Written by Mackenzie Manley, Content Specialist, Downtown Main Library
This post is part of a larger series that spotlights local music acts performing at the Meet Me at Main Music Festival. Check out our website for more interviews with performers leading up to Saturday, July 11.
Nine music acts will take over the Downtown Main Library on Saturday, July 11 for the inaugural Meet Me at Main Music Festival: a family-friendly, multi-stage, multi-genre showcase of local music, including two after-hours performances. The event coincides with the second anniversary of Downtown Main Library’s reopening. See the full lineup and read more artist interviews.
Catching up with Rob Mohan
A Cincinnati-based guitarist, Rob Mohan spent nearly a decade performing by the name Night Owl during which time he produced four studio albums. His debut instrumental album, A Sign of Things to Come, was released in August 2025 under his own name. The album includes 11 tracks for six and 12-string guitar.
The interview is edited for brevity and clarity.
Mackenzie: Tell me about the process of creating and releasing A Sign of Things to Come.
Rob: This was my first album where I fully embraced writing solo guitar compositions. Before, I would fit a few pieces into my other records, which leaned more towards folk and singer-songwriter styles. Inspired by what I was hearing from guitarists like Glenn Jones and John Fahey, I began to explore my own guitar sound for the record. Once I had gathered enough songs, I recorded them myself at home and collaborated with local musician Billy Alletzhauser (The Hiders, Ruby Vileos), who contributed sound textures and handled the album's mixing and mastering.
Mackenzie: You also perform under the moniker Night Owl. How do you see the two musical acts as serving different creative outlets or producing distinct art?
Rob: It really comes down to how I want to represent an idea or theme. I like having two projects because they both give me the flexibility to move between different musical approaches.
Mackenzie: What kind of experience do you think instrumental music can evoke?
Rob: There is a lot of listener participation. I try to at least provide a point of reference with the song titles, but beyond that, the listener can bring their own emotions and interpretations to the music. I find that exciting, as it creates these dynamic, personal connections with each audience member.
Mackenzie: What does it mean to you to be able to play music in a public space like the Library?
Rob: A collective space like the Library provides an excellent opportunity to connect with a diverse range of people. It’s essential for our community to experience art through various formats and venues to foster inclusivity and engagement. I am always interested in how my music will travel through unique rooms that are not conventional venues, and how that might affect the way it is experienced. I am looking forward to playing in the Reading Garden to see how it might change what I am playing.
Mackenzie: Is there anything you want to highlight about your performance?
Rob: I really enjoy trying different open tunings and the expansiveness of sound that each one brings, especially on the 12-string guitar. It offers greater openness to experimenting with different guitar dynamics. I never really set out to play the recorded piece perfectly note for note, so each time you hear me play, there may be slight differences from how I played it before. To me, that makes the listening experience much more interesting. If you are new to solo guitar music, check out John Fahey, Robbie Basho, Jack Rose, Liam Grant, Joseph Allred, and Glenn Jones as a jumping-off point.
Take in Rob Mohan’s instrumental guitar at 2:45 p.m. in the Reading Guitar on Saturday, July 11 at the Meet Me at Main Music Festival.
Meet Me at Main Music Festival is made possible by The Johnson Foundation and The Thomas W. Jones Fund of the Library Foundation.
Mackenzie Manley is currently reading “Room to Dream” by David Lynch and Kristine McKenna.
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