2009 Columbus Concert Schedule

Back when I couldn't decide what I wanted for Christmas...something I still haven't decided, I had the brief idea to ask for some concert tickets. 

That led me to check and see which musical acts that I liked, if any, would making their way to Columbus this year. Typically, we see big acts, such as Jay-Z (just as an example) will go to either Cincinnati or Cleveland, but they'll skip right past Cbus. They figure we'll want to drive four hours to see a concert if we really call ourselves a true fan.

Well now at least many of the concert schedules are set, at least up until the summer begins, I can see who'll be here. Though I opted not for concert tickets.

I give you a condensed (and to-be-updated throughout the year) schedule of the best music acts coming to our city in 2009.

Hells Bells

January 16, 7 pm

@ Newport Music Hall

George Clinton & the Parliament Funkadelic

January 16, 7:30 pm

@ Lifestyle Communities Pavilion (The LC)

Lil' Wayne (with T. Paine, Keyshia Coles and others)

January 17, 7 pm

@ Schottenstein Center/Value City Arena

Girl Talk

January 17, 7 pm

@Newport Music Hall

Ballas Hough Band

January 18, 8 pm

@ The Basement

Disco Biscuits

January 21, 8 pm

@ Newport Music Hall

Cursive

January 21, 8 pm

@ The Summit

Les Yeux Noirs

January 22, 8 pm

@ The Fawcett Center

David Allan Coe

January 23, 5:30 pm

@ Screamin' Willies Saloon

Band members from Thrice, Saves the Day and the Get Up Kids and more

January 23, 7 pm

@ The Basement

The Wailers

January 24, 7:30 pm

@ The LC

Lambchop

January 25, 8 pm

@ The Wexner Center for the Arts

Kings of Leon

January 27, 7 pm

@ The LC

Jewel

January 28, 8 pm

@ Midland Theater (in Newark)

Old Crow Medicine Show

January 29, 7:30 pm

@ Newport Music Hall

T.I. (with Trey Songz)

January 30, 6:30 pm

@ Veteran's Memorial Auditorium

Big Head Todd and the Monsters

February 2, 7 pm

@ Newport Music Hall

Antony and the Johnsons

February 4, 8 pm

@ Southern Theater

Jon Hassell and Maarifa Street

February 5, 8 pm

@ The Wexner Center

Ludo

February 7, 7 pm

@ The Basement

Bob Marley Tribute

February 7, 9 pm

@King Arts Complex

Los Campesinos

February 11, 9 pm

@ Mershon Auditorium

DJ Benny Bennasi

February 11, 9 pm

@ BoMA

Marah

February 11, 9 pm

@ Circus

Katie Reider

February 14, 6 pm

@ The LC

Matt Wertz

February 14, 7 pm

@ The Basement

Times New Viking

February 14, 9 pm

@ Mershon Auditorium

Brett Dennen

February 20, 8 pm

@ The Basement

Ben Folds

February 21, 7 pm

@ The LC

Zoso

February 21, 7 pm

@ Newport Music Hall

Tapes 'N' Tapes

February 21, 7 pm

The Basement

Jesse McCartney

February 23, 7 pm

@ The LC

Cross Canadian Ragweed

February 24, 7 pm

@ Newport Music Hall

Yonder Mountain String Band

February 26, 8 pm

@ The LC

Duncan Sheik

March 7, 8 pm

@ Southern Theater

Joan Baez

March 9, 8 pm

@ Southern Theater

The Whigs

March 9, 7 pm

@ The Basement

Nickleback (with Seether and Saving Abel)

March 11, 7 pm

@ Nationwide Arena

Kathleen Edwards and Clare Burson

March 14, 7 pm

@ The Basement

Kottonmouth Kings

March 15, 6:30 pm

@ Newport Music Hall

A Tribute to Sublime

March 17, 7 pm

@ Newport Music Hall

Mindless Self Indulgence

March 19, 7 pm

@ Newport Music Hall

The Eagles

March 29, 8 pm

@ Schottenstein Center

Morrissey

April 1, 7:30 pm

@ Palace Theater

Yanni

April 15, 8 pm

@ Germain Amphitheater

Neko Case

April 23, 7 pm

@ Newport Music Hall

Britney Spears

April 30, 8 pm

@ Schottenstein Center

A State AfFAIR

The Ohio State Fair starts in 2 days! So I thought I'd highlight some of the neatest attractions that will be there this year that you'd want to catch. The fair will be going from July 30th through August 10th.

You know how fairs go. You've got the food stands, roller-coasters and rides, animals, arcade games where you can win entirely too big stuffed animals or goldfish, music, tractor-drawn hayrides, the Sky Glider and so much more. Well all of these things you can expect again this year. But here are some new entertainment options for 2008.

First, I must say I am super excited that this year one of my favorite musicians is coming to the fair...Musiq Soulchild!!!! He'll be performing August 1st, this Friday, and tickets are just $12 at 7 p.m. I am going to get my tix tomorrow and you'd best believe I'll be in the front row (or close to it anyway).

Also, Melissa Etheridge will be performing at the fair, the very next day, August 2nd at 7 p.m. also, but for $30 a ticket. Plus, the legendary Chaka Khan will be blowing us out of the water with her soulful vocals on Friday, August 8th, also at 7 p.m. Her tickets are $20. Chaka just came out with a CD so she'll probably be singing hits from her new project and then some of her classics. I plan to attend her concert, too.

This year there will be a Fair 5K run/walk on Saturday, August 2nd at 8 in the morning. Anyone of any age can participate. The path will be around the fairgrounds starting and finishing at the Crew Stadium. Click here to register and for more information. There is a fee ($29 before the race, $35 if you wait until the day of the 5k). Buuuutttttttt, you get some great things in return: exercise, family bonding time, stress-relief, an award if you finish top 3, a T-shirt, a "swag bag," free parking and free admission to the fair!

Check out the BMX Biking Pro Stunt Show, make one-of-a-kind wire wrap bracelets, De'Anna the hypno-chick (I'm curious about this one!); be a part of the Cash Explosion Road Show live taping done by the Ohio Lottery.

Ever been to a horse show or seen lumberjacks demonstrate their skills? Well here's your chance! And if you happen to have a need to vent about some aspect of your job, feel free to step into the Career Builder's "Vent Booth" where you can record yourself venting and the tape will be reviewed as part of a Getaway sweepstakes worth $4,000. There will even be live ongoing boxing competitions if you've got to get your sports fix.

Oh, but then there's the food!!!! Let's just talk about that for a moment. Fair food is so sinfully bad, but so necessary. If you're on a diet, don't even bother coming. The fair is only once a year, so you HAVE to live a little. We all know some of the best foods are ones that can only be found at state fairs:

Warm apple dumplings with ice cream

Extra cheesy pizza

Funnel Cakes!

Some of the best barbeque

Grilled corn on a stick

Giant turkey legs

Fried Twinkies

Stromboli

Fried Oreos (highly recommended)

Corny dogs

Cotton candy

Super-long hotdogs

I have to stop, this is really making me hungry.

So this is the Fair schedule. There's so much to check out, you may want to write down what all you have to see before you go. I wandered around aimlessly last year (as it was my first time at Ohio's fair) and definitely didn't get to see as much as I wanted. Besides that, I went on the last day. It was a lot to take in; this year I am going to have a list of must-sees, starting with pig races! See you there!

(Check the website for admission prices, events, competition info and ways to volunteer or work the various booths)