Music scene · Columbus

Columbus punches above its weight in the Midwest, with a large university population and a warehouse-rich Short North district that have made it a hub for indie rock, EDM, and hip-hop. The Newport Music Hall, billed as America's longest continuously running rock club, anchors the High Street corridor alongside Ace of Cups. The Bluestone, a converted church in the Brewery District, hosts country and jazz acts, while the metal scene thrives in underground rooms in the Olde Towne East neighborhood.

Columbus developed a rock identity through WCOL radio in the 1950s and 1960s, when local bands like The Dantes and J.D. Blackfoot gained airplay. The Dantes opened for Jimi Hendrix at Veterans Memorial. In the 1970s, the scene splintered into country rock and hard rock, with Pure Prairie League and The Godz achieving national followings.

Newport Music Hall on High Street, billed as America's longest continuously running rock club, anchors the campus corridor. Ace of Cups on North High Street books punk, indie, and metal. KEMBA Live in the Arena District handles larger touring acts. Natalie's Coal Fired Pizza offers jazz, blues, and roots rock.

Artists such as RJD2, the DJ and producer who launched his career in Columbus, and O.A.R., who formed at Ohio State University before building a national jam band following, emerged from the city.

Newcomers should visit Spacebar on Parson Avenue for its Tuesday Night Live open stage. Park Street Tavern hosts jazz jam sessions weekly. Cringe.com maintains the most comprehensive show listings and serves as the city's primary music calendar.