The 8 most significant concerts in the history of Queen City, from Prince to the King

Cincinnati is known for more than sports; it has long been a hotspot for legendary musical performances. The Queen City has hosted icons like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Prince, Jimi Hendrix, Taylor Swift, and many others. It has also been the birthplace of major music festivals, including the former Bunbury Festival, the Voices of America country music festival, and the Cincinnati Music Festival, originally known as the Cincinnati Jazz Festival. Heres a look at some of Cincinnatis most unforgettable concerts.

The Beatles in Cincinnati

The Beatles made two historic stops in Cincinnati during the 1960s. Their first appearance was at Cincinnati Gardens on August 27, 1964, just six months after their American debut on The Ed Sullivan Show. DJs from WSAI-AM had personally invited the band to perform, and around 14,000 fans attended, witnessing a 28-minute set featuring 12 songs, including Cant Buy Me Love and A Hard Days Night.

The group returned on August 21, 1966, for a final Cincinnati concert at Crosley Field, after the previous nights show was canceled due to severe weather. They then flew to St. Louis that same evening, marking the only time The Beatles played two cities in one day. Just eight days later, they concluded their touring career at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

Cincinnati Summer Pop Festival

On June 13, 1970, Crosley Field hosted the Cincinnati Summer Pop Festival, a Woodstock-style event drawing roughly 25,000 attendees. The festival included acts like The Stooges, Bob Seger, Alice Cooper, Zephyr, Traffic, Mountain, and Grand Funk Railroad. Memorable moments included stage diving, a peanut butter incident with Iggy Pop, and Alice Cooper receiving a pineapple upside-down cake to the face during a performance.

Jimmy Page at a High School Prom

In 1968, Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page performed with The Yardbirds at St. Xavier High School's prom, just weeks before the band split. The show was arranged by a student council member and was intended as a combined junior-senior prom. Despite the band's surprise at playing a prom, the evening became a legendary local story.

The Grateful Dead

The Grateful Dead first played Cincinnatis Hyde Park Teen Center on November 29, 1968, for a small audience of 200. They returned almost two years later for two nights at the University of Cincinnati Field House, cementing their early connection to the city.

Ice Cube and N.W.A.

Rapper Ice Cube has made multiple visits to Cincinnati. His first, with N.W.A. in June 1989 at Riverfront Coliseum, caused controversy with local leaders and led to increased police presence. Decades later, Ice Cube surprised fans at the Cincinnati Music Festival in 2025, introducing Earth, Wind & Fire on stage.

The Who Concert Tragedy

On December 4, 1979, a human stampede outside Riverfront Coliseum killed 11 people and injured eight others just before a The Who concert. The band later honored the victims during their first Cincinnati performance since the tragedy in May 2022, including a tribute slideshow and front-row seats for families.

Prince

Prince performed in Cincinnati eight times over 25 years, including a surprise show at Bogart's in September 1984 for the "Purple Rain" release party. Earlier, he attended a James Brown concert at Bogart's in 1982, entering through the back door.

Elvis Presley

Elvis's June 25, 1977 performance at Riverfront Coliseum was one of his final shows before his death. Fans witnessed memorable moments, including a playful reaction to a caricature and a wardrobe malfunction, yet the magic of his performance captivated 17,500 attendees.

Other Legendary Performances

• Jimi Hendrix at Xavier University Fieldhouse, 1968
• The Jackson 5 at Cincinnati Gardens, 1974, and singing the national anthem at Riverfront Stadium for the 1970 World Series
• Stevie Wonder at Cincinnati Gardens, 1974, and at Barack Obamas campaign rally in 2012
• Pink Floyd at Riverfront Coliseum, 1977
• Black Sabbath at Riverfront Stadium, 1978
• Nina Simone with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, 1969
• Whitney Houston at Riverbend Music Center, 1987
• James Brown at Cincinnati Gardens, 1969
• The Rolling Stones at Riverfront Stadium, 1989
• Chuck Berry at Reflections, 1971
• Frank Sinatra at Riverfront Coliseum, 1976
• Ella Fitzgerald at Riverbend Music Center, 1984
• Bob Dylan at Bogarts in 1999 and Taft Theatre in 1965
• Paul McCartney at Great American Ball Park, 2011
• Beyonc and Jay-Z at Great American Ball Park, 2014
• Aretha Franklin with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra at Riverbend Music Center, 2016, and earlier performances at Cincinnati Gardens and the Cincinnati Music Festival
• Billie Eilish at Heritage Bank Center, 2024

Author: Sophia Brooks