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Coming out of the pandemic is going to be full of uncanny moments where we do something that was once routine for the first time since February or March of 2020.
I had a moment recently where I realized live music venues would be re-opening soon and that I would need to get back into the old routine of looking for upcoming shows. Imagine my surprise when I realized the Columbus concert calendar is already filling up in the back half of this year, with many shows already on sale.
Here is a selection of those concerts, with the caveat that these are all going to be riskier purchases than usual, for some time still. There’s no way to know whether a new COVID-19 variant or outbreak might cause the temporary shutdown of music venues again, but I know it was worth it to my mental health to take that risk and pay the exorbitant Ticketmaster fees for a Julien Baker show at Newport Music Hall in September. Having a concert to look forward to for the first time in well over a year is a tremendous feeling.
This list is just a sampling, albeit with an effort made to span genres and musical tastes. And, of course, as things open up I expect many more shows to be announced, but this is the state of play as of June 1st. Let’s dive in.
Summer
June 6
Lost Dog Street Band
The Athenaeum Theatre | Tickets
July 12
Electric Six w/ VOLK
Rumba Cafe | Tickets
July 22
Jocelyn & Chris
Rumba Cafe | Tickets
July 27
Hoko
The Basement | Tickets
July 29
Reverend Horton Heat w/ Hackensaw Boys
Skully’s Music Diner | Tickets
July 31
Bully w/ Tweens
Skully’s Music Diner | Tickets
John R. Miller
Rumba Cafe | Tickets
August 2
AG Club
The Basement | Tickets
August 3
Modest Mouse
Express Live! | Tickets
August 6-7
What? Music and Arts Festival
Franklinton | Tickets
August 13
The World’s Greatest Pink Floyd Show: Brit Floyd
Express Live! | Tickets
Jackie Venson
Rumba Cafe | Tickets
August 17
The Hella Mega Tour: Green Day / Fall Out Boy / Weezer
Historic Crew Stadium | Tickets
August 18
Marc Cohn
The Athenaeum | Tickets
August 19
Louis The Child
Express Live! | Tickets
August 20
The Dead South
Newport Music Hall | Tickets
August 21
Leslie Mendelson
Rumba Cafe | Tickets
August 27-28
CAAMP
Express Live! | Tickets
August 28
The Lonely Ones
Newport Music Hall | Tickets
August 28-29
Wonderbus Music Festival
The Lawn At CES | Tickets
Guided By Voices
Skully’s Music Diner | Tickets
August 31
Sad Summer Festival
Express Live! | Tickets
Fall
September 3-4
Breakaway Music Festival
Historic Crew Stadium | Tickets
September 3
Marc Rebillet
Newport Music Hall | Tickets
Lady A
Express Live! | Tickets
September 4
Vesperteen
Rumba Cafe | Tickets
Waxahatchee
Skully’s Music Diner | Tickets
September 7
Faye Webster
A&R Music Bar | Tickets
September 10
Jelly Roll
Express Live! | Tickets
Moon Taxi
Newport Music Hall | Tickets
Paul Thorn
The Athenaeum | Tickets
September 12
Emily Rowed & Marielle Kraft
Rumba Cafe | Tickets
September 14
Japanese Breakfast
The Athenaeum | Tickets
September 15
Bleachers
Express Live! | Tickets
Michigan Rattlers
The Basement | Tickets
September 20
Primus
Express Live! | Tickets
Future Islands
Newport Music Hall | Tickets
September 22
Dance Gavin Dance
Express Live! | Tickets
September 23
Guns ‘N’ Roses
Schottenstein Center | Tickets
Watsky
Newport Music Hall | Tickets
September 24
Glass Animals
Express Live! | Tickets
September 25
Simple Plan / New Found Glory
Express Live! | Tickets
September 28
Julien Baker
Newport Music Hall | Tickets
September 30
Dinosaur Jr.
The Athanaeum Theatre | Tickets
October 1
Mt Joy & Trampled By Turtles
Express Live! | Tickets
Arlo Parks
The Basement | Tickets
October 8
Larkin Poe
Newport Music Hall | Tickets
October 10
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
Express Live! | Tickets
Idles
Newport Music Hall | Tickets
October 12
Lucy Dacus
Newport Music Hall | Tickets
October 14
Drive By Truckers
Newport Music Hall | Tickets
October 17
The Airborne Toxic Event
Newport Music Hall | Tickets
November 2
Tech N9ne
Express Live! | Tickets
Chicago
Palace Theatre | Tickets
November 3
Sylvan Esso
Express Live! | Tickets
November 6
Purity Ring
Newport Music Hall | Tickets
November 11
Lucy Daigle
Schottenstein Center | Tickets
November 18
Midland
Express Live! | Tickets
The Lemonheads
The Athenaeum Theatre | Tickets
November 19
Red Wanting Blue
The Athenaeum Theatre | Tickets
November 20
The Driver Era
Newport Music Hall | Tickets
November 20
Chvrches
Express Live! | Tickets
November 24
Theory Of A Deadman
Express Live! | Tickets
Winter
December 8
Genesis
Nationwide Arena | Tickets
December 10
COIN
Express Live! | Tickets
December 11
The Glorious Sons
Newport Music Hall | Tickets
December 17
Anderson East
Newport Music Hall | Tickets