Mad Frog closing Clifton location after nearly 30 years of music, new location coming soon

Mad Frog in Clifton. PHOTO: Felicia Jordan/WCPO

Mad Frog in Clifton. PHOTO: Felicia Jordan/WCPO

CINCINNATI  — A once-popular hot spot in the Cincinnati music scene is shutting its doors for good in Clifton but it’s not disappearing forever.

According to Owner Aydin Kol, the building on the corner of Vine and McMillan Streets is being sold and the business will temporarily close on July 18.

“We are planning to move Mad Frog to a new location to serve our community another couple of decades,” Kol said.

Kol didn’t specify an exact location but did say the new spot will hopefully open in early September of this year somewhere in downtown Cincinnati.

The Mad Frog has been a hangout spot for college students and live music fans for decades. It opened in December 1996. Live music started at the venue in April 1997.

Throughout its nearly 30-year legacy in the Queen City, artists like Papadosio and Machine Gun Kelly performed on its stage along with hundreds of local musicians.

“Many local musicians started their first show here and some of them excelled and took a place in the national music scene and some of them stayed in the city and continue performing their music locally, said Kol.

“Without our local musicians, we could not have succeeded.”

Kol also said he is very lucky to have had such a loyal staff throughout the years.

On its Facebook page, The Mad Frog is described as “Cincy’s best live music & club entertainment venue.”

The venue is known to host a variety of local, regional and touring artists playing genres including indie, jam, electronic, rock, hard rock, metal, punk, rap and hip hop.

The Mad Frog’s last show in Clifton will be Saturday.

WCPO is a content partner of Cox First Media/Journal-News.

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