concert
April 7 & 9
Corinthian Baptist Church & Memorial Hall
Violin virtuoso and Decca recording artist Randall Goosby, 27, who as much as any musician embodies the future of classical music, returns to Cincinnati for two intimate concerts of music by Black composers,
The Little Mermaid
Ballet Performance
April 11 through April 14
Aronoff Center for the Arts (Downtown)
The beloved story of a brave, kind mermaid, a devious sea witch, and a handsome prince. The stage will be transformed into an ocean filled with a cast of colorful characters, including angelfish, sharks, crabs, and, of course, mermaids!
Duncanson Artist-in-Residence Public Programs & Events
Event Series
April 13 through 27
Multiple Locations
Tunde Wey is a Nigerian immigrant artist, writer, and chef working at the intersection of food and the political economy. He will lead public programs and workshops such as a meet & greet, a culinary evening, Q&A, panel discussion, documentary screening, and more.
Garden Party
Celebration
April 14, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Taft Museum of Art (Downtown)
Enjoy a Garden Party in conjunction with the African Modernism in America Exhibit. Embrace the spirit of the occasion with garden party attire. Floral patterns, hats, headpieces, and stylish heels are highly encouraged. Families with children are warmly invited to partake in the free festivities.
Curator’s Conversation
Art Talk
April 18, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Cincinnati Art Museum (Mt Adams)
Enjoy an art talk in conjunction with Whitfield Lovell: Passages. Savor a delectable complimentary dinner by the bite and refreshments available for purchase at the cash bar. The first 75 attendees will be treated to exclusive gift bags with exciting prizes from sponsors.
Classical Roots
Chorale Concert
April 19, 7:30 p.m.
Music Hall (OTR)
John Morris Russell leads the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Classical Roots Community Choir, and Nouveau Players in an evening of influential and inspirational music.
Spyro Gyra
Jazz Concert
April 20, 7:30 p.m.
The Ludlow Garage (Clifton)
Spyro Gyra is a Grammy-nominated jazz fusion band performing for over 40 years. The band is known for its eclectic mix of Jazz, rock, pop, and world music influences.
Jazz at the Memo
Jazz Concert Series
Through April 29
Memorial Hall (OTR)
Enjoy weekly jazz concerts that feature some of the finest musicians in Cincinnati’s thriving jazz scene. The local and regional jazz acts perform different styles of Jazz, such as traditional, swing, Latin, funk, fusion, soul, and more.
Take 6
R&B Concert
April 25, 7:30 p.m.
The Ludlow Garage (Clifton)
Take 6, initially formed in 1990, is known for its a cappella performances that blend elements of traditional vocal techniques with contemporary R&B and pop influences.
Finding Nemo Jr.
Musical
April 20 – April 28
Taft Theatre (Downtown)
Explore the big blue world with this lively new stage musical based on the beloved Pixar Film.
Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit
Sustainability Summit
May 2, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Duke Energy Convention Center (Downtown)
Bringing together 600+ passionate and visionary leaders to share inspiring, forward-thinking, and solution-oriented ideas that propel guests toward a healthier, more resilient, sustainable, and equitable future.
Chrisette Michele
R&B Concert
May 3, 7:30 p.m.
The Ludlow Garage (Clifton)
Surrounded by music since she was a small child, singer, songwriter, and composer Chrisette Michele is a jazz and gospel vocalist.
Desi Banks
Comedy Show
May 3, 8 p.m.
Taft Theatre (Downtown)
Desi Banks is the ultimate triple threat – actor, stand-up comedian, podcaster, and entrepreneur taking the entertainment world by storm.
Kamasi Washington
Jazz Concert
May 8, 7:30 p.m.
The Ludlow Garage (Clifton)
Kamasi Washington has a sound that draws few boundaries between modal and soul-jazz, funk, hip-hop, and electronic music.
Stanley Clarke
Jazz Concert
May 10 & 11
The Ludlow Garage (Clifton)
Four-time Grammy Award Winner Stanley Clarke has obtained “living legend” status during his over 50-year career as a bass virtuoso.
Related Article: Jazz Events and Venues in Black Cincinnati
James Arthur
R&B Concert
May 11, 8 p.m.
Andrew J Brady Music Center (The Banks)
Known for his warm brand of R&B-inflected pop, James Arthur initially rose to fame as the victor of the ninth season of the British version of The X Factor in 2012.
Ali Siddiq
Comedy Show
May 18, 7 p.m.
Taft Theatre (Downtown)
Ali’s unique stand-up style began behind the walls of incarceration, an incubator for engaging experiences and good stories.
African Modernism in America
Art Exhibit
Through May 19
Taft Museum of Art (Downtown)
African Modernism in America features more than 60 dynamic and vivid works of art created in Africa during the 1950s and ’60s.
21 Savage
Rap Concert
May 22, 7 p.m.
Riverbend Music Center (Anderson)
21 Savage, the GRAMMY-winning, multi-platinum global superstar known for his distinctive flow, will perform with special guests J.I.D, Nardo Wick, and 21 Lil Harold.
Jon B
R&B Concert
May 24 & 25, 7:30 p.m.
