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…
Read More
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…
Read More
Why Columbus Chose to Invest in Local Journalism By Monica Jones When a community decides local journalism is worth investing in, it’s making a statement about more than newspapers. It’s saying that informed citizens matter. That local stories matter. That understanding what happens in city hall, our schools, our neighborhoods and our businesses is essential to the health of the place we call home. That is exactly what happened this month as the Georgia Trust…
Read More
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…
Read More
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…
Read More
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,…
Read More
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,…
Read More
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…
Read More
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…
Read More
At Home, On Stage, Still Loving It By Monica Jones In a recent phone call, Foxworthy talked about the work, the writing, and where it all began. After more than four decades on the road, Jeff Foxworthy is headed to Columbus. Best known for his stand-up and the kind of observational humor that made him a household name, Foxworthy has built a career around material drawn from everyday life, the kind audiences recognize immediately. On…
Read More