Columbus: Where Music is Culture
Experience Columbus, Georgia's musical history and thriving local music scene by visiting these sites and live music venues.
Set alongside the Chattahoochee River on Georgia’s western border, Columbus, home to the U.S. Army’s Fort Benning, is embracing its renaissance. The thriving downtown (called “Uptown” by locals) is filled with new restaurants, shops and entertainment destinations, including a growing number of places to enjoy live music. The current music scene builds on the city's long history as a home for talented musicians and performers.
Notable Musicians from Columbus
Plenty of talented musicians have called the Fountain City home, among them Nashville pioneer Chet Atkins, hip-hop producer Dallas Austin, TLC singer Rozonda Thomas (aka Chilli), and blues artist Robert Cray.
The most iconic of Columbus’ musical exports is Gertrude "Ma" Rainey, known as the "Mother of the Blues." One of the earliest artists performing in the genre, Rainey recorded more than 100 singles throughout her storied career, among them "Prove it on Me Blues" and "Don’t Fish in My Sea." She worked with artists like Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong and Coleman Hawkins, and became known for her unapologetic lyrics and unconventional vaudeville-influenced performance style.
After her retirement in the early 1930s, she returned to Columbus to live and managed theaters until her death in 1939. Today, you can visit the Ma Rainey House and Blues Museum to learn more about her legendary life, and about the blues traditions of the area.
Places for Live Music in Columbus
The Loft
A contemporary hub for live music and good food, The Loft has been the destination for rock, blues, jazz, funk and R&B since 1992, and is considered a Columbus cornerstone for its Uptown re-awakening.
Liberty Theatre and Cultural Center
The Liberty Theater and Cultural Center, opened in 1924, was Columbus’ first African-American theater. Today, its mission is to promote African-American history, heritage and culture for the benefit of locals and tourists alike.
Midtown Jazz & Blues Lounge
Midtown Jazz & Blues Lounge is a new contender on the music scene. Billed as a place for the "grown and sexy" to unwind, patrons must be at least 30 to enter, and spiffy dressing is encouraged. Once in, enjoy drink specials, karaoke and performances by the likes of Grammy nominee Alvin Garrett.
RiverCenter for the Performing Arts
The centerpiece of Columbus’ new entertainment and historic district is RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, which hosts national touring performances and artists like James Taylor and Yo-Yo Ma.
Schwob School of Music
The rapidly growing Columbus State University, whose Schwob School of Music brings in more than 250 concerts per year, is a relentlessly positive cultural influence.
Springer Opera House
The Springer Opera House is a true treasure. Built in 1871, the theater is both the State Theater of Georgia and a National Historic Landmark, and its stage has been graced by legends like Oscar Wilde, John Phillip Sousa, W.C. Fields and Columbus’ own Ma Rainey.
