Columbus Music
Points of interest, music festivals and venues in "The Fountain City"
A city’s musical renaissance usually occurs over time, in fits and starts, like an all-night jam session, before finding its groove. For Columbus, the tempo grew decidedly upbeat in 1992 with the establishment of The Loft, which as a music venue, recording studio and restaurant, helped kickstart the music- and arts-centric revitalization of downtown. Columbus has never been short on homegrown talent. The Mother of the Blues Ma Rainey, Nashville pioneer Chet Atkins, hip-hop producer Dallas Austin, TLC singer Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, blues artist Robert Cray, violinist David Ragsdale of rock band Kansas, guitarist/songwriter Danny Whitten of Neil Young’s band Crazy Horse, and country artist and comedian Tim Wilson were all born or raised in the city.
Today, downtown Columbus (or “uptown,” as locals refer to it) thrives with a number of intimate restaurants and venues, outdoor events and the presence of Columbus State University’s Schwob School of Music, which presents more than 250 concerts every year. The RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, the opulent Springer Opera House and the Liberty Theatre all showcase local and touring talent in this culturally rich city in the Chattahoochee River Valley.
Below, use the itinerary to find must-see music venues, festivals and more points of interest.
Founded by a student of Mendelssohn, Herman S. Saroni, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra became the second orchestra formed in the United States. It disbanded during the Civil War and both World Wars, but has operated continuously since 1949. Maestro George Del Gobbo has led the CSO for 26 seasons. A season typically includes eight or more concerts from October through May, plus other special events as announced.
Ma Rainey House and Blues Museum
Known as the "Mother of the Blues," Gertrude "Ma" Rainey was born in Columbus in 1886 and began performing as a young teen. She toured with the Rabbit Foot Minstrels and in 1923, made the first of her more than 100 recordings. Upon her retirement in 1935, Rainey moved home to a two-story shotgun house, but sadly, she died four years later. By 1991, the dilapidated house was in danger of being razed, but locals stepped in, purchased it, renovated it and opened the museum in 2008 with restored rooms, memorabilia, music and more. Ma Rainey is buried just a few blocks away in Porterdale Cemetery at 107 10th Avenue.
The esteemed Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University presents more than 250 concerts annually featuring the CSU Jazz Ensemble, CSU Percussion Ensemble, CSU Philharmonic Orchestra, CSU Wind Ensemble, University Singers, Chorale and numerous solo and duo performers and ensembles. Dr. Andrew Zohn, who oversees the guitar program, also organizes the annual Guitar Symposium and Competition.
The Liberty Theatre Cultural Center
This historic theater, which opened in 1925, offers a variety of programming with an emphasis on African-American history and cultural contributions.
The heartbeat of live music in uptown Columbus, The Loft presents live rock, blues, jazz, funk, R&B and roots music since 1992. Don’t miss an opportunity to catch local artists, including blues singer, songwriter and guitarist Neal Lucas; keyboardist and singer Lloyd Buchanan (when he’s not on the road with Alabama Shakes); bandleader Rusty Taylor; or the Unified Jazz Jam, a swinging collaboration between the CSU Schwob School of Music’s Jazz Studies team of faculty and students and the active Columbus Jazz Society.
If you’re a country music lover, check out the Outlaw Saloon, where live music and line dancing go hand-in-hand. Colt Ford, Jawga Boyz, Laughlin and Chris Lane all graced the state in recent months.
RiverCenter for the Performing Arts
The RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, a cornerstone of historic Columbus, houses the the 2,000-seat Bill Heard Theatre, the 430-seat Legacy Hall, the 184-seat Studio Theatre, Columbus State University’s Schwob School of Music and is the performance home of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra.
Built in 1871, The Springer Opera House is not only the State Theatre of Georgia, but it is also one of only seven theatres in the United States producing theatre in a National Historic Landmark.
Though it is a restaurant and sports bar, Tavern at Main Street also devotes significant time to live music with an early blues and jazz set on Tuesdays, acoustic music on Wednesdays and a variety of rock and country bands from 8 p.m. until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
In addition to hosting two professional sports franchises, the Columbus Civic Center also hosts some of the biggest music acts to tour through Georgia. The first half of 2016 will include popular acts such as nationally renowned hip hop artist Chris Brown and Atlanta resident Elton John.
Billing itself as a concert venue, bar and grill, SoHo presents a variety of regional and touring acts, including recent acts Dirt Road Republic, Boneheadz, Miggs, Five Shot Jack, M&M Band and more.
Guitar Symposium and Competition
For the past 17 years, Columbus State University’s Schwob School of Music has hosted top guitarists from around the world for a weekend of guest artist concerts, master classes and an international competition with divisions for middle school through professional. Past participants in the Guitar Symposium and Competition include Chilean virtuoso Carlos Perez, SoloDuo, Duo Melis, Gabriel Bianco, Dutch guitarist Jan Bartlema and many more.
UPtown Columbus, a non-profit economic development organization, organizes a variety of tours and events in historic Columbus and publishes an online calendar of events. Annual events include RiverFest in May — which in 2015 added a singer/songwriter series featuring lauded Georgia songwriters Pat Alger, Tony Arata and Mike Dekle — and Blues Brews and Q in September.
