Mavis Staples Returns to Memorial Hall: A Living Legend Reconnects with Cincinnati on July 22

Photograph by Myriam Santos

On July 22, 2025, the Longworth-Anderson Series at Memorial Hall will welcome back one of America’s most celebrated musical icons: Mavis Staples. The Grammy-winning vocalist, Civil Rights icon, and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee returns to Cincinnati for a legendary performance that promises to be both soul-stirring and unforgettable.

At 84, Staples continues to tour and record with a spirit that defies expectation. Her unmistakable voice—gritty, warm, and powerful—still carries the weight of a lifetime spent singing for justice, joy, and connection. From her early days with The Staple Singers to her critically acclaimed solo career, Staples has stood at the crossroads of gospel, soul, and protest music, giving voice to the struggles and hopes of multiple generations.

This is not her first time gracing the Memorial Hall stage. Staples last performed in Cincinnati as part of the Longworth-Anderson Series in April 2018.

Her return this summer is more than just an encore. It’s a cultural reminder for Cincinnati—a city with its own deep roots in Black musical tradition and activism. It’s also a continuation of the Longworth-Anderson Series’ mission to present artists whose work pushes boundaries and resonates far beyond the stage.

Staples’ influence is boundless. With hits like “I’ll Take You There,” “Respect Yourself,” and “Freedom Highway,” her music has long been a rallying cry for progress. In recent years, she has recorded with artists like Jeff Tweedy, Ben Harper, and Hozier, bringing her message and sound to new generations. While the world has changed dramatically since she first began performing in the 1950s, her commitment to truth, joy, and resistance through music has never wavered.

Her upcoming show at Memorial Hall offers Cincinnati audiences a rare opportunity to witness that legacy in real time. Her powerful message transcends generations, and continues to shape the future.

Whether you’re a lifelong fan or discovering her work for the first time, July 22 is your chance to hear a voice that helped shape American history—and still refuses to be silenced.

Join us for an unforgettable night with Mavis Staples—a voice of the past, the present, and the future! Tickets available now at www.memorialhallotr.com.

—Kyle Fugate

Ohio National Guard's 122nd Army Band Rocks Memorial Hall!

Our nation’s armed forces have some of the finest bands in the world. Since 1944, the Ohio National Guard's 122nd Army Band has carried on that tradition. Members of the unit hail from every corner of Ohio (plus a few other states). The band’s mission, similar to that of all military music ensembles, is to strengthen troop morale and build a positive connection between the public and the National Guard.

You can hear this incredible band free of charge Friday, July 5, 2024, presented by Memorial Hall and the Cincinnati Memorial Hall Society (CMHS). The 122nd utilizes its resources to perform dozens of concerts each year across the state featuring ensembles ranging from the traditional concert band to smaller jazz, pop, and rock groups. The program at Memorial Hall is titled “Rewind to the 80s,” sponsored by Jim & Marilyn Wellinghoff, and presents a smaller rock band.

If you were expecting a bunch of traditional military marches by John Philip Sousa and Broadway music, you will be surprised and enchanted by this throwback program full of neon nostalgia and electrifying hits.

So put down the Gameboy, put on your sweatbands, grab your Walkman, and let's meet at Memorial Hall! You bring the big hair and a fanny pack full of quarters for the arcade; we'll bring the mix tape of music that defined the ‘80s. It's gonna be tubular!

Tickets available now at www.memorialhallotr.com.

Memorial Hall is a collaboration of CMHS, 3CDC, and Hamilton County.

Flavor of Findlay Silent Auction

The Longworth-Anderson Series is pleased to provide a pair of complimentary tickets to any upcoming concert for the Flavor of Findlay Silent Auction on Thursday, September 8, at 6:30 p.m.!

Flavor of Findlay is Findlay Market's premier annual fundraising event where top local chefs collaborate with market merchants to create unique and delicious dishes. Our donation supports their biggest fundraising event of the year, contributing to vital food entrepreneurship programs, community-building initiatives, and beautification at and around the Market.

Please click here for details.

Rumi Nights: Poetry, Song & Friendship Silent Auction

Join our friends at Woodward Theater on Thursday, July 14, from 6:30-9 p.m. for this signature event with Haleh Liza Gafori and guests for a night of Rumi, music, and friendship to benefit The Well and Mindful Poetry Moments. Features light bites, cash bar, and a robust arts & wellness auction, including complimentary tickets to any upcoming Longworth-Anderson Series concert.

Gafori is a translator, vocalist, poet, and educator born in New York City of Persian descent. Her recent book, GOLD, published by New York Review Books/NYRB Classics, features her translations of poems by Rumi, the 13th century sage and mystic.

The 122nd Army Band Rock in the USA

Celebrate Ohio’s armed services with a FREE concert by Flashbang, the 122nd Army Band's popular rock band, on Sunday, June 26, at 7 p.m., presented by the Cincinnati Memorial Hall Society and Memorial Hall.

Performing a wide repertoire of entertaining popular music, from rock to pop to country to everything in between, Flashbang has been entertaining the soldiers of the Ohio National Guard and the people of the State of Ohio for years. The band has rocked the house at the Tri-C Rock Off at the House of Blues in Cleveland, the Franklin County Fair, Akron Rib, White & Blue Festival, and more. Flashbang also regularly performs in schools to promote music education and recruit for the Ohio National Guard.

Masks are optional for this event. Confirmation of vaccination status is not required.

Reserve your tickets here!

Memorial Hall presents Veterans Art Exhibition

Ticket holders to our sold-out John Hiatt and The Jerry Douglas Band concert on Tuesday, November 9, in the Longworth-Anderson Series will have the opportunity to experience the Veterans Art Exhibition currently on view at Memorial Hall!

In celebration of Veterans Day, featured artwork will include pieces created by local veterans who have participated in the Creative Arts Therapy program at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center. Mediums included in past veteran shows have included painting, drawing, sculpture, and photography; applied art that includes ceramics, woodcarving, needlework, and leatherwork; and craft kits such as string art, fabric art, and wood building. This exhibition is part of a veteran’s therapy and provides recognition for their artistic accomplishments.