CINCINNATI— At the P&G Taste of Cincinnati, the bill of fare includes much more than food. In fact, this year entertainment will take center stage with more than 70 acts performing.
After a successful opening act last year, comedians return to the P&G Taste of Cincinnati this year.
Comedians will appear at the Government Square Stage, which provides the intimacy of a small comedy club without the two-drink minimum. Featured acts include Tabari McCoy, Mike Cody, Alex Stone and Jeff Jena, who has appeared on more than 40 national shows including Comics Unleashed, The Dennis Miller Show, Evening at the Improv and the Showtime Comedy Club.
Taste also features a strong cocktail of music, with rock for all ages along with touches of jazz, R&B, brass, country, classic rock, zydeco and other genres. Almost 60 musical acts are performing this year, including a heavy dose of original music.
Cincinnati’s strong music scene will be on display as well, including several acts receiving national attention including:
– The Seedy Seeds and Pomegranates, who both performed at this year’s South-by- Southwest (SXSX).
– Buffalo Killers, who signed with Alive Records, have opened for The Black Crowes and are invited this summer to play Pickathon, a well-known Indie-roots music festival in Oregon.
– Walk the Moon, who generated a great deal of buzz at this year’s SXSW, was recently featured on Last Call with Carson Daly and has been invited to play Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo this summer.
– 500 Miles to Memphis, whose songs have been featured on MTV’s Nitro Circus and on the Rock Band video game (“All My Friends Are Crazy”). Their current CD, “We’ve Built Up to Nothing,” was produced by platinum award-winning producer Erwin Musper, who has worked with the likes of Van Halen, Def Leppard, David Bowie and Mick Jagger.
Other local acts will have a chance to perform at Bogart’s Sound of Cincinnati on the 96 ROCK stage. Rounds of competition were held throughout the month and the five finalists will perform on Saturday, May 28 with the winner performing at 7:30 p.m.
And festival crowd pleasers such as Cover Model, Ricky Nye INC, the Sonny Moorman Band, Stays in Vegas, DV8 and the Sullivan Janszen Band all return again this year.
Speaking of cocktails, Cincinnati’s favorite bartender, Molly Wellman, will lead Taste’s first-ever mixology demonstration at the Metromix Stage. Wellman has received acclaim from Cincinnati Magazine, Cincinnati Enquirer, the Washington Post and others for her classic creations.
The complete entertainment lineup is:
Saturday, May 28
Metromix Stage at P&G Garden
Faux Frenchmen 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
The Cincy Brass 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
The Pinstripes 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Mark Ballas 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Mixing with Molly Wellman 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
The Seedy Seeds 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Pomegranates 9:30 – 11:00 p.m.
Government Square Stage
Robin Lacy & DeZydeco 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
The Whammies 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
The P&G Taste of Cincinnati Comedy Show
Sam Evans 9:00 – 9:15 p.m.
Michael Rudolph 9:15 – 9:25 p.m.
Tabari McCoy 9:25 – 9:40 p.m.
Mike Cody 9:40 – 10:00 p.m.
Emcee Jeff Jena booked by Josh Sneed 10:00 – 10:30 p.m.
Fountain Square Stage
Cover Model 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Gee Your Band Smells Terrific 3:30 – 6:30 p.m.
4th Day Echo 8:00 – 11:00 p.m.
WIZ/MOJO Stage at Chemed Plaza
WIZ/MOJO 12:00 -6:00 p.m.
Stonehaus Trail 7:00 -11:00 p.m.
96 Rock Stage at 5th & Race
Bogart’s Sounds of Cincinnati Runner-Up 1:30 – 2:00 p.m.
Bogart’s Sounds of Cincinnati Runner-Up 3:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Bogart’s Sounds of Cincinnati Runner-Up 4:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Bogart’s Sounds of Cincinnati Runner-Up 6:00 – 6:30 p.m.
Bogart’s Sounds of Cincinnati Winner 7:30 – 8:15 p.m.
Sunday, May 29
Metromix Stage at P&G Garden
The Minor Leagues 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Giant Wow 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
The Tillers 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
The Lions Rampant 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Buffalo Killers 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Walk the Moon 8:30 – 9:30 p.m.
500 Miles to Memphis 10:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Government Square Stage
Pete Dressman & S.U.N. with Kevin Finkelmeier 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
3 Day Rule 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
The P&G Taste of Cincinnati Comedy Show
Gabe Kea 9:00 – 9:10 p.m.
Mike Cronin 9:10 – 9:25 p.m.
Mike Cody 9:25 – 9:40 pm
Alex Stone 9:40 – 10:00 p.m.
Jeff Jena/Emcee 10:00 – 10:30
Fountain Square Stage
CORE 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Sullivan Janszen Band 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
DV8 8:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Chemed Plaza Stage
Ricky Nye INC 12:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Perfect Sequel 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
The G Burton Story 8:00 – 11:00 p.m.
5th & Race Stage
Leroy Ellington’s Blues Brothers Tribute 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Rattleskin Daddies 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Brewer’s Tongue 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Fibbion Handful 9:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Monday, May 30
Metromix Stage at P&G Garden
Presentation of The Spirit of Katie Reider Award 1:00
Kelly Thomas & The Fabulous Pickups 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
The Kickaways 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
FREEKBOT (featuring Freekbass 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
& DJ Tobotius from Animal Crackers)
Government Square Stage
My Girl Friday ` 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Natalie Wells 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Fountain Square Stage
Memorial Day Procession 12:00 – 12:30 p.m.
The Sonny Moorman Band 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Stays In Vegas 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Leroy Ellington & the E-Funk Band 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Chemed Plaza Stage
Kevin Fox Band 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
The Tracey Walker Band 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
The DVB Trio 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
5th and Race Stage
The Dan Varner Band 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
The Infinity Ball 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
The Juice 6:30 – 9:00 pm
The P&G Taste of Cincinnati USA, presented by Time Warner Cable and Miller Lite, is the city’s showcase of music and food and the region’s annual kickoff to summer. Taste features more than 40 area restaurants, more than 70 entertainment acts and approximately 500,000 grazing gourmets in attendance. Taste of Cincinnati USA will ladle up the food, fun and festivities on Memorial Day weekend: Saturday and Sunday, May 28 and 29, from noon to midnight, and Monday, May 30, from noon to 9 p.m. Admission to Taste of Cincinnati USA is free.
For more information, visit TasteofCincinnati.com
