Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More
One of the hottest up-and-coming national acts: Joslyn & The Sweet Compression is kicking off their 2022 tour right here in Dayton. They’ll be performing at The Brightside Music & Event Venue in downtown Dayton, OH (905 E 3rd St) on Thursday, March 3, 2022.
Local legend, Eric Jerardi, kicks off the evening with his band. Doors open at 7pm with music from 7:30-10pm. Tickets $12 advance and $15 day of show. All ages welcome!
What people are saying about Joslyn & The Sweet Compression:
“Magical…gives everybody the joy.” — Billboard Magazine
“A refreshing take on the neo-soul / funk sound, unbound by modern cliches.” — Glide Magazine
“A marvel…an instant classic!” — Soul Tracks
“I’ve never seen a band come up more quickly…with more immediate skill and swagger than Joslyn & the Sweet Compression. Joslyn’s vocal command and stage presence is special, and her band is brick-sh**house tight.” — Travis Young, Moonshiner’s Ball
“The music Joslyn Hampton conjures o-stage is rich with the funk, soul, and rock ’n’ roll inspirations of multiple generations, and at the heart of the brassy attack of her band, The Sweet Compression, and in the clear and confident command of her singing, sits a core element: Groove.” — Walter Tunis, Lexington Herald-Leader
About Joslyn & The Sweet Compression:
After cultivating her dynamic voice and performance skills in backup roles and stage plays, Joslyn Hampton teamed with her stepfather, Marty Charters (a touring guitarist and songwriter who has shared the stage with legends such as Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, and Van Morrison), to compose a captivating set of tunes and assemble an ace band. Joslyn & The Sweet Compression (Marty Charters – guitar, Steve Holloman – keyboards, Smith Donaldson – bass, Rashawn Fleming – drums, Trevin Little – saxophone, and Chase Fleming – trombone and trumpet) combine to deliver a hook-filled mix of funk and soul on their self-titled debut album, released in 2019. A headlining favorite at regional clubs and music festivals, they are poised to engage fans across the country with widespread touring in 2021.
After cultivating her dynamic voice and performance skills in backup roles and stage plays, Joslyn Hampton teamed with her stepfather, Marty Charters (a touring guitarist and songwriter who has shared the stage with legends such as Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, and Van Morrison), to compose a captivating set of tunes and assemble an ace band. Joslyn & The Sweet Compression (Marty Charters – guitar, Steve Holloman – keyboards, Smith Donaldson – bass, Rashawn Fleming – drums, Trevin Little – saxophone, and Chase Fleming – trombone and trumpet) combine to deliver a hook-filled mix of funk and soul on their self-titled debut album, released in 2019. A headlining favorite at regional clubs and music festivals, they are poised to engage fans across the country with widespread touring in 2021.
Multi-platinum rock band Barenaked Ladies have added a performance in Huber Heights, OH to their extensive 2022 summer tour. The Last Summer On Earth Tour with special guests Gin Blossoms and Toad The Wet Sprocket will stop at Rose Music Center at The Heights on Tuesday, July 19.
Tickets will go on sale to the public beginning at 10am on Friday, March 4 at Ticketmaster.com and RoseMusicCenter.com.
“We’re looking forward to getting back out on the Last Summer On Earth tour,” vocalist/guitarist Ed Robertson shares. “Having Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket out with us is going to be a blast. That’s a LOT of hits per night!”
Barenaked Ladies is ready to hit the road again and bring out all the fan favorites that have built them a long-lasting career and worldwide fanbase. The Toronto-based “cult fave” (Paste Magazine) have now sold over 15 million albums worldwide and earned multiple JUNO Awards and Grammy nominations.
This will be the 6th edition of the tour, founded by the band in 2012 – the year that the Mayan calendar predicted would be the last, hence the “Last Summer On Earth”. Barenaked Ladies headline and bring some of their best friends and favorite bands along for a summer of good times, and of course, great music. Past acts include Cracker, Big Head Todd & the Monsters, Blues Traveler, Guster, Ben Folds Five, Violent Femmes, Colin Hay, OMD, Howard Jones, Better Than Ezra, and KT Tunstall.
