Discover New Music
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From Beer to Art to Music, Don’t Say There’s Nothing to Do
It used to be that once USC let out for the summer that Columbia became a sleepy college town. Not so any more.
Tonight (5/15) Beer Dinner to Benefit Boston
In the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings, Boston proved how tough it is and bounced back. And America came to its aid.
Boston Brewing Company, which is based just outside of Fenway Park, has been organizing beer dinners and tastings around the country with some of the proceeds going to Boston bombing charities.
Tonight, at Liberty Tap Room in the Vista, its a Boston Beer Dinner pairing 10 Sam Adams brews with 5 courses.
Here’s the menu:
Course 1
Sam Lager vs Sam Rye with a bacon and leek bruschetta
Course 2
Sam Adams New World vs Sam Adams Grumpy Monk with a Vichyssoise
Course 3
Sam Adams Porch Rocker vs Sam Adams Summer with a Summer Pickled salad
Course 4
Sam Adams Stoneybrook Red vs Angry Orchard Cider with proscuitto wrapped pork tenderloin and a fig puree
Course 5
Sam Adams 13th hour vs Sam Adams Chocolate Cherry Stout with Dueling Pirouttes, one mint white Chocolate and one Hazelnut Chocolate Cream
$35 a single, $70 for two and it starts at 7:00. Learn more here.
Liberty Tap Room is in the Vista at the corner of Gervais and Lincoln Streets.
Thursday night: Get Satisfaction (and Prettier than Matt) for Rooftop Rhythms
Rooftop Rhythms is one of our favorite events. It’s the big Spring and Fall get-togethers in Forest Acres. The Forest Acres Restaurant and Merchant Association and the City of Forest Acres.
It takes place on the roof of Richland Mall at the corner of Forest Drive and Beltline Boulevard. The top level of the parking garage has become the de-facto town common for Forest Acres. It’s one of the few wide-open spaces and there is plenty of parking. Where else can you take an elevator from your car to the festival?
It starts afterwork at 5:00. FREE ADMISSION and free stuff for the kids to do while you enjoy the music and a cold beverage after work.
Prettier than Matt
5:00 to 7:00
Prettier than Matt starts off the evening. It’s a duo that consists of Jeff Pitts and Jessica Skinner.
Learn more about them here.
The evening concludes with Satisfaction, an acclaimed Rolling Stones tribute band. Most of us never got to see the Stones in anything other than their pensioner guise. After all, most of us could be their kids or grandkids.
Satisfaction
7:00 to 9:00
They start rocking at 7:00. Learn more about the band here.
Which brings us to our favorite thing about Rooftop Rhythms. It’s literally walkers to strollers. And that’s not an insult. Every single time, the crowd is great and it truly relfects Forest Acres today: young professionals, younger families, and long-time Forest Acres residents. And they all have a great time.
And that is what it is all about.
Varholy and the Class will be live from the scene, so stop by and say hello and pick up one of our new window stickers thanks to Wray Automotive.
Thursday: Bryson Jennings at the Fountain for Five Points After Five
Sadly, this Five Points After Five concludes the season for the summer. The weather will be great for this final free concert at the corner for Greene and Saluda Avenue. It starts at 6:00, so you have plenty of time to get to Five Points after work.
Five Points After Five is family friendly, so you can bring the little ones along and keep them occupied in a play area while you enjoy the music and a cold beverage or two.
Bryson Jennings
Orangeburg native Bryson Jennings performs. He’s part of the South Carolina country young guns trifecta, along with Sumter’s Lee Brice and Columbia’s Ricky Young. He’s backed by one of our favorite songwriters, Justin Register, who lit up the Columbia music scene with his band the short-lived Madison Fair.
Thursday Night: The Power of the Purse
The United Way of the Midlands Women in Philanthropy hosts a fundraiser geared around designer purses. The purses are very worthy of the bidding frenzy that results.. It’s a silent and live auction of purses, food and drinks from Dupre’s Catering and entertainment- all included in the ticket price. All proceeds benefit women and children’s charities in the Midlands,so its shopping for a good cause!