The Ludlow Garage (Clifton)
Jon B is a consummate artist, an accomplished musician, and a noted songwriter and producer with several gold and platinum records.
Whitfield Lovell: Passages
Art Exhibit
Through May 26
Cincinnati Art Museum (Mt Adams)
Whitfield Lovell: Passages urges viewers to contemplate the ordinary lives and extraordinary journeys of the African American experience while raising universal questions about identity, memory, and America’s collective heritage.
Parliament Funkadelic featuring George Clinton
Funk Concert
May 28, 8 p.m.
Andrew J Brady Music Center (The Banks)
Parliament Funkadelic is a legendary American funk music collective led by George Clinton, known for their innovative and influential contributions to funk music, combining funk, soul, R&B, and psychedelic rock elements.
Ravi Coltrane featuring Gadi Lehavi and Ele Howell
Jazz Concert
June 2, 8 p.m.
Memorial Hall (OTR)
Ravi Coltrane is a critically acclaimed, Grammy-nominated saxophonist, bandleader, and composer.
Kindred the Family Soul
Contemporary Concert
June 7, 7:30 p.m.
The Ludlow Garage (Clifton)
Kindred the Family Soul is an American neo-soul duo consisting of married couple Fatin Dantzler and Aja Graydon.
Adam Hawley and Julian Vaughn
Jazz Concert
June 8, 7:30 p.m.
The Ludlow Garage (Clifton)
Experience the musical talents of Adam Hawley and Julian Vaughn as they grace the stage at the Ludlow Garage.
Janet Jackson with Nelly
R&B Concert
June 22, 8 p.m.
Riverbend Music Center (Anderson)
Five-time GRAMMY Award-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Janet Jackson will perform, featuring Nelly as her special guest.
Bryson Tiller
R&B Concert
June 22, 8 p.m.
Andrew J Brady Music Center (The Banks)
Contemporary R&B and Hip-Hop Grammy-nominated artist Bryson Tiller announces the upcoming release of his eagerly awaited album, along with a tour.
Yussef Dayes
Jazz Concert
June 25, 7:30 p.m.
The Ludlow Garage (Clifton)
Prepare to be transported on a musical journey as Dayes, a virtuoso drummer known for his mesmerizing improvisations and genre-blurring style, takes the stage.
The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century
Art Exhibition
June 28 – September 29
Cincinnati Art Museum (Mt Adams)
In celebration of hip hop’s remarkable, decades-long impact and influence on society, the Cincinnati Art Museum will host a multimedia exhibition showcasing more than 90 works of art by some of today’s most essential and celebrated artists.
Buddy Guy
Blues Concert
June 29, 8 p.m.
Taft Theatre (Downtown)
Multi-Grammy Award-winning blues icon Buddy Guy celebrates his seventh Billboard #1 album; along with it, he bids farewell to extensive touring with the upcoming Damn Right Farewell Tour.
Walter Beasley
Jazz Concert
July 13, 7:30 p.m.
The Ludlow Garage (Clifton)
Acclaimed saxophonist Walter Beasley will take the stage, promising an evening filled with soulful grooves.
Musiq Soulchild
R&B Concert
July 18, 7:30 p.m.
The Ludlow Garage (Clifton)
Musiq Soulchild is a singer and songwriter whose style blends R&B, funk, blues, jazz, and gospel influences fused with hip-hop.
Earth, Wind & Fire and Chicago
Concert
July 19, 7:30 p.m.
Riverbend Music Center (Anderson)
Two of the most successful and critically acclaimed bands of all time have announced the return of their renowned co-headlining tour.
Four80East
Jazz Concert
August 9, 7:30 p.m.
The Ludlow Garage (Clifton)
Experience the captivating sounds of Four80East, the dynamic electro-jazz duo hailing from Toronto.
Jessy J
Jazz Concert
September 27, 7:30 p.m.
The Ludlow Garage (Clifton)
Tapping into the vibrant soul and blues energies of the ’60s and ’70s, Jessy created an album full of James Brownesque drums and tasty/bluesy Ray Charles organ licks showcasing some of her most passionate and robust tenor playing ever.
Related Article: Midwest events and festivals
Cincinnatians can enjoy music nearly every night of the week. Visit our weekly list of things to do to see which arts centers, concert halls, auditoriums, and venues offer chamber, classical, philharmonic, orchestral, choral, folk, R&B, hip-hop, soul, or gospel music.
Cincinnati is also extremely fortunate that nationally known artists display their talents in the Queen City music scene. Touring acclaimed African American artists, artistic directors, singers, music directors, and performers routinely visit.
See African American instrumentalists play the violin concerto, cello, clarinet, piano, drums, and saxophone. Local symphony orchestras, string quartets, trios, duos, and soloists often perform music from Mozart, Brahms, and Mahler.
When purchasing tickets, ask the box office about exclusive deals, discount options, community performances, dress rehearsals, recitals, or same-day options. Some events will sell out quickly, so buy tickets while you can.
Related Article: Things to do this week in Black Cincinnati
Written by: Crystal Kendrick
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