“We know the Mayan Calendar was wrong about the end of the world,” adds Ed Robertson, “but could they have been THAT wrong?! C’mon out and rock with us like it’s your Last Summer On Earth!”
ABOUT BARENAKED LADIES
Over the course of their remarkable career, Barenaked Ladies have written a variety of top 20 hits (including radio staples “One Week,” “Pinch Me,” “If I Had $1,000,000”), garnered two GRAMMY nominations, won eight JUNO Awards, had Ben & Jerry’s name an ice cream after them, wrote and recorded the theme song to the TV series The Big Bang Theory, and participated in the first-ever “space- to-earth musical collaboration” with astronaut Chris Hadfield. The band has also been inducted to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and received a proclamation from Toronto Mayor John Tory declaring October 1st “Barenaked Ladies Day.”
ABOUT GIN BLOSSOMS
Formed in 1987 in the Arizona city of Tempe; Gin Blossoms’ blockbuster 1992 album New Miserable Experience spawned four Top 40 hit singles (“Hey Jealousy”, “Found Out About You”, “Until I Fall Away” and “Allison Road”), sold more than 4 million units, and established the band as one of the top rock groups of that decade. More than two decades later, Gin Blossoms continue to tour performing fan favorites, while also releasing new music, building on their already extensive catalogue.
ABOUT TOAD THE WET SPROCKET
Celebrating over 30 years as a band, Toad the Wet Sprocket continue to make music and tour with the same spirit of unwavering independence that fans fell in love with on Billboard-charting hits like “Walk on the Ocean”, “All I Want”, “Something’s Always Wrong”, and “Fall Down”. The band share a special kind of musical chemistry that can only come from years of creating music with friends from high school.
Join us for the 6th annual hometown festival – Dayton is for Lovers! We have stacked the lineup with a great selection of local Dayton bands spread across two stages throughout the evening on Thursday, March 10th at The Brightside. All ages welcome!
Features live music from:
Hawthorne HeightsNightbeastBetter AnywayAbertooth LincolnRINDHouseghostLife in IdleDJ Sadness
Doors open at 6pm at The Brightside Music and Event Venue – 905 East Third Street, Dayton, OH. Tickets: hawthorneheightsstore.com
Rock legends SKID ROW, WARRANT and Winger have teamed up for the rock event of the summer! The LIVE TO ROCK TOUR will stop in Huber Heights, OH at Rose Music Center at The Heights on Thursday, June 2.
Tickets will go on sale to the public beginning at 10am on Friday, March 4 at Ticketmaster.com and RoseMusicCenter.com.
Reserved Pavilion Seating
$72.00*, $63.00*, $53.00*, $48.00*, $39.00*
HOT HEADS® Seats
$23.50*
*While supplies last. Ticket prices include parking and are subject to price increase based on demand and applicable Ticketmaster fees. All events are rain or shine
The first rebellion started in 1986. New Jersey kids, Skid Row, punk and metal attitude, determined to conquer the world. All for one, banded together with single-minded purpose. The battlefield was the stage, the songs their arsenal in an us-against-them musical coup d’état. Top Ten singles with “I Remember You” and “18 and Life” Gold and multi-platinum sales. Their second Album “Slave to the Grind” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart. The world was theirs, the rebellion won and toured extensively until 1996. Skid Row returned to the big stage — literally — opening for Kiss in 2000. Exhilarated to tour with the heroes who rallied them in the first place, the band was reinvigorated by being underdogs who needed to come out fighting to prove themselves. “When we put the band back together, we needed to reintroduce Skid Row as relevant without relying too much on past success,” explains bassist Rachel Bolan. “We wrote songs and hit the road. We sunk our heart and soul into it, letting people know we weren’t doing it for lack of anything better to do.” Their rebellion continues. United World Rebellion starts now.
Big-haired, leather-wearing rockers, Warrant gained international popularity with their double-platinum debut Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich. The chart-topping power ballad “Heaven” reached No. 1 in Rolling Stone and No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Glam metal in nature, the band’s catchy, yet melodic sound, has blazed the trail for over 30 years of sweet surprises, including five albums reaching world-wide success with international sales of over 10 million. Experience the glitz and glamour of tracks like “Cherry Pie”, “I Saw Red” and “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” among other hard rock offerings, sure to have you singing.
When former member of Alice Cooper’s band, bassist Kip Winger formed his own group in 1986, Winger was born. The American heavy-metal band soared to popularity through their employment of glam metal and progressive metal elements. Two platinum albums, Winger, and In the Heart of the Young, set the band on a path to continued success, amplified by charting singles “Seventeen”, “Headed for a Heartbreak”, and “Miles Away.” In 1990, Winger was nominated for the American Music Award’s “Best New Heavy Metal” band. That same year, the band released In the Heart of the Young – selling over a million copies. The “hair band (version of) Dream Theatre,” toured off the success of their second album, including a 13-month stint playing over 230 dates with legendary names like Kiss, Scorpions, ZZ Top, Extreme and Slaughter!
Pettibone Coffee began as a coffee roastery business in 2017, run by mother and son duo Jonathan and Marci Purcey. They announced the opening of the cafe in 2020, but covid delays forced the opening to Feb 27th of 2021.
“Pettibone Coffee was born out of a deep passion for coffee, all of its processes, and the sometimes evasive quiet moments in life,” the Purcey’s said via the Pettibone Coffee webpage. “As coffee lovers ourselves it’s our commitment to you to make sure we never fail to deliver perfect coffee that has all of the love we have to offer in each and every bean.”
They offer breakfast sandwiches on ciabatta or croissants and avocado toast, and for lunch you can choose from a turkey club, hot honey grilled cheese, or a chicken pesto sandwich. They even have gluten free bread options. Not a coffee fan? Check the cooler for Peach Blossom, Ginger or Pomegranate Kombucha, Coconut Water or other chilled drinks. Their bakery counter is always stocked with chocolate chip cookies and blueberry muffins.
Pettibone Coffee Roastery & Cafe
215 Woodman Dr
Riverside, OH 45431
Mon-Fri 6am-7pm
Sat-Sun 7am-7pm
Kitchen is open until 3pm daily
Cooley The Curator will be in the house playing a great funk music set. If you want your funk uncut, this is the place to be!!!
Gabriel Iglesias is one of America’s most successful stand-up comedians performing to sold-out concerts around the world. He is also one of the most watched comedians on YouTube with over half a billion views and has over 24 million fans across social media.
He’ll be performing at Fraze Pavilion on Sat, Aug 20th at 8:30pm. Tickets go on sale Feb 26th at 10am.
In 2018, Gabe was included in The Hollywood Reporter’s “Top 40 Comedy Players” issue alongside comedy giants Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock and Lorne Michaels. The comedian has also had the distinct honor of being one of the few to headline and sell-out Madison Square Garden in New York, Staples Center in Los Angeles and Sydney Opera House in Australia.
Gabriel Iglesias is the youngest of six children, raised by a single mother in Long Beach, CA. It was during his childhood that he developed a strong sense of humor to deal with the obstacles he faced. In 1997, he set out to hone his comedic skills, and performed stand-up anywhere he could find an audience; including biker bars and hole-in-the-wall joints. Gabriel’s stand-up comedy is a mixture of storytelling, parodies, characters and sound effects that bring his personal experiences to life. His unique and animated comedy style has made him popular among fans of all ages.
The Dayton Art Institute (DAI) has partnered with Dayton’s own African American Visual Artists Guild (AAVAG) to present the juried exhibitionBlack Heritage Through Visual Rhythms, on view at the DAI from February 26 through May 22.
