Musicians, music appreciators, and night life junkies, here is your weekly guide to the Columbus music scene. Whether you’ve got a rock n’ roll heart or a craving for heavy EDM drops, there is something for you. Check out what Columbus has to offer you this weekend.
COUNTRY
It’s a big weekend for country music in Columbus! Promowest is putting on WCOL Country In The Capital Friday and Saturday at the LC Pavilion. Friday’s lineup features Chris Young, Dustin Lynch, and Lucy Angel. Having grown up in Nashville, Chris Young is a long time student of country music. He has all the makings of a country music star with his authentic up beat and sentimental songs. Dustin Lynch is another guy who got his start playing in the Nashville area. Drawing influence from Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, and Clint Black, Lynch wants to take your night up a notch and show you how to party. Lucy Angel is a family affair. Kate Anderton is the mother of both Emily Anderton and Lindsay Anderton. These three have an incredibly harmonious sound and can play everything from dancing songs to songs that sound like an eerie, midnight breeze.
Day two of the WCOL Country In The Capital at the LC Pavilion features Chase Rice, Dan + Shay, Canaan Smith, and The Cadillac Three. Chase Rice plays pop-country music. To give a sense of his sound, he helped write the song “Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line. Dan + Shay have been writing music from a young age. They also feature a more pop-country sound, but they have Nashville roots so you can be sure to hear that big old country heart shine through. Canaan Smith is a fan of many genres of music. His variety of tastes gives a unique musicality to his songs. You may also not be too surprised to hear that he has gone through the Nashville filter as well. Hittin’ you with some harder southern rock, The Cadillac Three are gonna get you off your seat. Don’t miss WCOL Country In The Capital this Friday and Saturday at the LC Pavilion. Also coming Saturday at the Rumba Cafe is Lincoln Durham. His sound can best be compared to Thin Lizzy’s “Cowboy Song.” The kind of southern blues to listen to while riding into the sunset on horseback.
Sunday check out Emily Hearn at the Rumba Café. While she isn’t strictly a country artist, that is the best way to categorize her specific brand of acoustic pop. Be ready to close your eyes and drift away in her soft, understanding vocals.
ROCK
Everybody wants a piece of the action, so come get yours! First up on Friday, VERIDIA is playing The Basement. This band is similar to Starset but features female vocals. Some of their songs drift into the alternative range, however, they are primarily a rock band. The Districts are with Sun Club and Forest & The Evergreens at The Newport. Each of these bands takes their own stylistic approach to blues-infused, indie rock. Forest & The Evergreens is more old school in their sound. They feature trumpets and smooth percussion. Sun Club takes after The Strokes with their up-beat surfer rock. The Districts fall happily between the two. It will be a unique show that you shouldn’t miss. Rubblebucket is playing at the Rumba Café with their dance influenced rock music. They incorporate a saxophone and a trumpet into their poppy, groovy genre of rock. Static Tension is playing at O’Shecky’s Live Bar & Restaurant. They have a dark sound reminiscent of Nirvana and Alice in Chains.
Saturday come see the best Led Zeppelin tribute band around, Zoso, at The Newport. These guys are as close to the authentic experience as you can get. The lead singer even looks like Robert Plant. For something a little different, check out Osage at Brothers Drake Meadery & Bar. Osage is a good change of pace with their enticing funk rock sound. Up that same alley is Lydia Brownfield. She is having her CD release show at King Avenue Five on Saturday. Be ready for some jazzy blues rock. The Fabulous Johnson Brothers are bringing their colorful, electric, alternative, rock-based, dance music to the Park Street Tavern. They are the right kind of band to be playing on a Saturday night to ensure you leave in an even better mood than you came in.
Sunday brings a host of interesting rock shows to Columbus. Basic Cable Preachers is a modernized group of pop rockers. They incorporate synthesizers to back up their guitars and vocals to create a soothing aesthetic experience for everyone in the audience. See them at The Basement. Joywave will be just upstairs at the A&R Music Bar. Joywave is one of the most refreshing bands on the radio today. They broke out with their song “Tonuges,” and have continued to make equally as bizarre and captivating songs since. Songs like “Destruction” feature heavy, rough beats being supported by synthesized melodies. Maybe more electro than rock, Joywave can incite a crowd to move. Don’t miss them this Sunday.
FRIDAY SHOWS (2ND)
WCOL Country In The Capital (feat.) Chris Young, Dustin Lynch, Lucy Angel
Doors: 7:00 PM @ LC – 405 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH 43215
614-461-5483
VERIDIA
Doors: 7:00 PM @ The Basement – 391 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH 43215
614-461-5483
The Districts, Sun Club, Forest and the Evergreens
Doors: 7:00 PM @ The Newport – 1722 N High St, Columbus, OH 43201
614-294-1659
Rubblebucket
Starts: 9:00 PM @ Rumba Café – 2507 Summit St, Columbus, OH 43202
614-268-1841
Static Tension
Starts: 9:00 PM @ O’Sheckys Live Bar & Restaurant – The Continent Shopping Center, 6240 Busch Blvd, Columbus, OH 43229
614-436-5656
SATURDAY SHOWS (3RD)
WCOL Country In The Capital (feat.) Chase Rice, Dan + Shay, Canaan Smith, The Cadillac Three
Doors: 7:00 PM @ LC – 405 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH 43215
614-461-5483
Zoso
Doors: 7:30 PM @ The Newport – 1722 N High St, Columbus, OH 43201
614-294-1659
Lincoln Durham
Starts: 7:00 PM @ Rumba Café – 2507 Summit St, Columbus, OH 43202
614-268-1841
Lydia Brownfield
Starts: 7:00 PM @ King Avenue Five – 945 King Ave, Columbus, OH 43212
614-297-8060
Osage
Starts: 10:00 PM @ Brothers Drake Meadery & Bar – 26 E 5th Ave, Columbus, OH 43201
614-388-8765
The Fabulous Johnson Brothers
Starts: 10:00 PM @ Park Street Tavern – 501 Park St, Columbus, OH 43215
614-221-4099
SUNDAY SHOWS (4TH)
Basic Cable Preachers
Doors: 6:00 PM @ The Basement – 391 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH 43215
614-461-5483
Joywave
Doors: 6:00 PM @ A&R Music Bar – 391 Neil Avenue, Columbus OH 43215
614-461-5483
Emily Hearn
Starts: 7:00 PM @ Rumba Café – 2507 Summit St, Columbus, OH 43202
614-268-1841