Cincinnati Jazz Academy

About the Band

A partnership of Kennedy Heights Arts Center and Cincinnati Public Schools, The Cincinnati Jazz Academy is dedicated to providing high-quality, barrier-free jazz education to underserved students. The Cincinnati Jazz Academy strives to be a national leader in community-based jazz education, fostering the next generation of talented musicians and creating a lasting impact on students, families, and the Cincinnati community.

The Cincinnati Jazz Academy Ensemble features some of Cincinnati's most promising young jazz musicians. Through daily group instruction, weekly private lessons, dynamic performances, and guest artist workshops, these performers learn to bring fresh energy, creativity, and a love of jazz to the stage while representing the next generation of Cincinnati's vibrant music community.

The Laurelys

About the Band

Jordan Wilson Coalition

About the Band
Cincinnati born, Kentucky raised, Indiana resident Jordan A. Wilson is the founder and leader of the Jordan Wilson Coalition--an alt blues-rock & soul band from Madison, IN. Formed first as a trio in 2014 in Carrollton, KY., later expanded to a 4-piece band in 2018, the Coalition delivers high-energy, groove-driven live shows. Together for a decade, their sound blends Hendrix-inspired guitar work, modern alt-rock punch, deep blues phrasing, & classic soul textures. Live, they build songs into explosive peaks and deliver big, driving moments that keep a crowd locked in. Tight rhythm section. Heavy groove. Real crowd interaction and gripping lyricism that turns casual listeners into fans. It’s rock-forward, groove-heavy, and built for a stage that values musicianship and energy. Think Gary Clark Jr. meets Leon Bridges with an alt-rock edge.

Grandace

About the Band
GrandAce (aka Jody Jones II) is an artist/producer from Cincinnati/Dayton, Ohio that has made Joy his revolution. Specializing in creating Alternative Hip Hop/ Cosmic Groove music, his music serves the purpose of spreading light and building a platform for honest expression. Having a background in film, he combines vivid imagery and expressive language to craft sonic worlds that reflect his reality. Largely self-taught, he produces and engineers his own music drawing influence from a variety of genres from Jazz to House to create an ethereal groove.

Estrada do Sol

About the Band
Estrada do Sol does música popular brasileira or MPB, which is a trend in post-bossa nova urban popular music in Brazil that revisits typical Brazilian styles such as samba, bossanova, baião and other Brazilian regional music, combining them with foreign influences, such as jazz and pop. The group is comprised of husband and wife duo, Andrea Cefalo & Brian Cashwell, & a roster of other Brazilian artists and local jazz musicians.

Daniel Noel

About the Band
Stokelys is a punk band from Cincinnati founded in 2022. Previously, the majority of their members played in the local punk staple Useless Fox. They spent the pandemic writing songs and came out swinging!

Over the past few years, the band has been honored to perform with some of the best and brightest Cincinnati has to offer, as well as many brilliant acts from all over the country. Stokelys combines blistering guitar hooks, honest and often socially conscious songwriting, and tightly constructed rhythmic parts into a unique but accessible sound. Their goal is to embody the raw ethos of punk rock while adding their own unique elements.

Stokelys have played numerous local festivals in their relatively short tenure as a band including Northside Rock N Roll Carnival North By Northside, Burritofest, and Midwest Friends Fest. They have released two EPs to date, "#1" in 2022 and "Quarantine Dream" in 2024. They expect to release a third EP in 2026.

Deej

About the Band

Deej is a guitarist of 15 years and has always had an ear for music. Since a child, she has loved exploring the decades of music that came before her to seek inspiration. Finding a lot of her self expression coming from the instruments she's connected with, including the human voice. Singer/Songwriter and Sound Healing practitioner, Deej, is an earthling with a deep love for everything under the sound category. From her rock n roll soul to her cosmic guiding heart, she has built a bridge between the soft and hard, the light and the dark. Based in Cincinnati, she has big love for community and supporting her local music scene. Her 2020 single “Woodcrest Drive” has amassed over 100,000 streams across platforms and she has since pushed on to release her debut album ‘Blue Sky Mama’ in March of 2024. Deej is here to bring soundscapes of all kinds to all souls.

Mic Carr & Shades

About the Band

Shades is a genre-blending band rooted in feel, chemistry, and intention—creating music that moves with both soul and purpose. Built on live instrumentation and collective energy, their sound is as expressive as it is grounded.

Based in Cincinnati, the band brings together a dynamic group of musicians, including vocalist Mic. Carr alongside Sam Reuscher (bass), Tristan Graves (keys), Elijah Woodward (sax), Isaiah Cook (drums), and Trent Becknell (guitar). Together, they represent a natural evolution—where individual artistry meets a shared vision. As a collective, Shades continues to expand, often collaborating with additional musicians who contribute to its ever-growing sound.

With their debut single “Shades” released in April 2026 and a full EP in June, the band is stepping into a new era—one defined by connection, growth, and undeniable feel.

Shades isn’t just heard—it’s felt.

