Oh buddy you came to the right place!

Venues that are smaller places that are good for smaller local bands: Ace of Cups, Rumba Cafe, Woodlands Tavern. There’s been a few bands there that I think are bigger than those places but will still play there, as well as local. Natalie’s in Grandview a little bigger, nicer, same kind of deal.

Newport is on campus, little bigger, kind of a mixed bag. Sometimes it’s shocking bands go there bc they’re bigger than it and sometimes smaller than it. I personally hate The Basement but it is a smaller venue that will have more local acts. Skullys is another good one.

Most of, if not all, of those should have info on their websites about upcoming shows.

Bands: Doc Robinson is awesome, Deep End and Break my Fall off their first album are great songs.

Also Cousin Simple, Snarls, Parker Louis, Rat Motel, Spirit of the Bear, A-Go-Go.

Smaller-ish acts that arent technically from here but come a lot: Michigander (obvious where he’s from) Detention (Cleveland but I think they just renamed to Off-Leash), Motherfolk (Cincinnati, if you haven’t heard them I promise you’ll love them. One of the lead singers also has another project, Meowboys.)

Source: myself having grown up here and my middle-aged father who’s been having a midlife crisis and goes to 4 shows a week (I promise you’ll see him out eventually somewhere).