Columbus Live Music Trail 2025 - 2026 | Experience Columbus Experiences

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Columbus Live Music Trail 2025 - 2026

Expiration: Sep 30th 2026

There is Music in all of US

The music scene in Columbus has a one-of-a-kind vibe with lots to discover. Whether you’re a die-hard music lover or just looking for a fun night out, we’ve mapped out music venues in Columbus where you can experience the sounds of our city.

When you visit and check-in at participating venues, you’ll earn points toward local prizes. When you visit the first four venues, you’ll earn a super-soft, exclusive t-shirt. Continue to check in along the trail and you’ll be entered to win gift cards to local businesses.

Use #Cbusmusic to share your journey with us. This trail is brought to you by Experience Columbus and Music Columbus.

Included Venues

See locations on an interactive map.

Half Baked Warehouse

Founded in 2020, Half Baked started as a grassroots project in Columbus, blending craft beer, community, and independent art—especially music. What began in a garage quickly grew into a movement, funding local musicians and artists while creating spaces for creative expression. Today, they operate a taproom in the Short North, a skate warehouse in Linden that hosts live shows, and the Half Baked Art Fund, a nonprofit supporting arts, culture, and live music in Columbus.

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Black Swan Bar & Grill

Black Swan Bar is a vibrant music venue dedicated to supporting local artists across a variety of genres. Beyond live performances, the venue offers a diverse lineup of events, including line dancing, karaoke, salsa lessons, Goth Nights, drag brunches, and euchre tournaments. Guests can enjoy a signature craft cocktail menu, an extensive whiskey selection, and a full kitchen open from 4–11 PM. The venue also features ample free off-street parking, level entry, a covered patio, and accessible, gender-neutral restrooms, ensuring an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere for all.

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Boxland

Nestled in the heart of Worthington, BOXLAND is more than just a venue—it’s a hub for creativity, collaboration, and community. Whether you’re here for a live show, comedy night, podcast recording, or film screening, BOXLAND is where ideas come to life. With spacious production facilities, a bar, and a welcoming atmosphere, BOXLAND is the go-to space for filmmakers, musicians, comedians, podcasters, and performing artists looking to share their work with an engaged audience. As an independent venue, every event, ticket, and drink supports local artists and multimedia creators—helping to fuel the next wave of creative projects in Central Ohio. From live performances and networking events to professional video production and audio recording, BOXLAND is where artistry meets opportunity.

Located in Worthington, OH
Hosting live events, comedy, improv, and screenings
Full-scale podcast & video production studio
A bar where every drink helps fund local multimedia arts

BOXLAND isn’t just a venue—it’s a movement. Come be part of it!

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The Rock Syndicate

The Rock Syndicate was created to offer guests extraordinary customer service, exclusive music lifestyle merchandise, and unique events from local listening room style concerts, to a private membership program.

Woodlands Tavern

Woodlands Tavern has been the heartbeat of the Columbus music scene for over 13 years. Known for presenting larger music acts in a smaller concert room, Woodlands Tavern has created a name for itself on a national scale. Boasting two stages with class leading sound and lighting production, Woodlands Tavern offers nationally touring and local talent up to 7 days a week.

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Threes Above High

This campus bar is located in the hear of The Ohio States University District. They feature live music, cold beer, a great booze selection and a food menu to please everyone.

The Summit Music Hall

Columbus' hottest music venue featuring national, regional and local artists.

The Spacebar

The Spacebar is a classy music venue and bar. It hosts concerts by renowned bands as well as promising local talent.

The Schottenstein Center

Located on the campus of The Ohio State University, The Schottenstein Center located at the corner of Lane Avenue and Olentangy River Road opened in the Fall of 1998 and has played host to hundreds of top touring performers and tours.

The King of Clubs

The King of Clubs is an all-inclusive event facility conveniently located just one minute from I-71. They host all styles of music from rock to reggae, as well as events like wrestling, burlesque and more. The King of Clubs is where everyone is treated like royalty!

