BB Palmer and the Boys Play Pasaquan By Frank S. Etheridge IV The Gospel According to BB Palmer spreads like a shared secret. Handed to you like a joint passed between buddies, rolled up real nice with the good news, discovering the mystical bent of BB’s genius craftsmanship for sho-nuff country music is a life-changing revelation. Though packing the potential power of an opiate for the masses, a bucket of warm buttery popcorn for the…
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Gotta Sing Brings the ’80s Back to Columbus After filling the room with Broadway favorites earlier this summer, Gotta Sing Events returns to The Loft for a night of big songs, shared memories and absolutely no pressure to sing them well. By Monica Jones When Gotta Sing Events made its Columbus debut earlier this summer, no one in the room had to be persuaded to join in. The first song began, the lyrics appeared on…
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2026 Columbus Filmmakers Grant Winners By Paul Rowe Every industry analyst will tell you that 2026 is the rise (or the return, for you history buffs) of the independent film – of investing in new, creative voices. Five Columbus creators, all 2026 Local Filmmaker Grant Program winners, have entered the chat. The genres they work in span horror, comedy-thriller, drama, and crime. Ask any of them why they put themselves through the arduous journey of…
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Carol John’s Sunshine, Happiness, & Joy fills The Do Good Fund Gallery with color, curiosity, and possibility, offering visitors of every age the chance to discover something unexpected. By Monica Jones There is something wonderfully disarming about walking into a gallery filled with bright colors, playful shapes, and thousands upon thousands of painted circles. At first glance, Carol John’s work feels joyful. Her exhibition, Sunshine, Happiness, & Joy, now on view at The Do Good…
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On July 17, a room full of people will gather at The Pearl in downtown Columbus to sing. By Monica Jones Some will be experienced musicians. Some will be former choir kids. Some will know exactly what they’re doing. Others may be stepping into a choir for the first time. There will be food, drinks, laughter, a little friendly competition, and a room full of people making a case for their favorite song in this…
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I Feel Good: An Homage to James Brown brings soul, swagger, and Southern music history to the Springer stage By Monica Jones The Springer Opera House is bringing the funk to Juneteenth. This year, the theater’s annual Juneteenth celebration turns its spotlight toward one of the most electrifying performers American music has ever produced with I Feel Good: An Homage to James Brown, a high-energy tribute to the Godfather of Soul. For audiences who moved…
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Decades after “Watching Airplanes,” Gary Allan continues to connect with audiences by remaining unmistakably himself. By Monica Jones You know that feeling when a song finds you? The kind that settles into your life and stays there. Years later, you may not remember exactly when you first heard it, but you remember the feeling it left behind. For me, it’s “Watching Airplanes.” Like many of Gary Allan’s songs, it lingered. It became attached to memories,…
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By Monica Jones Memorial Day weekend in Columbus doesn’t always win the pull over the beach—but for those who stay, there’s still plenty happening close to home. For 15 years, Bugs on the Hooch has brought Volkswagen enthusiasts, families, and curious wanderers together—now hosted at the National Civil War Naval Museum—for a weekend of classic cars, camping, and community along the riverfront. Amid all of it, there’s a moment that shifts the tone. On Saturday,…
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Cover Image: B.B. Palmer and Sammie Saxon- Image by Charley Windham By Monica Jones On May 9, Rose Hill Heights Park will be a little louder, a little brighter, a little stranger—in the best way. The second annual Crossroads Folk Art Festival isn’t designed to be explained. It’s designed to be experienced—where people aren’t just viewing art, but becoming part of it. Whether you show up knowing exactly what folk art is or whether you…
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By Monica Jones There are plenty of ways to throw a music festival, and Columbus is about to try one of the most charming. On Saturday, May 2, Uptown Columbus will debut the inaugural Columbus Porchfest, a day-long, free, family-friendly music festival that turns the Historic District into a walkable celebration of live music, neighborhood pride, and community connection. From noon to 6 p.m., front porches along Broadway and throughout the district will become stages…
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