This marks the seventh annual showcase of Black Heritage Through Visual Rhythmsorganized by the African American Visual Artists Guild and the first time the exhibition will be hosted at the Dayton Art Institute.
This national, juried exhibition highlights exceptional contemporary art–including paintings, sculpture, multi-media art, printmaking and photography–by nationally recognized and emerging African American artists from across the United States. Black Heritage Through Visual Rhythms features more than 80 works of art by 44 American artists of African descent working today.
“This exhibition has been several years in the making,” said DAI Chief Curator and Director of Education, Jerry N. Smith. “Initially planned for 2020, it is exciting to see it finally come to fruition. We now have the opportunity to present these vibrant works of individual expression by more than 40 artists to our guests. It will prove a memorable experience for those who visit.”
“African American art is so deeply intertwined with the history of race in the United States—from colonial enslavement, to the civil rights movement, to today,” said AAVAG President, B. Cato Mayberry. “The works presented at the Black Heritage Through Visual Rhythmsexhibition are far more than a group of personal statements about identity or recorded moments in history. They have power, beauty and meaning that extend beyond categorization to achieve timeless, universal appeal.”
The mix of local and national artists in the exhibition represents 11 different states. Responding to a call-for-entry, the final works were selected by internationally recognized artists Dean Mitchell (Florida) and Andrew Scott (Texas), with additions by AAVAG Exhibition Committee members.
As this exhibition demonstrates, there is no over-arching African American style or singular Black American aesthetic. The exhibition reflects the diverse backgrounds and different interests of the artists and includes art in in a variety of styles and media. Through personal expressions, the artists engage with and respond to different aspects of world history, African American culture and the shared legacy of African diaspora, the displacement from an ancestral land. There are also visual responses to present-day experiences, which are expressed through thought-provoking social commentaries.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a full-color catalog, available for purchase at the DAI’s Museum Store, and the exhibition’s Best in Show winner will be presented the opportunity to be featured in a 2023 Focus Exhibition at the Dayton Art Institute.
“It is exciting to bring this unique exhibition to the Dayton Art Institute and highlight both established and emerging African American artists,” said DAI Director & CEO, Michael R. Roediger. “This exhibition is a DAI exclusive, so it’s the only opportunity to see this amazingly diverse body of work. We encourage the entire community to support the exhibition and these artists!”
Several related programs and educational resources will be offered in conjunction withBlack Heritage Through Visual Rhythms. These include:
For more information about Black Heritage Through Visual Rhythms and its related programs, go to www.daytonartinstitute.org/blackheritage.
A new dessert cafe, Me’Yanna Berry Co., will officially open to the public this Friday. They are a family owned one of kind dessert café located in the heart of the city of Dayton with Positive Vibes & DOPE (Delicious On Purpose Every-time) Desserts. Their specialties are gourmet cupcakes, desserts, and novelties.
Me’Yanna Berry Co. is located in the newly renovated Biltmore Building at 15 E. First St. Owner Kia Wilson considers herself a buttercream and dessert artist, and will have an assortment of homemade desserts for sale. Owner Kia Wilson, a Dayton native and former school teacher began baking in her home kitchen and selling her sweet treats as “Kia Cake and Co.”
Me’Yanna Berry Co. will also offer carry-out gourmet wines, apparel, prayer candles, and other gifts and accessories. The treat shop will be open for its first day from noon-6 pm on Friday, Feb. 25. Regular business hours will then be Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 am.-3:30 pm, Fridays 10 am-6 pm, and Saturdays 9 am-1 pm.
Me’ Yanna Berry Co.15 E. First Street
Dayton, OH 45402
(937) 723-6928
If you’re a Vegan foodie, or just a foodie who loves plant-based cuisine, you’ll want to know that the first Vegan Foodie Choice Awards (VFCA) are coming this May. Mother of Eden Founder, Jenn ‘A’nat’ Gordley created this event out of her deep commitment to creating a platform for members of the vegan/plant-based community to celebrate the foods they love. The purpose of this event is to give the vegan/plant based community, (or all who enjoy vegan food) a chance to have a great time while celebrating the foods we love.