5:30 to 8:00 at the Hall at Senate’s End (Senate Street West of Huger Street – Innovista)
Learn more here.
Friday though the Weekend: the South Carolina Book Festival
Although the hijinks of our politicians and the antics of some of our citizens often take to he headlines, South Carolina has a strong literary heritage.
This year’s South Carolina Book Festival takes place at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center on Lincoln Street.
The festival includes author readings, meet and greets, book appraisals, writing workshops and more. The opening night reception is at the Thomas Cooper Library on Greene Street on the USC Campus in the new Fritz Hollings Collection.
Learn more about the event here.
Saturday Morning: See Spot Run (and Walk) 5k
If reading is too sedentary for you, grab your canine buddy and start a beautiful Saturday morning off with a scenic walk through the historic neighborhoods of Earlewood, Elmwood Park and Cottontown.
Start time is 7:30, so get up early. You can still pre-register online here.
There are awards in a number of categories and advance registrants get a snazzy technical T-Shirt.
It’s a great walk (or run, if you are so inclined) and it is a fundraiser for the Humane Society.
Sunday Afternoon: Sensory-friendly Story Squad
Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College has been hosting a series of performances geared towards children.
Darion McCloud
Story Squad
Story Squad is the latest installment and this particular performance is specially tailored to special needs children and the folks that love them.
Sensory-friendly performances are productions slightly modified to create a more comfortable, enjoyable experience for audience members along the autistism spectrum and for those who experience other sensory sensitivity. Loud sounds are quieter, surprising elements not as surprising; the lights over the audience are not as dark, and ushers are trained to unobtrusively alert parents and other audience members to upcoming mood, music, or lighting changes. Sensory-friendly performances are also accompanied by social stories that help prepare audience members for the experience.
Tickets are a very affordable $10 and can be had here.
Harbison Theatre, 7300 College Street (Irmo/Harbison area)
Of course, this just skims the surface of everything going on. Learn more with the OneColumbia calendar and subscribe to a weekly email newsletter.
Tens of Thousands of Pounds of Crawfish and Hours of Live Music
Like many Columbia traditions, the Rosewood Crawfish Festival started as a parking lot party by a couple folks that wanted to create a fun thing to do, enjoy a few cold beverages, listen to live music and hand out with their neighbors. In the years hence, its grown in to a multi-block affair with tens of thousands of pounds of the little crustaceans.
This year, there are three stages of live music, with the main stage hosting Big Head Todd and the Monsters.
In advance of Saturday’s (5/11) festivities, we’re going to familiarize yourself with the acts.
The Budweiser Stage is on Rosewood Drive at Harden Street. (Map)
12:00-1:00 Ten Toes Up
Ten Toes Up
WXRY Unsigned alum Ten Toes Up hail from Myrtle Beach (Murrells Inlet, but who’s splitting hairs). You and charismatic.Get ready for a high energy show.
Official Site
Twitter
Facebook
1:30-2:30 Ricky Young
Ricky Young
Country is hot right now. And Columbia-native Ricky young seems to be blazing. He sold out Tin Roof earlier this year, which is no mean feat. Sumter native Lee Brice appears on a track on Spinning My Wheels, Ricky’s latest full length.
3:00-4:00 Hobex
Rising out of the ashes of NC’s Dillon Fence, Greg Humphries’ Hobex is just as beloved as his prior band.
4:30-5:30 Blue Dogs
The Blue Dogs
The Blue Dogs have been South Carolina favorites for years. During the last big Columbia music scene explosion, Charleston’s the Blue Dogs were playing venues in the Capital City all the time. They still play over 100 shows a year and still draw crowds and know how to keep the party going. With 9 CD’s and 2 DVD’s to their credit, there’s a reason why The Blue Dogs are still favorites.
