Most of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s audience for the Oct. 4 and 5 concerts showed up for Bela Fleck but he was almost upstaged by guest conductor Thomas Wilkins, who led a raucous and occasionally tender performance of Aaron Copland’s score for the ballet Rodeo. The CSO clearly relished the opportunity to let loose in the finale, a rip-roaring hoedown that ended with shouts of “Yeehaw!” and a standing ovation. Fleck performed his transcription of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue for banjo but what got the crowd on its feet was his encore: what started as a familiar-sounding meditation that slowly morphed into the theme from the ‘60s sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies. cincinnatisymphony.org.
Music & Nightlife
Here are the 2025 Best Of Cincinnati® Reader and Staff Pick winners for Music & Nightlife.
- The Belle & The Bear
- MVP Sports Bar & Grille
- The Monkey Bar & Grille
- Ludlow Garage
- Northside Yacht Club
- The Comet
- Ghost Baby
- Somerset
- Queen City Exchange
- Little Miami Brewing
- Oakley Pub
- Mount Lookout Tavern
- Southgate House Revival
- Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar
- Mansion Hill Tavern
- Juniper’s
- Second Story
- Jerry's Jug House
- Rosie’s Tavern
- The B-List
- Covington Yard
- Smoke Justis
- Knotty Pine Rock Club & Tiki Bar
- West Side Brewing
- Blue Note Harrison
- The Belle & The Bear
- Southgate House Revival
- MOTR Pub
- Ghost Baby
- Juniper’s
- Northside Tavern
- Arnold's Bar & Grill
- Dead Low Brewing
- Urban Artifact
- Northside Yacht Club
- Bogart's
- Ludlow Garage
- Southgate House Revival
- The Belle and The Bear
- Queen City Exchange
- MixWells
- Cat Middendorf (Queen City Exchange)
- Ceris Christopher (The Belle & the Bear)
- Adrienne Curry-Zeigler (Revel OTR)
- Queen City Exchange
- The Belle and The Bear
- Higher Gravity
- Queen City Exchange
- The Belle & The Bear
- Yardhouse
- Crafts & Vines
- Higher Gravity
- Hoppin' Vines
- Rhinehaus
- Dead Low Brewing
- Sons of Toil Brewing
- Somerset
- Northside Yacht Club
- The Eagle
- The Belle and The Bear
- Juniper’s
- Nation Kitchen & Bar
- Dead Low Brewing TIE HangOverEasy
- Crazy Fox Saloon
- Taste of Belgium
- Maplewood Kitchen and Bar
- Coppin’s at Hotel Covington
- Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar
- Wiseguy Lounge
- Japp's
- Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar
- Queen City Exchange
- Wiseguy Lounge
- The Party Source
- Jungle Jim's International Market
- Revival Vintage Spirits
Sway (Madtree)
RGBevs (Rhinegeist)
Blackberry Breeze (FigLeaf Brewing)
RGBevs (Rhinegeist)
Blackberry Breeze (FigLeaf Brewing)
Holiday Liquor Bar offers drinks like Malört and food like hot dogs. In a separate area next to the bar is the fun center, featuring pool tables and Skee-Ball. But in the bar area lies possibly Cincinnati’s only Zoltar machine. If you recall, in the movie Big, Tom Hanks wishes on a Zoltar machine to be a 30-year-old man, and his wish comes true. Instead of making wishes come true, the machine spouts out a horoscope-like card predicting your future. Take the master’s wisdom to heart. holidayliquorbar.com.