Finalists have been announced and voting is now open.
Best Vegan Cuisine
Best Vegan Options
Best Vegan Desserts
There are also categories for Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland and Indianapolis. Check the website for more info on the nominees for these cities.
The semi-formal event will feature music, delicious vegan cuisine, and lots of fun and excitement, with the meals carefully planned with special dietary needs in mind. Purchase tickets online.
To find out the results, plan on attending the event on May 7th, 2022 at the Dayton Convention Center at 7pm. Mother of Eden Founder, Jenn ‘A’nat’ Gordley created the event out of her deep commitment to creating a platform for members of the vegan/plant-based community to celebrate the foods they love. The event will feature music, delicious vegan cuisine, and lots of fun and excitement, with the meals carefully planned with special dietary needs in mind.
For more information about the Vegan Foodie Choice AwardsTM and how to be a part of the movement, visit – veganfoodiechoiceawards.com and across social media, including Instagram and Facebook.
Filmmaker Selena Burks-Rentschler is an Ohio filmmaker, writer and director and last semester taught in the motion pictures program at Wright State University. She’s just wrapped a project where she served as the Associate Producer of Redlining: Mapping Inequality in Dayton and Springfield a documentary that debuts this month on Think TV. This one-hour documentary tells the story of local families who were impacted by redlining, and the lasting effects of this federal policy on our region. It also makes some surprising discoveries about the roots of redlining that trace back to our region, and some larger-than-life personalities who have been all but forgotten. recently took time to answer some questions about her involvement with this project.
We were all on the same page and that was incredibly valuable. I lived in redline communities as a child. And I remember not being able to wrap my mind around the reasons why my neighborhood didn’t have access to certain amenities such as grocery stores, doctors offices or banks. I knew something was wrong but I didn’t have the knowledge or vocabulary to describe what it was until I became apart of the production team.
Mrs. Lelia Francis
SBR: One of the first things I did was read Rothstein’s The Color of Law, it was required reading and rightly so. There was a distinction made between De Facto segregation and De Jure segregation. And redlining was government sponsored segregation.
Thursday February 24, at 9pm on ThinkTV16
Sunday, February 27, 1:00pm on ThinkTV16
While the Dayton Arcade continues to breathe new life into the historic and storied downtown space, a soon- to-be commercial resident aims to bring another fresh take on tradition to downtown Dayton. Ghostlight Coffee is happy to announce Gather by Ghostlight. The concept will infuse the culture, history, and flavors of coffee and the traditions of European apéro, or aperitivo, into its Arcade complex café.
“We are excited to bring a new concept to Dayton that aligns with the culture Ghostlight is known for,” said Shane Anderson, founder of Ghostlight Coffee. “The tradition of apéro is as much a state of mind as a time of day. It is a celebration of those blissful hours between work and personal time, and sharing these moments over a drink and a bite in good company.”
Guests can expect to find a few of the coffeehouse and 
eatery’s existing breakfast and pastry items alongside new brunch, lunch and small plate creations from the culinary leadership of Chef Jenn DiSanto. In addition to a traditional espresso bar, Gather will offer a ‘slow bar,’ where each drink is brewed-to-order using manual & automated brewing methods.
Gather by Ghostlight will offer both regular and zero-proof beer, wines and spirits, with an added focus on aperitifs, spritzes and digestifs. This coincides with Ghostlight’s recently launched Zero-Proof Bottle Shop at it’s South Park coffeehouse. This section of the beverage program at Gather is being guided by Nashville-based Sommelier and spirits professional Evan Danielson, who has roots in the Dayton area.