6:00-7:00 Big Head Todd and the Monsters
Lead by Todd Park Mohr (“Big Head Todd”), Colorado’s Big Head Todd and the Monsters should not be dismissed as a nostalgia act. Although 1993 marked the release of their platinum-certified Sister Sweetly, the trio has continued to be very active. Their latest of 13 albums was released in 2011 and was a tribute to blues artist Robert Johnson.
Big Head Todd and the Monsters
Count 0n hearing all their hits (“Bittersweet, “Circle,” “Broken Hearted Savior,” and “Boom Boom” among them) but also expect a really fun show as well.
Discover The Lone Below
“Bleeding Out”
The follow up single to “You Never Need Nobody” Brooklyn (NY) based The Lone Bellow are a self-described “Brooklyn country” act.
Official site
Twitter
Facebook
Tens of Thousands of Pounds of Crawfish and Hours of Live Music
Like many Columbia traditions, the Rosewood Crawfish Festival started as a parking lot party by a couple folks that wanted to create a fun thing to do, enjoy a few cold beverages, listen to live music and hand out with their neighbors. In the years hence, its grown in to a multi-block affair with tens of thousands of pound of the little crustaceans.
This year, there are three stages of live music, with the main stage hosting Big Head Todd and the Monsters.
In advance of Saturday’s (5/11) festivities, we’re going to familiarize yourself with the acts.
Rosewood Merchants/Liquid Assets Stage is on Holly Street. (Map)
12:20-1:00 TreeHouse!
TreeHouse! is a rock/reggae band from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. There’s no relation to the short-lived group of Brits that were signed to the even shorted lived Breaking Records owned by Hootie and the Blowfish.
They just released their CD Growth last week.
1:30-2:10 FatRat Da Czar
Fat Rat Da Czar
Fat Rat Da Czar is hard-working Columbia rapper who more recently performed as part of the Family Hip-Hop Day in connection with the Nickelodeon’s Indie Grits film festival.
Official site
2:40- 3:20 Atlas Road Crew
Atlas Road Crew
Atlas Road Crew took their name from the location of their practice spot: a self-storage unit south of downtown Columbia, South Carolina. One of the more promotionally active local bands, it seems like they are always playing somewhere. Note to local bands: playing well and writing good songs is only half the equation – networking and getting folks off their couches and out to see you is the other half.
3:50-4:30 Ben G
Pretty Fly for a White Guy
Columbia native Ben “G” Hiott got his start performing to Five Points crowds. He’s recently been signed by an Atlanta based record label.
5:00-6:00 The Movement
The Movement
The Movement has to be one of the bands that got it start in Columbia with the longest tenure. The reggae-drenched band has been performing for almost two decades. We can hazily recall seeing them on stage at St. Pat’s in Five Points several times in the 1990′s.
They relocated to Philadelphia, caught the ear of G. Love, and with the coming release of Side by Side will have four albums to their credit.
Five Points After Five, Rhythm and Blooms Start Off a Weekend Filled with Choices
Thursday
Five Points After Five
Weaving the Fate
The popular free and family-friendly music series is in its second week with Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band and Weaving the Fate.
It takes place at the corner of Greene Street and Saluda Avenue on the fountain stage.
Adult beverages are available and there is stuff for the kids to do while you unwind from work. Five Points encourages you to grab dinner before or afterwards at the diverse selection of offerings in Five Points either before or after. It still amazes us that Five Points has everything from fine dining to sushi to burgers to quick service sandwiches and burritos and tacos all within a quarter mile (or less!)
Learn more here.
Rhythm and Blooms
This Spring, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden began a new music series on Thursday nights in the Botanical Garden. Beginning at 6:00 after work and running until 9:00 or until they drive all you monkeys out, the series features a variety of performances and, of course, cold beverages.
It is free for members or $5 for those of you who haven’t seen the light and become a member of the Zoo. Which, by the way, not only gets you admissions to the Zoo, but you find out about ticket on-sale first for both Brew at the Zoo and the Wine Festival. Both of which sell out earlier and earlier each year.
Don Merckle and the Blacksmiths performs this week.
Learn more here.
Friday
Bambino the Opera at USC.
