Shows to know

Rise Up Haiti

Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center - 1028 Scott Blvd. - Covington/Mainstrasse

Throughout the city, citizens are pooling their resources to help victims of the earthquake in Haiti, but there is another problem in the country that is also garnering attention – child slavery. “Rise Up Haiti” is a collaboration of music and photography. The exhibit will feature images of Haitian child slaves taken by photographer Jonathan Willis. There will also be a silent auction of 10 commissioned original artistic pieces done by local artists. Providing the music for the night will be Ric Hordinski, Me or the Moon, Kim Taylor and Rob Fetters. Proceeds benefit the Jean Cadet Restavek Foundation, whose mission is to put an end to child slavery in Haiti. While the topic of Haiti and the issues are bleak, there are ways to help, so support the local music community in their efforts to support a local foundation.

Fairmount Girls

Northside Tavern - 4163 Hamilton Ave. - Northside

The Harlequins is a great band name to have for Valentine’s Day. The lovers can associate it with those cheesy romance novels. The haters can align with the clown concept, and fully enjoy the whole “Valentine’s Day is a joke,” theme. It’s a band that would probably enjoy your company on the eve of the lover’s holiday, no matter which side you reside. The Harlequins and the Fairmount Girls are teaming up to help you celebrate, and music can be the common thread. It’s a nice blend – The Harlequins with its South-by-Southwest-bound (!) rock and the Fairmount Girls’ harmonies and organs – that will keep your amorous hearts a’rockin’.

Fabricate After-Party

Mayday - 4231 Spring Grove Ave. - Northside

Julie Hill is an artist. “My interests center around drawing, birds, and drawing birds,” she says. If you see her artwork, you’ll realize that birds win. The Cincinnati artist has had her work showcased in New York, London and Los Angeles, to name a few, and because of her talent, she’ll feature her artwork at this month’s Fabricate monthly showcase series. Fabricate is a new arts and crafts store in Northside, and has proven to be quite the popular place to be on the second Saturday of each month. The monthly artist reception is always accompanied by a DJ, food and drinks of the alcoholic persuasion. The after parties at Mayday are always a blast as well. This month will be no exception – The Seedy Seeds and Robot Love Music (DJ Yusef Quotah of You, You’re Awesome) will tide you over until the March event.

Lucero

Southgate House - 24 E. Third St. - Newport & Levee area

Lucero’s alt-county music is all about whiskey-soaked sorrows tinged with no regrets. It’s the band that you’ve heard of, but you’re maybe not sure why. You don’t hear it on the local radio stations, but you’ve still maybe heard singer Ben Nichols sing about his girlfriend in the band’s most popular song to date, “My Best Girl.” His girlfriend is his guitar, of course. Recently, Nichols and his crew of five have been touring to promote the October release of “1372 Overton Park,” and it’s a wonder that they ever see their hometown of Memphis anymore. The tour junkies have consistently released new material since 2000, with the most recent album being the first since they signed to Universal Music Group in 2008. Regardless of whether you’ve heard the songs or not, checking them out is worth it, if not for the sheer unique quality of Nichols’ voice. You’ll recognize it forever.