“An inclusive beverage program designed for all lifestyles is important as we refine the concept,” said Anderson. “It is our intention to combine the social and community spirit of the morning coffeehouse with a later afternoon apéro, into one gathering space.”
Additionally, Gather by Ghostlight will welcome The Dana L. Wiley Gallery – featuring Mike Elsass in the 39 W. 
Fourth Street portion of the space. Guests will enjoy the works of Elsass and other featured artists. In addition to hosting programmed talks and live music amongst the curated art, the gallery will also serve as a catered event space.
Since welcoming its first tenants in early 2021, the Arcade complex has seen steady growth, with Hub office and residential leasing complete and events booked into 2023. Gather by tenants and attract new guests to the Arcade.
Gather by Ghostlight aims to open in early-to-mid summer 2022 at 37-39 W. 4th St. The café will have both 4th Street and Arcade Rotunda entrances as well as exterior and interior patios. Gather will be open from 7am-7pm from Monday-Sunday, with potential for extended hours during special events. To follow the construction of the café, follow @gatherbyghostlight.
Twelve local artists will create original productions, exhibitions, and more in 2022 through a grant program funded by the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District (MCACD) and administered by Culture Works.
The Artist Opportunity Grant program empowers Montgomery County artists to build their careers through the creation of new works and participation in professional development opportunities, such as workshops, residencies, and apprenticeships. The independent grant panel that reviews applications and makes funding recommendations awarded $34,163 to this year’s artists to support projects happening now through the end of December.
“Montgomery County is proud to support the development and growth of artists who contribute to the quality of life in our community,” said Matt Dunn, MCACD Executive Director. “These artists could live anywhere to practice their craft and create their work, yet they make the Dayton area their home and we are better because of it.”
Including this year’s grantees, the Artist Opportunity Grant program has nurtured the careers of 76 local artists and awarded over $190,000 in funding since launching in 2016. “The Dayton Region is home to a vibrant, collaborative, and generous community of artists,” said Lisa Hanson, President & CEO of Culture Works, the united arts fund and arts agency that administers the program. “Our community benefits immensely from local artists’ creativity and vision, and we’re proud to work alongside Montgomery County to invest in their continued growth.”
Many of this year’s funded projects stem from the artists’ commitment to and love for their community. D. Tristan Cupp will use the art of puppetry to create a theatrical production inspired by “The Peace of Wild Things,” a poem by Dayton Literary Peace Prize honoree Wendell Berry. Describing the intent behind the project, Cupp writes, “This production will help increase hope in our community by creating a visual opportunity for public reflection on the relationship between peace and nature.” Visual artists Sarah Maxwell and Misty Thomas-Trout create art that raises awareness of important issues and inspires viewers to action. Maxwell will complete a body of work that uses paintings of endangered animals to convey the experience of having dyslexia, while Thomas-Trout will expand the reach of her Atlas of Dayton Herald, which educates readers on the inequities that have shaped local neighborhoods.
Dayton hip-hop artist Kameron ELIJAH Seabrook, who will create an album with Billboard charting producer Tyrice Jones, summarized his artistic purpose this way: “I believe in this city, I believe in its people, and I believe in the community that raised me here. Musical expression is simply the messenger of choice.”
Tristan Cupp
2022 Artist Opportunity Grant Recipients:
Shaunn Baker, Filmmaker
D. Tristan Cupp, Puppetry and Theatre Artist
Linda Hart, Painter
Shelley Jagow, Musician, Conductor, and Educator
Jessy Ly
Jesse Ly, Photographer
Sarah Maxwell, Painter
Josh Merritt, Glass Artist
Amy Powell, Photographer
Danielle Rante, Visual Artist
Kameron ELIJAH Seabrook, Hip-Hop Artist
Countess Winfrey
Misty Thomas-Trout, Graphic Designer
Countess Winfrey, Dancer and Choreographer
For more about this year’s grantees, visit cultureworks.org. Culture Works will also share ongoing updates about their projects through social media.