It’s a one-act opera that has all the great operatic qualities: curse, conflict and a ghost.
Bambino is a world premiere production that evolves around the 2004 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox overcoming “the curse of the Bambino” which long time Red Sox fans considered having been put in place when the team management sold Babe Ruth to their arch-rival New York Yankees.
There are only three performances of this piece at the Drayton Hall Theatre (opposite the Horseshoe at Sumter and College Streets): 7:30 Friday and Saturday night and 3:00 Sunday.
Find out more here.
Saturday
Rosewood Crawfish Festival
The annual celebration of the creole prepared crustacean. We’re covering this annual event all week with our music guides. Find out everything you need to know from the official site here. Advance tickets are $9 and go up to $15 at the gate.
Eau Claire Fest
This is an annual event that has taken on new life and energy since it was the neighborly block party Ribs & Renaissance.
As Eau Claire Fest, the event has taken on the character of one of Columbia’s first streetcar suburbs that was established on what had been a dairy farm. As a neighborhood, Eau Claire over the years had almost succumbed to urban blight, but is now on its way back as the old homes are rediscovered by new residents. Eau Claire is now an eclectic mix of young/old black and white and traditional folks mixed with edgy newcomers. And so it is with Eau Claire Fest. With no admission charge, this year’s festival offers something for everyone: gospel, reggae, rock, bluegrass, and it starts off Saturday morning at 11:00 with the Fonky Fest Parade.
Learn more about the festival here which includes performances by native Collette Blakeney.
Music Schedule
Collette 7:45
DJ Prince Ice w/ Kevlar, Open Mike & T-Coke 6:45
Stot JURU & Knee Deep Band 5:45
Post Timey String Band 4:45
Jahson & Natty Vibez 3:45
Ibile African Dancers and Drummers 2:30
Southeastern Fmaily Puppet Slam
Despite the word “slam.” This is a hugely fun family friendly event. With a 2:00 start, you can still fit in all the festivals with the kids, if you so choose.
You’ll find out what happens when puppet-makers think way, way outside the box: brilliant, the amazing, the fantastic and the phenomenal. It’s a whirlwind of short family-friendly puppet shows featuring the creations of puppeteers from throughout the Southeast, whose figments come to life with enthralling stories and beautiful craftsmanship.
Tickets are required at this event at the Harbison Theatre and since this is a one-time event you don’t want to wait. Learn more here.
More
Of course, this is only skimming the surface of everything going on in town. Check our OneColumbia listings this week.
The Killers – Family Circle Magazine Stadium
Tickets on Sale Friday 10am – Win Them From Us NOW
The Killers
We don’t know whether you are as excited as we are about this concert. But we hope you are. We’ve been trying to think if these Las Vegas based stars have played South Carolina before and we’ve come up with nothing. Of course, you’ll tell us if we’re wrong about that.
In short, this will likely be a really hot show. We’ve got tickets for you to win before they go on sale.
Here’s how it works: all this week we’ll play The Killer Song of the Day at 8:30 and 10:30 in the morning. Remeber what it is. At 5:30 in the afternoon, Varholy and the Class will ask you to tell us what it is. A random caller at 451-4979 with the correct answer will win a pair of tickets to the August 13th show. Simple. Easy.
Good luck. The usual contest rules apply.
On sale: Friday 10am through Ticketmaster.
The contest ends at 5:50p ET 5/10/13.
Tens of Thousands of Pounds of Crawfish and Hours of Live Music
Like many Columbia traditions, the Rosewood Crawfish Festival started as a parking lot party by a couple folks that wanted to create a fun thing to do, enjoy a few cold beverages, listen to live music and hand out with their neighbors. In the years hence, its grown in to a multi-block affair with tens of thousands of pound of the little crustaceans.
This year, there are three stages of live music, with the main stage hosting Big Head Todd and the Monsters.
In advance of Saturday’s (5/11) festivities, we’re going to familiarize yourself with the acts.