The Forums

The Forum Columbus is an experience like no other, creating an atmosphere for all kinds of events and live music that makes a lasting impression.

The Bluestone

Country concerts dominate at this music and event hall set in a 19th-century former Baptist church.

The Big Bang Dueling Piano Bar

Columbus' Big Bang dueling piano bar offers one of the best entertainment experiences in the city. Hosting live band karaoke and sing-alongs, this spot is sure to offer a rocking good time!

The Basement

This celebrated bar and concert venue features local and national rock acts in an intimate basement setting.

The Athenaeum Theatre

This vibey, historic 100-year-old downtown stage, which hosted their first concert in 2018, has since had over 100 other top-tier shows, including artists like Mitski, Big Thief, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and more.

Standard Live

Standard Live is a live music venue with a rock and roll/country vibe in the heart of the Short North. Standard Live has a full-service bar, local and national cover bands every Friday and Saturday, dart boards, and a Thursday karaoke night.

Southern Theatre

The oldest surviving theatre in Central Ohio, and one of the oldest in the state, the Southern Theatre opened in 1896. The 925-seat jewel box of a theatre provides an intimate, acoustically pristine entertainment experience.

Skully's Music-Diner

Voted the #1 dance club and best mid-sized venue in Columbus, Skully’s Music-Diner has brought the best entertainment, music and drinks to Columbus for more than 20 years! They offer a variety of entertainment, including live music and dance parties. Please keep in mind that their hours depend on their show schedule.

Short North Stage

Short North Stage is a professional non-profit regional theater company located in the heart of the Short North Arts District. We produce musicals, plays, and occasional special performances throughout the year. We love to feature exciting new takes on classics, edgy and provocative new works, and stories that will truly resonate with our audiences while providing them a unique theatrical experience. Join us and grab a drink at Ethel's Bar!

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Shadowbox Live

This unique performance-arts venue with a full bar and menu stages rock musicals and sketch comedies in the daytime and evening.

Rumba Café

Rumba Café is Columbus' premier intimate rock ‘n’ roll venue, featuring world-class sound and great sight lines. Rumba Café hosts more than 200 national acts each year, with artists like Jason Isbell, Future Islands, The Front Bottoms and more making their Columbus debut here.

Ruby Tuesday Live

Ruby Tuesday is a nightclub and entertainment center established in Columbus in 1973.

Rambling House

Rambling House is truly a magical place where you can see your favorite live music, comedy and entertainment. They provide a welcoming space to enjoy craft beer and cocktails made with delicious sodas while you soak in the sounds of talented local artists. All ages are welcome.

Park Street Tavern

Park Street Tavern has been a staple of the Columbus music scene for more than 17 years. They offer live music throughout the week. Depending on the night, you can hear anything from jazz to funk/R&B to alternative to rock ‘n’ roll to bluegrass to reggae.

Palace Theatre

Designed in the spirit of France's Palais de Versailles, the 2,695-seat Palace Theatre is adorned with chandeliers, a grand staircase, mural, hall of autographed pictures, and a fountain. A delightful destination for an evening with the arts. Originally a vaudeville house, special attention was paid to the theatre's acoustics when it was built, making it a great spot to see and hear live music!

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Ohio Theatre

The world's best artists come to the 2,791-seat historic Ohio Theatre. The breathtaking details (including the 21-foot-high chandelier) of its opulent, Spanish-Baroqe architecture make any night at the Ohio an event to remember.

Ohio Stadium

Nestled on the banks of the Olentangy River, iconic Ohio Stadium is home of the The Ohio State Buckeyes football team - a local and nationally recognized landmark. Seating up to 102,000+, the Shoe has also hosted concerts from Pink Floyd to Taylor Swift – from Beyonce’ and Jay-Z to the annual Buckeye Country Superfest.

Newport Music Hall

A musical mecca of the Midwest, Newport Music Hall holds the honor of being the longest continually running rock club in the country. Originally built in 1923 as a movie theatre, the facility was converted into The Agora Ballroom in 1970 and was purchased by PromoWest in 1984 and reopened as Newport Music Hall.