Girl Gordon

About the Band
Formed in 2022, Girl Gordon is a four-piece DIY punk and indie rock band based in Cincinnati, Ohio. As transplants from the American musical centers of Los
Angeles, Chicago, and Providence, Hannah Blanchette, Jerika Hayes, Cory Linman, and Patrick Mitchell inject Ohio’s DIY punk with a host of backgrounds
and influences to craft a sound diverged from the Midwest’s punk history. 

Stokelys

About the Band
Stokelys is a punk band from Cincinnati founded in 2022. Previously, the majority of their members played in the local punk staple Useless Fox. They spent the pandemic writing songs and came out swinging!

Over the past few years, the band has been honored to perform with some of the best and brightest Cincinnati has to offer, as well as many brilliant acts from all over the country. Stokelys combines blistering guitar hooks, honest and often socially conscious songwriting, and tightly constructed rhythmic parts into a unique but accessible sound. Their goal is to embody the raw ethos of punk rock while adding their own unique elements.

Stokelys have played numerous local festivals in their relatively short tenure as a band including Northside Rock N Roll Carnival North By Northside, Burritofest, and Midwest Friends Fest. They have released two EPs to date, "#1" in 2022 and "Quarantine Dream" in 2024. They expect to release a third EP in 2026.

Coastal Club

About the Band

Hailing from the vibrant music scene of Cincinnati, Ohio, Coastal Club is an indie pop sensation known for their infectious guitar-driven hooks and uplifting, high-spirited anthems. The band consists of drummer David McGuire, lead guitarist and vocalist Avery Benter, and lead singer and guitarist, Alex Hirlinger. Drawing from influences like Young the Giant and COIN, Coastal Club exudes a refreshing sense of optimism and joy through their music, while creating a sonic landscape that is both electrifying and comforting. Though based in landlocked Ohio, there is a longing for the coast found in their romantic, lighthearted, and beachy melodies.

Sharp Toys

About the Band

Sharp Toys was created in the summer of 2018 after many hours of sharing songs, influences and a mutual interest in making heavy, dark, psychedelic music. This culminated in a completely improvised session that solidified their undeniable chemistry.  The new band had a strong collective desire to write impactful, anti patriarchal songs with tinges of romantic longing. Sharp Toys is comprised of Mariel Westermeyer (600 Rubies, The Quiet Lives), Rachel Thode (Slow Glows, Planet Blip) and Dave Mikkelsen (The Quiet Lives).

Ernie Johnson From Detroit

About the Band
Ernie Johnson From Detroit is a Cincinnati based band that blends afrobeat, funk, and jazz with 70s psychedelia and hard rock to create a hypnotic, danceable sound that is both accessible and boundary pushing. Their stage show is a high-energy, infectious dance party that centers on intense, spontaneous improvisation combined with tight, sophisticated compositions that live inside the groove. The band’s horn-heavy arrangements and relentless rhythm section allow for a variety of styles and a layering of dynamics in their improvised jams that make people want to move.

DJ Boywife

About the Artist

What is there to say about DJ Boywife that hasn’t already been smeared on bathroom stalls across the city? A queer nightlife original, Boywife has made a name for himself around Cincinnati as a fresh take on the scene. Beginning his DJ career only a short few years ago, he has already been recognized as the best in the city two years running by City Beat and Cincinnati magazines respectively. Now all thats left is to come see for yourself!

World Peace Yoga

Start your afternoon with  a 30-minute yoga flow guided by instructors from World Peace Yoga!

All levels of experience are welcome.

World Peace Yoga is a yoga studio in Cincinnati's Gaslight Clifton neighborhood focuses on accessible, inclusive yoga with an emphasis on mindfulness, rest, meditation, breathwork, personal growth, and community connection.

Mette Puppets & Entertainment

Prepare yourselves for a puppet show of original tales and fresh adaptations! Stories include The Emu that Ate Cincinnati, The Tortoise and Mr. Harry, The Chili Spaghetti Man and More!

Mette Puppets and Entertainment was founded in 2024 by and is run by Sean P. Mette, a professional puppeteer with decades of experience performing, teaching and exploring the exciting possibilities of puppetry on stage, screen and in the classroom.

Akela Island Dance

Spoken Word by Eight Twenty Media

Poets, storytellers, spoken word artists, and writers of all experience levels are invited to take the mic during CliftonFest's Spoken Word Open Mic. Whether you're performing original poetry, sharing a personal story, or trying spoken word for the first time, we welcome voices that inspire, challenge, entertain, and connect our community. This informal showcase celebrates creativity in all its forms and offers a supportive space for multiple performers to share their work with festivalgoers.

Eight Twenty Media is a Cincinnati-based creative agency dedicated to producing experiences that celebrate culture through storytelling, digital media, and event curation. With a focus on authenticity and meaningful engagement, Eight Twenty Media bridges communities through shared cultural experiences.

Holi Cannoli Improv

DJ Mech

DJ Mech is a Cincinnati-based DJ, producer, and multimedia artist known for his eclectic sets that blend hip-hop, funk, soul, R&B, electronic music, and beyond. A passionate vinyl collector and longtime supporter of the local music scene, DJ Mech has performed at festivals, community events, and venues throughout the region.