The First Citizens Stage is on Maple Street. (Map)
12:20-1:00 The Unawares
The Unawares
The Unawares are a local act with 4 full-length releases to their credit, which is unusually prolific. Absinthe Acres is available in wonderful retro-vinyl and CD.
1:30-2:10 The Black Iron Gathering
The Black Iron Gathering
Self-described as a punk/Irish stomp/folk/bluegrass/steel-toed boot music, The Black Iron Gathering are known for their high-energy shows.
2:40-3:20 Shallow Palace
Shallow Palace
Shallow Palace say they have been creating “frenzied, corrosive, infectious rock n’ roll music” for the past 8 years.
3:50-4:30 Can’t Kids
Can’t Kids
WXRY Unsigned alum the Can’t Kids describe themselves as “Appalachian cheerleader metal” which pretty much indicates the level of humour the quartet has. They refer to their band-house as the Shredquarters. The music world needs more bands that find music and performing as extrovertedly fun as this ensemble.
Official site
5:00-6:00 Say Brother
Say Brother
The Capital City’s Say Brother has been very active on the festival scene. In fact, they’ve been selected to play Raleigh’s Hopscotch Festival in September. They’ve been described as” high-velocity garage folk that… unites old-time string music and rock ‘n’ roll.”
Performance Tuesday (5/7) Now at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
The rainy and stormy weather over the past couple days has forced Imagine Dragons to move their show that was scheduled for the Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre at the Music Factory in Uptown Charlotte to the suburban Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre. If you have tickets for the show, they are still good.
Now here’s the good news: if you wanted to go to the show and head learned that it was pretty much sold out, Verizon Wireless is bigger, so more lawn seats are now available at $20 through TicketMaster.
Discover Daft Punk “Get Lucky”
Chances are you are probably already familiar with this French act. They did the soundtrack for Tron: Legacy and “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” was a dance floor anthem for a number of years.
With “Get Lucky” they’ve enlisted the help of Nile Rodgers, who drove many of the hits of the disco era both as a producer and bass player. Remember Chic’s “Le Freak?” Then you are familiar with Nile Rodgers. So, “Get Lucky” is both new and familiar.
It’s the first single from their new CD Random Access Memories which will be available May 21st.
Official site
Twitter
Facebook
The Best of Local and Regional Music and a Couple Pints What Could Go Wrong?
Sunday Night 8:00 at The British Bulldog Pub
Stagbriar is a local trio which includes bother and sister Alex and Emily McCollum.
Stagbriar
They already have two EP’s under their belt and their first full-length Quasi-Hymns, Murder-Ballads, and Tales of How the Hero Died debuts on Friday.
Their CD debut performance is at New Brookland Tavern Friday night.
Stagbriar
The British Bulldog Pub – Bower Parkway off Harbison Boulevard
8:00p No Cover
Now On
Concerts & Live Music
-
Mon20May2013
Paramore
The Fillmore @ the Music Factory (Uptown Charlotte) -
Tue21May2013
Sara Bareilles
Belk Auditorium @ Blumental Center Charlotte -
Sat01Jun2013
Fall Out Boy
The Fillmore @ the Music Factory (Uptown Charlotte) -
Fri07Jun2013
The Postal Service with Ra Ra Riot
Red Hat Amphitheater - Raleigh -
Thu13Jun2013
Passion Pit
Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre Charlotte -
Fri14Jun2013
The Lumineers with Cold War Kids
Family Circle Magazine Stadium Daniel Island Charleston SC -
Fri14Jun2013
LL Cool J with Ice, Public Enemy & De La Soul
Charter Amphitheatre Simsponville (Greenville) SC -
Sat15Jun2013
The XX and Grizzly Bear - TimeWarner Uptown Amphitheatre Charlotte
Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre Charlotte -
Wed03Jul2013
3 Doors Down, Daughtry and Halestorm
Red Hat Amphitheatre - Raleigh
RT @ColaMuseum: #FoundInTranslation Members Exhibition Celebration is Sunday at 2pm! Meet the artist Steven Naifeh. RSVP here:...
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