In the midst of its third successful season of contemporary music programming at historic Memorial Hall, the Longworth-Anderson Series (LAS) continues to present an all-star line-up of nationally recognized performers and bands.

Launched in early 2017 by the Cincinnati Memorial Hall Society, the annual series showcases Grammy Award-winning acts, serving as an exciting addition and major contributor to the flourishing arts and cultural district of Over-the-Rhine.

Bill Baumann, Chairman of the Memorial Hall Society and LAS, commented, "In the way that a strong contemporary music scene has been an attractive part of and helped contribute to the growth of cities such as Austin, Nashville, and some other U.S. cities, we hope the LAS can help play a part in strengthening Cincinnati’s contemporary music scene with similar benefits for our city."

LAS events provide an entire evening of entertainment, including pre-concert receptions with live performances by regional musicians as well as complimentary light bites and beverage tastings from popular local restaurants and distributors. The receptions honor the "Friends & Founders," a special group of supporters interested in music and the arts who are helping establish the LAS as Cincinnati’s first and only annual series dedicated to contemporary music.

Cori Wolff, Executive Director of the LAS, said, "We are thrilled with the outpouring of support from our community in launching and establishing this unique series. Through strategic partnerships, collaborations and outreach, we continue to build upon our mission of bringing high-quality contemporary music to Cincinnati."

The LAS works closely with concert promoter Music & Event Management, Inc. and a committee of trustees and local music enthusiasts to select the artists. The LAS’s repertoire of musical genres keeps growing, with genres as varied as Americana, bluegrass, blues, country, folk, gospel, indie rock, jazz, pop, R&B, reggae, soul, and world music represented.  Diverse programming attracts patrons of all ages from the suburbs and urban core.

Concerts in 2017 and 2018 included Rosanne Cash, Pink Martini, Richard Thompson, Sarah Jarosz, Charles Bradley, Justin Townes Earle, Los Lobos, I’m With Her, Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, Mavis Staples, Rhiannon Giddens, Stephen Marley, and The Lone Bellow.

This spring’s stellar roster featured "the king and queen of the banjo" (Paste Magazine) and Grammy Award-winning couple Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn, who played for an enthusiastic packed house on April 2.  The sleek, compelling look-alike duo Lucius delivered an intimate, acoustic concert on May 1 with special guest Pure Bathing Culture.  Versatile singer-songwriter, guitarist, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, and Grammy nominee Nils Lofgren of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band fame closed out the season on May 15.

The 2019 summer and fall seasons include three highly anticipated performances, beginning with four-time Grammy Award-winning roots guitarist Jimmie Vaughan and his band on June 27.  Twenty-time Grammy Award-winning jazz guitar legend Pat Metheny will bring his Side Eye tour to Memorial Hall, with acclaimed keyboardist/ pianist/composer James Francies and Latin Grammy-winning drummer Marcus Gilmore. Four-time Grammy Award-winning and 11-time nominated blues guitarist Keb’ Mo’ will round out the series on September 15. Two or three additional acts will be announced in the coming weeks.

The LAS is grateful for the continued support of its Season Sponsor, The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation. Generous matching grant support from The George and Margaret McLane Foundation and the Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund of the Greenacres Foundation has helped leverage significant individual and corporate contributions, allowing the LAS to grow from six concerts in its inaugural year to seven in 2017, with a projected eight to 10 shows in 2019. With 13 of its first 17 concerts having achieved sold-out audiences, the Series is poised to become a crowd favorite and a staple of Cincinnati’s rich performing arts scene.

Bill Thompson, music writer and co-host of WAIF’s Blue Snakes & Banjos, said "[…] the series is arguably the city’s top-quality musical event.  Its reputation is excellent, its future is exciting."

Memorial Hall is located at 1225 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. For more information, visit www.memorialhallotr.com.