Top on the list of Outdoor Jazz opportunities this week is The 8th Annual Columbus Food Truck Festival on the Scioto Mile Downtown. This family-friendly free event boasts 60+ food trucks and trailers, arts and crafts, plus two full days of music on two stages. The music schedule for Friday, August 17th is lighter on jazz, but does include a 7:15pm set from jazzy pop interpreters The Big Badd on the Washington Street Stage. The lineup for Saturday, August 18th is replete with great jazz acts, getting started with vocal-forward groups Liz Woolley Band (Bicentennial Stage, 12:15pm) and Anna Paolucci Five (Washington St. Stage, 2pm). Later in the afternoon, the proceedings stay hot and heavy with jazz/funk/fusion outfits Funk Worthy (Bicentennial Stage, 4pm) and fo/mo/deep (Bicentennial Stage, 5:30pm), while tunes will get swung by Whirlybirds on the Washington St. Stage at 5:30pm. Enjoy your choice of great food and fun tunes in a festive setting! Keep reading for more great outdoor jazz and other exciting options for the week.
There are four other open air performances (that we’re aware of) on Friday, August 17th: The Gateway location of World of Beer is rebranding to The District Pourhouse, but the Local ‘n Live series outside its doors in the Campus Gateway Beer Garden continues to rage with the Tony Bennett-flavored Just Friends at 6pm. Violinist Stephen Spottswood & Friends, with keyboardist Dominic Baer and drummer James “Smooth” Elliott, play their blend of jazz and classical for the Music in the Village series at the Village Pavilion in Shawnee Hills at 6:30pm (more details here). At 7pm, jazz, pop, neo soul and fusion are mixed by the expert hands and voice of the Emily Syring Band at the beer garden of Local Roots in Powell. And also at 7pm, the Summer Sizzle Concert Series at George Edge Music Park in Grove City continues with a fun mix of jazz, pop and R&B from the Russell Blue Band (more details here).
Fresh air jazz excitement for Saturday, August 18th is somewhat far-flung. 9:30am is when Anna Paolucci’s Strings n Tings get the family fun started at Clintonville Farmers’ Market. At 11am, guitar maestro plays his final monthly Jazz Brunch of the summer on the patio at the Granville Inn in Granville, where he is also in action on Wednesday, August 22nd at 6pm. And for those looking for a tasty voyage east, at 7pm Saturday the Rick Brunetto Big Band plays its annual summer concert at Weldon’s Ice Cream Parlor on Buckeye Lake in Millersport. An ice cream cone with vocalists Tia Harris and Michael Phillips plus the high-powered 17-piece band sounds like an excellent way to enjoy a summer evening!
Shows To See This Week
Friday, August 17th (7 – 10pm): The Crucible at Filament at The Vanderelli Room, Franklinton. Organizer Gerard Cox is kicking off a new weekly (except 2nd Fridays) event at his intimate performance and art space just west of Downtown. The Crucible aims to be an improvised and experimental music sound lab with an outside/avant-garde focus, for those looking for spontaneous creativity outside the boundaries of a standard jam session. Bring your instrument, there will be house drums and a piano available. More details and thoughts from Cox are available here.
Saturday, August 18th (8 – 10pm): Mark Hampton & The Jazz Experience Benefit Concert at Fresh Start Worship Center, 5468 Westerville Road. Bassist Hampton and his all-star band are taking part in an effort to give back to a family in need. A mother and her six children recently had their house burn down and lost all of their possessions, so friends have organized several events to raise funds to help them put their life back together. Saturday’s concert will feature Hampton and talented collaborators playing the music of his powerful 2018 release ROOTS, and they will also share a special song that Hampton wrote for the family. Donations of $10 to $20 are requested for admission. Come out for an inspiring night of music for a great cause! To learn more about and support the fundraiser, click here.
Wednesday, August 22nd (8 – 11pm): Josh Hill’s La Fête at Brothers Drake. Another special free Jazz Wednesday concert at the meadery is the setting for the debut of a special project by guitarist Hill (Huntertones, Birdshack, much more). As Hill noted, “La Fête is the group of individuals I’ve hoped to get under one roof since February of 2016 when I first met a brilliant young bassist in Lome, Togo.” Hill is joined in the project by drummer Justin Campbell, keyboardist DJ Washington, and multi-instrumentalist Edem Bass. Should be an eye-opening evening of new music!
Have a great week! Prepare with video from some of the featured events: