Welcome to May and here's hoping that the warmer temperatures are here to stay! As the first weekend of the month approaches, many fun-seekers are searching for ways to get out and enjoy the balmier weather.
If you're looking for outdoor events, there's country hitmaker Chris Young's rain-or-shine concert on Friday at KEMBA Live! and the amusing antics of Squonk, who'll perform their new show, "Brouhaha," on Saturday during COSI's Big Science Celebration.
Prefer to stay comfy while having a good time? There are comedy open mic nights hosted by Hashtag Comedy Company on Thursday at Saturn's Sports Bar and on Friday at Hashtag's home base. (There's no guarantee you won't break into a sweat from nervousness!)
Whether you choose heat or air conditioning, these happenings and others listed below will get you fired up for a cool time! To receive these ideas in your inbox each week, sign up for the Life in the 614 newsletter .
Hashtag Comedy Company hosts open mic nights
Think you're funny? Step into the unpredictable world of stand-up, improv and sketch comedy by throwing your hat in the ring at one of Hashtag Comedy Company's open mic events. On Thursdays, the company presents a comedy open mic at Saturn's Sports Bar, 1288 N. High St., where sign-ups are at 7:30 and performances start at 8 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome.
Hashtag also hosts Friday open mics at its headquarters at 1253 N. High St., with doors opening between 9:45 and 10 p.m., depending on the length of the previous show. Sign-ups are in-person at 9:45 p.m. Both new and seasoned performers are welcome. Reserve your seat for Saturn's open mic with a free ticket, available online. ( bit.ly/4aTYVBY , hashtagcomedy.com )
Chris Young to bring country hits to KEMBA Live!
Singer-songwriter Chris Young, who has racked up numerous No. 1 and Top 5 singles since winning season four of the singing competition show "Nashville Star" in 2006, is to bring those hits and more to KEMBA Live!, 405 Neil Ave., on Friday. Guest artists Bryan Martin and Trae Myers also are to perform.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Young, a member of the Grand Ole Opry, is known for songs including "Voices," "Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song)," "The Man I Want to Be," "Tomorrow" and "You." His ninth album, "Young Love & Saturday Nights," was released in March. General-admission tickets are $45 in advance and $50 the day of the show (cashless payment only). Premium seating costs $99. ( promowestlive.com/columbus/kemba-live )
Perennial Movement Group to give multigenerational dance concert
Perennial Movement Group's "Glad You’re Here: An Evening of Intergenerational Dance" is to present the art form in a way not typically seen: featuring works by local choreographers in collaboration with dancers ranging from 25-85 years old.
Performances are to be at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Columbus Performing Arts Center, 549 Franklin Ave. The dancers come with varying degrees of experience; some have been dancing their whole lives, while others began after age 60. The program features three dances: "Reunions," with a cast of dancers over 70 years old, "American Mixtape (42)" and "See Through."
Tickets are $15 general admission and $10 for seniors. There are to be 25 free tickets available for each show for adults over 65. ( bit.ly/4aco9e1 )
"The Blues Society" documentary to examine 1960s blues festival
"The Blues Society," a reevaluation of the oft-forgotten Memphis Country Blues Festival, is to have its first theatrical (non-festival) screening at 7 p.m. Friday at the Gateway Film Center, 1550 N. High St. A 6 p.m. happy hour precedes the screening. Director Augusta Palmer, whose father co-founded the festival, is to attend to introduce the film and conduct a Q&A session afterward. Additional showings will be at 6 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
The feature-length documentary follows the festival from its start in 1966 as an impromptu event through a period of intermingling with New York’s East-Village scene up to the 1969 festival, a three-day event that garnered substantial print and TV coverage. "The Blues Society" is to be released to streaming services in the summer. Tickets are $13.50 ( gatewayfilmcenter.org )
Columbus Metropolitan Library to open doors to 'Star Wars' fans
May the Fourth be with you on Saturday, when the Columbus Metropolitan Library, 96 S. Grant Ave., welcomes "Star Wars" fans for a day of costumed characters, props, droids, trivia with prizes, storytime and more. The library is to be transformed into the streets of Jedha and includes a swoop bike, a TIE fighter cockpit, a droid depot, a Jawa kitchen and a new educational display featuring the famed blue milk organized by the Tatooine Dairy Farms.
