 Columbia, SC
This state capital is a great stop between big cities like Atlanta (three hour drive) and Charlotte (an hour and a half) or the North Carolina Triangle of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill (three and a half hours). Though it is the biggest city in South Carolina, Columbia has a large amount of green space and a very welcoming environment. A lot of money has gone into the city recently to revitalize more run-down areas like Five Points, meaning there’s more foot traffic around the city. The city’s music scene is thriving, from hip-hop artists like Danny Swain (Southeast Performer‘s March cover star) to singer-songwriter Danielle Howle to Everything After, whose 2007 release The Lampstore Sessions received the most airplay of any unsigned artist in the country.
Venues
Art Bar
1211 Park St.
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 929-0198
www.artbarsc.com
Just over 15 years old, Art Bar brings rock of all sorts, from indie to punk, metal to goth, as well as some dance and electronica. Email a link or an mp3 to
booking@artbarsc.com to get a gig.
New Brookland Tavern
122 State St.
W. Columbia, SC 29169
(803) 791-4413
www.newbrooklandtavern.com
Touted as Columbia’s “oldest continuously running club and tavern,” New Brookland Tavern has music seven days a week as well as a bit of film and art on the side. The venue is open to all genres, though it tends to lean towards rock. First time bands must play a New Music Night first for free. Email Mike Lyons at newbrooklandtavern@hotmail.com with your band name, location, style, age of members and website.
Headliners
700 Gervais St.
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 796-2333
www.headlinerscolumbia.com
With bands like G. Love & Special Sauce and Will Hoge taking the stage, Headliners tends to be for the more established touring act, though the booking agents still want to hear from new and local groups. Email David Britt to get a gig booked at davebritt@sc.rr.com or call him at (803) 996-3311.
Hunter Gatherer Brewery
900 Main St.
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 748-0540
myspace.com/huntergatherer brewery
It might look like more of a restaurant than a club, but Hunter Gatherer Brewery still brings in great indie acts like Untied States and The Unawares on Friday nights and jazz bands on Thursday nights. Contact Kevin Varner at tcrouch13@yahoo.com for booking information.
Gear/Repairs
Bill’s Music Shop & Pickin’ Parlor
710 Meeting Street
West Columbia, SC 29169
(803) 796-6477
www.billsmusicshop.com
Doubling as both an instrument store and venue, Bill’s Music Shop & Pickin’ Parlor offers lessons, live music and instruments all centered around the bluegrass genre, from banjos to guitars. The concert hall seats 250. Email Bill Wells at info@billsmusicshop.com for more information.
Media
Free Times
POB 8295
Columbia, SC 29202
(803) 765-0707 x138
www.free-times.com
Free Times is Columbia’s free, weekly magazine focusing on the city’s news and arts. It has an extensive music section complete with calendar and spotlights on local and regional acts. The music editor, Kevin Foster Langston, can be reached at music@free-times.com. The magazine is published every Wednesday, so to make the magazine’s deadline contact Langston at least two weeks before publication date.
The Daily Gamecock
1400 Greene St.
Columbia, SC 29208
(803) 777-7726
www.dailygamecock.com
This student-run newspaper for the University of South Carolina has an entertainment section called “The Mix.” The editor is Paul Bowers; email him with your information at gamecockfeatures@gwm.sc.edu. |