Nationwide Arena

Located on the corner of Nationwide Boulevard and Front Street in downtown Columbus, Nationwide Arena is the centerpiece of the downtown Arena District featuring an exciting mixture of restaurants, business, entertainment and residential space that attracts visitors from across the country.

Natalie's Grandview Music Hall and Kitchen

There are two distinct music spaces at Natalie’s Grandview that offer inspired cocktails and food and a variety of entertainment from across the street and around the globe - The Music Hall Stage and Charlie's Stage. Wednesday – Sunday, you can join us for our free daily happy hour shows held on Charlie’s Stage before our evening ticketed shows in both music spaces.

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Mershon Auditorium

Nestled just off High Street within The Ohio State University campus, Mershon Auditorium is a historic performing arts venue known for its elegant architecture and superior acoustics. The 2,400+ capacity theatre serves as a cultural hub, hosting a diverse array of live events.

Lincoln Theatre

First opened in 1928, the Lincoln Theatre is a landmark in African American and jazz history. The Lincoln is a multi-use, state-of-the-art performing arts and education center providing a bustling hub of activity 365 days per year with performances, rehearsals, classes, and a wide variety of community events.

Land-Grant Brewing Company

Land-Grant brewing Company is a local brewery and taproom located in a former elevator factory at 424 W. Town Street in the historic Franklinton neighborhood of Columbus. They feature events and live music during the spring and summer on an outdoor stage.

KEMBA Live!

KEMBA Live! is the first indoor and outdoor concert venue in America. They feature state-of-the-art lighting, acoustical systems and an innovative, one-of-a-kind reversible stage.

Kafe Kerouac

This laid-back hangout with a neighborhood vibe offers live music, drinks and poetry.

Ginger Rabbit Jazz Lounge

Ginger Rabbit is a cocktail bar and lounge featuring live jazz. In addition to becoming your favorite place for drinks and music any night of the week, Ginger Rabbit also hopes to serve as a hub for local musicians seeking to play and collaborate with each other.

Fenders

This music-focused pub offers cocktails, comfort food and live bands in a simple, convivial setting.

Eldorado's

Open since 1994, this mother-and-daughter-owned hotspot has become a Columbus favorite, offering up the very finest in food, spirits, sports, live music, and entertainment. El Dorado’s is the perfect place to relax and unwind or sing and dance your heart out!

Edison Brewing Company - Gahanna

Discover a uniquely European experience with unmistakably American music. At Edison Brewing Company we feature brews with a view and an ever-expanding music lineup.

Dirty Dungarees

This live music venue in a laundromat features a full-service bar and vintage arcade machines.

Dick's Den

Laid-back bluegrass & jazz bar with drink specials, a jukebox & live local & national acts.

Cafe Bourbon Street

This long-standing dive bar features the best of underground music in Columbus.

Bristol Republic

Nestled in the heart of the thriving Short North, Bristol Republic is a locally owned, Nashville inspired restaurant and bar serving up competition quality BBQ smoked in-house daily, ice cold craft beer, over 150 rare Bourbon and Whiskeys and live music (Thursday- Saturday) from local and national bands! We're currently open Thursday – Sunday and feature our famous Southern Brunch Saturdays and Sundays from 10am-3pm. Stop and experience a taste of the South in the Short North!

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Blu Note Jazz Cafe

Blu Note Jazz Café is an upscale jazz club. Dine in Tuesday thru Saturday, and enjoy the finest in local as well as international jazz. Pick a cozy table for two or grab a seat at the bar – there isn’t a bad seat in the house.

Black Brick

Black Brick is located inside Donatos ‘Short North location. Serving up hand-crafted cocktails, local craft beer and more daily, live music is scheduled every Friday and Saturday evening.

Ace of Cups

Hangout for craft beers, house-infused liquors and live music. Catch local and national acts.

A&R Music Bar

Small live music joint featuring a full bar and a stage for local and national bands.