As we coast into the cooler summer months, the heart of festival season winds down. While you may have caught your favorite local artists at ComFest this past June, bigger productions will be replaced by more intimate showcases popping up on the local radar. It’s known that Columbus attracts a wealth of national talent, but you can’t ignore the quantity and quality of homebred talent that is within reach on a nightly basis.
The following list serves as a weekly local concert guide through August and September. Find your favorite artists below, and buy your tickets today!
The Columbus Food Truck Festival at The Scioto Mile (Aug. 17-18)
One final chance in 2018 to catch your favorite locals in festival fashion, the eighth annual food truck gathering will leave you satisfied in more ways than one. This year will feature over 60 vendors and 20 performances across two stages. Make sure to indulge in Columbus’ finest meals on wheels while jamming to Doc Robinson, Angela Perley & The Howlin’ Moons and The Deeptones on Friday and getting down to Willie Phoenix & the Soul Underground and Whirlybirds on Saturday.
New Black Eastside Songbook at Natalie’s Coal Fired Pizza (Aug. 23)
An encore performance of the New Black Eastside Songbook, a six-song concert developed by Columbus poet and writer Scott Woods and six handpicked local musicians, will once again examine subjects of race, culture and politics in our city. “An exploration of black life and culture in Columbus historically and now,” contributions to Woods’ project will include Counterfeit Madison, Krate Digga and Paisha Thomas. Don’t miss a second chance at this strong-willed display of community.
Saintseneca Album Release at Wexner Center for the Arts (Aug. 31)
There may not be a musician that has risen out of Columbus in the past decade more ambitious than Saintseneca. The brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Zac Little, the folk-rock hybrid will be commemorating the release of its third full-length, “Pillar of Na,” on the day of its release. Katherine Paul’s daring grunge project Black Belt Eagle Scout will lead off the night.
Electric Goes Acoustic: Zoo Trippin’ Duo and Miller and The Hunks at The Shrunken Head (Sept. 8)
The Shrunken Head is always presenting abundant and exclusive experiences for the Columbus rock scene, and this recorded performance by Zoo Trippin’ and Miller and The Hunks is definitely one to bookmark. To see these groups strip down their high-energy sound for one night, for free, will surely be a special surprise. Don’t bet that it won’t be an animated affair still, though.
The Spacebar’s Fourth Anniversary at The Spacebar (Sept. 13-15)
There may not be a better spot in Columbus to release all of your inner inhibitions in a frenzy of metalcore breakdowns and triumphant rock-and-roll choruses than The Spacebar. If you’re a fan of this aforementioned type of rowdy, then come and blow out the candles for a slew a free shows. Sludge rockers Weed Demon, fiery crowd captivators The Turbos and hardcore entertainers Cadaver Dogs are just a few of the performances that will take place over the third weekend of September.
Huntertones Pre-Release Party w/ Parker Louis at Rumba Café (Sept. 22)
Huntertones are back in Columbus to ring in the fall season. The massive horn unit assembled at The Ohio State University has recently been on a mission to conquer the globe (literally) with its uplifting improv sets. If you like your jazz saturated with extra funk and serotonin-filled riffs, Rumba Café will be your sanctuary once Huntertones crowd the sacred stage. Arrive to the show early and catch the ardent stylings of Parker Louis.
