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Legendary trumpeter Louis Armstrong said that music is life itself. Satchmo’s sage words could very well apply to this weekend’s entertainment lineup, which will strike a chord with avid melophiles (a fancy term for music lovers) around Columbus.
Most of the events in the next couple of days involve music from genres including but not limited to country, Latin, funk, ’90s alternative, classical-infused hip-hop, folk and reggae. Even the theater and dance productions will be accompanied by melodious sounds. Performers range from local and regional to globally known acts such as Olivia Rodrigo (sold out) Tim McGraw and Everclear.
These events are sure to hit all the right notes, as will a couple of other non-musical options, and you can read about them below. To receive these ideas in your inbox each week, sign up for the Life in the 614 newsletter.
Denison dance, music faculty team up for show
“Mareas/Tides” will unite dance and music faculty from Denison University for a program featuring the choreographic collaboration of Marion Ramirez and Ojeya Cruz-Banks set to a live score of jazz, blues, funk and Latin music by Pete Mills, Timothy Carpenter, Matthew Dixon and Dean Hullet. The performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Sharon Martin Hall at the Eisner Center for the Arts, 240 W. Broadway, Granville. The production, part of Denison’s TUTTI New Arts Festival, includes visual projections by Christian Faur of the college’s art department. The event is free, but tickets are required by registering online. (denison.edu/events/event/152123)
Everclear to rock crowd at The King of Clubs
Everclear, known for songs such as “Santa Monica,” “Everything to Everyone,” “I Will Buy You a New Life” and the autobiographical “Father of Mine,” will bring ’90s alternative rock to The King of Clubs, 6252 Busch Blvd., on Friday. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Fronted by singer-songwriter, vocalist and guitarist Art Alexakis, Everclear marked their 30th anniversary with the 2023 release of “Live at the Whisky A Go Go,” their first album in eight years. General admission tickets cost $40 in advance and $45 on the day of the show. (tkoc.live)
Scrap & Stamp Show to welcome crafters
More than 2,000 scrapbookers, stampers and paper crafters are expected to attend the Columbus Scrap & Stamp Show from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the Lausche building at the Ohio Expo Center, 717 E. 17th Ave. Visitors can browse and shop vendor booths, reserve all-day crop tables to work on activities and participate in make-it-and-take-it projects. Admission at the door costs $8 daily or $12 for a two-day shopping pass (cash only). See website for information about classes and crop parties. Parking costs $7. (greatlakesscrapbookevents.com)
Wild Women Writing to revisit ‘Summer, 1976’
A pivotal but brief friendship between two Columbus women, sparked by their two children, is the focus of “Summer, 1976,” a Tony-nominated Broadway play by Ohio-raised Pulitzer-winning playwright David Auburn. Wild Women Writing will present the Midwest premiere of this moving, insightful work with music created and performed by Zack Rogers at 7 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Columbus Performing Arts Center’s Shedd Theatre, 549 Franklin Ave. Tickets cost $25 general admission and $15 for students. For more information, call 614-457-6580 or email katherineburkman@gmail.com. (summer1976-tickets.eventbrite.com)
Tim McGraw to play Nationwide for 4th time
Country favorites Tim McGraw and wife Faith Hill were the first performers to play in Nationwide Arena when it opened in 2000, returning to perform there again in 2006 and 2017. The arena, located at 200 W. Nationwide Blvd., will once again welcome McGraw at 7 p.m. Saturday with special guest Carly Pearce. McGraw, who has earned 30 No. 1 hits and 38 Top 40 singles, also has won three Grammys, 14 Academy of Country Music awards, 11 Country Music Association awards, 10 American Music Awards, and three People’s Choice Awards. Ticket prices start at $39.75. (ticketmaster.com)
Coffeehouse concert to feature Andy Baker
With just his guitar, voice and original songs, Andy Baker can evoke laughter one minute and tears the next. The Michigan-based musician will take the stage at the Columbus Folk Music Society’s monthly coffeehouse concert at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Columbus Mennonite Church, 35 Oakland Park Ave. Guests are invited to arrive earlier for a 6 p.m. informal jam, a 7 p.m. open-mic with three acts and a 7:45 p.m. singalong. A donation of $15 is suggested at the door for the general public and $10 for CFMS members. (facebook.com/billcohensings)
Black Violin to fuse classical with hip-hop
Experience hip-hop and string instrumentals fused in a way rarely heard when Black Violin performs at 7 p.m. Sunday in the Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St. The classically trained, Grammy-nominated duo of Kev Marcus on violin and Wil B. on viola first caught the public’s eye during their winning streak on “Showtime at the Apollo.” Individually and together, they have worked with artists including Alicia Keys, Tom Petty and Aerosmith, toured with Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park and opened for the Wu-Tang Clan. Black Violin also composed the music for the Fox series “Pitch.” Joining them onstage will be Nat Stokes on drums, DJSPS on the turntable, and Liston Gregory on keyboards. Tickets start at $25.50 and there is an eight-ticket limit per household/person. (capa.com)
Local musicians to offer ‘Beautiful Era’ works
The nonprofit recital series Sunday at Central will present “Paris, La Belle Epoque,” a program of French works written during the Belle Epoque period (“The Beautiful Era”) at 3 p.m. Sunday at Broad Street Presbyterian Church, 760 E. Broad St. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. The concert will feature local musicians Jeffrey Myers, violin (Calidore String Quartet, Sunday at Central artistic director), Pei-An Chao, cello (Columbus Symphony), and Mariko Kaneda, piano (faculty, Ohio Wesleyan University). Admission is free and free parking is available. Performances are recommended for ages 9 and older. Sunday at Central concerts are livestreamed on the group’s website and can be watched later at youtube.com/sundayatcentral. (sundayatcentral.org)
Ark Band to salute reggae legend Bob Marley
The Ark Band, a St. Lucian reggae band based in Columbus, will pay homage to the master of the genre at the seventh annual Bob Marley and the Wailers tribute concert, which will take place at 7 p.m. Sunday at Natalie’s Grandview, 945 King Ave. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Founded in 1987 by Terry and Eustace Bobb (known as the St. Lucian Riddim Twins), the band has toured across the United States, Canada and Jamaica, sharing its roots reggae, calypso and soca music. Tickets are for standing-room-only and cost $24 online, which includes a service fee. (nataliesgrandview.com)
Blooms & Butterflies visit the conservatory once again
Celebrate the 30th anniversary of Blooms & Butterflies through July 7 at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, 1777 E. Broad St., open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. See hundreds of colorful, exotic butterflies flying freely through the Pacific Island Water Garden, a tropical haven full of bright nectar blooms and observe new butterflies emerging from their chrysalises daily at the Metamorphosis Lab. The display is included with general admission, which costs $23.50 for ages 13 to 59; $19.50 for ages 60 and older; $16 for ages 3 to 12; and $3 for SNAP, EBT, WIC and Medicaid participants with proof of participation in these programs. Guests and members are urged to reserve tickets to ensure availability of their preferred date and time (except the first Sunday of each month). (fpconservatory.org)