The event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., is presented in partnership with the 501st Legion, an international "Star Wars" costuming club with 14,000-plus active members in 69 countries on six continents. The organization is represented in Ohio by the Ohio Garrison (more than 200 members) and central Ohio is represented by Arch City Squad (more than 40 local members). See website for schedule. ( events.columbuslibrary.org/event/10379855 )
Squonk to create 'Brouhaha' at COSI science celebration
Squonk is back with their wacky shenanigans and a new high-energy spectacular, "Brouhaha," full of lively music, dazzling imagery and audience participation! The Pittsburgh-based performing arts group performs at noon and 2:30 p.m. Saturday at COSI, 333 W. Broad St., bringing with them the squonkcordion, a gigantic instrument powered by behemoth bellows topped with towering tuba bells.
Squonk's visit is part of COSI's Big Science Celebration, which runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, with more than 100 exhibitor stations with hands-on science hosted by STEAM professionals, researchers and experts from central Ohio and beyond. Food trucks and vendors are to be on-site at this free, rain-or-shine event. ( cosiscifest.org/visit/bsc )
Central Ohio Symphony's season finale to include Rachmaninoff
Acclaimed pianist Dror Biran tackles Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3, viewed by many as the world’s most difficult piano concerto, with the Central Ohio Symphony at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4 in the Gray Chapel auditorium in University Hall, 61 S. Sandusky St., on the Ohio Wesleyan campus in Delaware.
The concert also features "Lichtweg/Lightway" by composer Jennifer Jolley and the orchestra performing "Francesca de Rimini," a Tchaikovsky work based on a noblewoman condemned to hell in Dante’s "Inferno." Ticket prices are $30 general admission, $25 for seniors and $6 for students of all ages online or at the symphony office in the Delaware Historic Jail, 20 W. Central Ave. ( centralohiosymphony.org )
Craft brewers to pour samples at beer fest
Explore the Ohio History Center, 800 E. 17th Ave., while sipping on some of the state's finest craft beers at the eighth annual Six One Pour: The Ohio Craft Beer Fest from 8-11 p.m. Saturday. Thirty Ohio craft breweries are showcasing seasonal, limited-edition and fan-favorite brews, plus food trucks from Broke Johnny, Donna’s Delicious Dozen and Holy Taco are to be on-site.
Regular admission from 8-11 p.m. costs $40 in advance through Friday; $50 at the door (includes a souvenir glass and tasting tickets for 20 samples). Early admission at 7 p.m. costs $50 in advance through Friday; $60 at the door (tickets are limited). Designated-driver tickets are $25, which includes a food-truck voucher; driver may enter early if accompanying an early-admission ticketholder. ( ohiocraftbeer.org/sixonepour )
Ginger Rabbit to feature Daniel Meron jazz trio
Debuting compositions from their upcoming release "Pendulum," pianist Daniel Meron is to perform with his trio at 7:15 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday at Ginger Rabbit Jazz, 17 Buttles Ave. Doors open 30 minutes before each show.
Born in Israel to a family of Egyptian and Syrian descent, Meron integrates his love for improvisation into original compositions with influences from jazz, Middle-Eastern and Latin-American music. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, he has performed worldwide, including the Jacksonville and Costa Rica jazz festivals, as well as touring Canada, Europe and Israel. His trio is rounded out by bassist Pablo Menares and drummer Jimmy Macbride. Tickets are $25. All guests must show a valid ID to enter. ( gingerrabbitjazz.com )
Say Anything to celebrate album's 20th anniversary
Say Anything, on tour in celebration of the 20th anniversary of their breakout debut, "…is a Real Boy," appears at KEMBA Live!, 405 Neil Ave., on Tuesday. AJJ and Greet Death also are to perform. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Originally released in 2004 on indie record label Doghouse Records, then subsequently rereleased as a deluxe edition, "…is a Real Boy" earned almost universally positive reviews from music critics. Rolling Stone ranked the album among the 40 greatest emo albums of all time. Say Anything's ninth studio album, "…is Committed," is due for digital release on May 24. General-admission tickets are $36 in advance and $41 the day of the show (cashless payment only). Platinum seating costs $86. ( promowestlive.com/columbus/kemba-live )
bpaschal@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What's happening in central Ohio this weekend
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