This summer, the Columbus evening sky will serve as an auditorium for international, national and local acts from a variety of genres. Preview the lineups here, and start gathering your blankets and lawn chairs.
Sundays at Scioto
Dublin Arts Council’s 32nd annual summer concert series features shows on eight consecutive Sundays, running from June 7 to July 26 at Scioto Park Amphitheater in Dublin. The Cheesy Truck and Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt will provide snacking options to audiences. Shows run from 7-8:30 p.m.
June 7: Blair Crimmins & the Hookers – From Atlanta, Ga., this artist takes the Dixieland jazz and ragtime sound of the 1920s and brings it to the present day.
June 14: Lydia Loveless – A well-known player in the central Ohio music scene, this native derives her sound from a combination of classic country, punk rock and honky tonk.
June 21: Lt. Dan’s New Legs – This high-energy, six-piece band covers popular songs and gets people up and dancing.
June 28: In Full Swing – This 16-piece band plays music from the 1930s and 40s through the modern day. The SwingColumbus dance group will instruct the audience in dance steps prior to the show and dance with the audience during the performance.
July 5: The Floorwalkers – This band fuses blues, rock ‘n’ roll, funk and soul for a unique sound that’s all its own.
July 12: All Jacked Up – This cover band from Dayton plays songs from a variety of genres.
July 19: The Rad Trads – Hailing from New York City, this group features a jazzy, New Orleans brass band sound.
July 26: Socks in the Frying Pan – This Ireland-based band serves up traditional Irish music with a twist.
Nationwide Insurance Picnic with the Pops
The Columbus Symphony Orchestra’s annual concert series is held at the Columbus Bicentennial Pavilion in Columbus Commons. Depending on the artist, the symphony usually performs the first half of the show alone and then performs with the selected artist during the second half of the performance. Gates open at 6 p.m., and concerts start at 8 p.m.
Designed for children, the Popcorn Pops shows feature free popcorn and activities including face painting, art projects and musical instruments. Pre-concert activities are from 5:30-6:45 p.m., and concerts begin at 7 p.m. and run for about an hour.
June 19: Chris Botti – This Grammy award-winning artist has captivated audiences with his American jazz instrumental sound.
June 20: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy – This nine-piece swing outfit features a high-energy, big band style.
June 27: The Fab Four – As evident by the band’s name, this group covers Beatles songs with careful dedication to the original sound.
July 4: Patriotic Pops – “The Stars and Stripes Forever” and other well-known tunes are on the bill for the symphony’s Independence Day show.
July 11: The Commodores – Blending funk and soul, this classic, Grammy award-winning band is known for songs including “Brick House” and “Easy.”
July 18: Pink Martini – This group, made up of 10-12 musicians, features a variety of sounds including 1930s Cuban dance orchestra, classical and chamber music, and even that of a Brazilian marching street band and a Japanese film noir soundtrack.
July 25: U2 Symphony – U2’s hits, reimagined with the power of symphonic orchestration, are the highlight of this show.
July 31 and Aug. 1: The Ohio State University Marching Band – The annual collaboration between the symphony and “The Pride of the Buckeyes” comes complete with a fireworks show.
Popcorn Pops
June 26: Red, White and Popcorn, with conductor Albert-George Schram
July 24: Happy! with conductor Albert-George Schram
Columbus Commons
This is Columbus Commons’ fifth summer concert series. All concerts are held at the Columbus Bicentennial Pavilion at Columbus Commons. While patrons are asked to leave coolers at home, lawn chairs and blankets are allowed.
June 6, 3-11 p.m.: Stone Soul Picnic – Radio One’s second musical celebration features hip-hop and R&B acts.
June 12, 7-11 p.m.: The Navigators – The band, consisting entirely of Columbus executives and professionals, plays a free show.
June 13, 7-10 p.m.: Columbus Commons Blues Night – In partnership with Sean Carney’s Blues for a Cure, Columbus Commons has curated a free night of blues music. Food trucks and a bar are available at 6 p.m.
July 9, 16, 23 and 30, 7-11 p.m.: Downtown Live Concert Series, presented by the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District – These free events include food trucks, drinks and music from the Floorwalkers, Angela Perley & the Howlin’ Moons, MojoFlo and Popgun.
July 19, 8-11 p.m.: Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus 25th Anniversary Celebration Performance – The chorus celebrates its long history with a free show.
Aug. 14-15, noon-10 p.m.: Columbus Food Truck Festival – For this free event, local bands round out a collection of Columbus’ finest food truck offerings.
Sept. 4, 7-11 p.m.: Rusted Root – This free event features a band known for its bluegrass rock sound and 1995 hit “Send Me on My Way.”
Sept. 6, 7-10 p.m.: Shadowbox Live presents Gallery of Echoes – Shadowbox offers a free performance, in collaboration with Columbus Museum of Art, of multi-media performance Gallery of Echoes: The CMA Experience.
Sept. 26, 2-5 p.m.: The Undignified Event – This free non-denominational praise and worship concert is focused on teens.
Scioto Downs Racino
Scioto Downs works with 92.3 WCOL to put on its own concert series outside on the track. Once its Brew Brothers restaurant and microbrewery opens toward the end of this year, it will also be able to offer smaller concerts and comedy shows there. Doors for the summer series open at 6:30 p.m. and all shows start at 7:30 p.m.
June 27: Jonny Lang and Kenny Wayne Shepherd – Lang is a blues, gospel and rock musician who has toured with the likes of Aerosmith, Buddy Guy, B.B. King and the Rolling Stones; Shepherd is a rock singer and guitarist best known for his 1998 hit “Blue on Black.”
July 10: Jamey Johnson – Epic beard-sporting country musician Johnson is most recognized for his mid-2000s tunes “The Dollar,” “High Cost of Living” and “In Color.”
Aug. 22: Kellie Pickler – Country musician and former American Idol contestant Pickler has seen success since 2006 with songs including “I Wonder,” “Best Days of Your Life” and “Didn’t Know How Much I Loved You.”
Sept. 25: Jerrod Niemann – Nashville singer-songwriter Niemann has been performing since the late 1990s and hit No. 1 on the charts with “Lover, Lover” in 2010.
Sarah Sole is an assistant editor. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
Check out our related article for concert information for:
-Grove City
-Westerville
-Upper Arlington
-Pickerington
-Grandview Heights
-Hilliard
-Canal Winchester
-Clintonville
And more!
