On the live music trail in Columbus, Ohio

Twenty One Pilots, Caamp, O.A.R., Rascal Flatts, Willie Phoenix, Dwight Yoakam and Bobby Floyd are just some of the musicians who cut their teeth in Columbus, Ohio.

Before they were household names, they played on stages in Columbus, from outdoor venues to dive bars and from sold-out arenas to indie record stores. With a reputation as one of the country’s best undiscovered music cities, Ohio’s capital invites visitors to experience its thriving music scene with the new Columbus Live Music Trail.

Launched in June by Experience Columbus in partnership with the Columbus Music Commission, the Columbus Live Music Trail features more than 40 venues devoted to live music.

While other cities and states have music trails celebrating the history of music and genres like bluegrass, blues and country, the Columbus Live Music Trail is one of the first of its kind. The trail represents a city’s contemporary music scene and highlights venues where you can listen to a variety of genres, including pop, punk, rock, rap, jazz, bluegrass and more.

The Columbus Live Music Trail launches on the heels of the premiere of Poser, a psychological thriller set in Columbus’ underground music scene. Shot in Columbus, the film features real Columbus bands like Damn the Witch Siren, WYD, Mungbean and more. Directed and edited by Ori Segev and Noah Dixon, Poser was recently named a The New York Times Critic’s Pick a. Fans of the film can visit Columbus and use the Columbus Live Music Trail to discover music venues featured in the film, like Cafe Bourbon Street and Ace of Cups.

“Music contributes $170 billion dollars per year to the US economy, with music tourism as a substantial component,” says Bruce Garfield, Executive Director of the Columbus Music Commission.

“We are excited to be partnering with Experience Columbus to highlight many of the wonderful live music venues that drive cultural and economic growth in our city.”

Some of the stops along the trail include Dick’s Den, a famous jazz venue; Newport Music Hall, the longest continually running rock club in the country and Dirty Dungarees, a laundromat and bar.

The trail is easy to use with a simple download to your mobile device and seamless check-in at each venue.

Music producers, industry executives and even fans visiting Columbus for the first time often leave uttering the same four words— “I had no idea”—in response to what a great scene the city has, Garfield says.

“I always love to see live music in Columbus,” says two-time Grammy winner Pete Ganbarg, President of A&R for Atlantic Records.

“There is such a vibrancy to the scene, from the small clubs to the arenas and even the stadium. I know that I’ll always see something exciting whenever I’m in town.”

In addition to the diverse range of music venues, Columbus is also home to some of the best independent record stores in the nation. Before catching a live show, check out shops like Used Kids Records, Magnolia Thunderpussy, Spoonful Records, Elizabeth’s Records, Lost Weekend Records and others.

Experience Columbus President and CEO Brian Ross says the Columbus Live Music Trail has the potential to bring in a new stream of visitors to the city.

“Research shows that 61% of overnight visitors to Columbus take part in entertainment activities like concerts, which is higher than the US average,” Ross says.

The Columbus Live Music Trail is one of numerous existing curated Experience Columbus guides to the best the city has to offer. Visitors can also explore the Columbus Distillery Trail, Columbus Coffee Trail, Columbus Outdoor Trails Pass, Short North Art Trail and CBUS SOUL Sculpture Trail.

To learn more about what makes Columbus’ music scene unique, wach this video.

Explore the Columbus Live Music Trail at ExperienceColumbus.com/MusicTrail.

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