Marion County music lovers have a lot to look forward to with three downtown concerts and the Food and Music Festival capping it all off as Main Street Columbia’s Summer Concert Series rocks the City of Charm on the River Pearl.
The Summer Concert Series, which will include shows in multiple locations on Main and Second Streets, will feature concerts on the second Saturday of June, July and August before the festival Labor Day weekend.
It kicks off this Saturday at 6 p.m. with Big Henry & the Bad Habits performing in front of Sweet Olive Boutique and The Outpost on Main Street by the Marion County Courthouse. The band performed at the first annual Food and Music Festival last year and was a big hit, leading Main Street Columbia Event Planner Jenn Thornhill to want to book the band for the first spot in the concert series.
Big Henry & the Bad Habits are a three-piece band that performs Southern rock music and features local musicians Adam Henry Purvis, Jessie Howell and Ben Steadman.
“They’re a fun, energetic band that is just good ole boys having fun,” Thornhill said.
Last Ride, a band from Kokomo, will perform July 8 in front of BeeHive Gifts and More. Last Ride performs classic rock music and is sure to be a hit in its home county. C&K Grill will have its food truck open and on site.
On August 12, Jerad Bridges, who headlined last year’s festival, will be performing with Scott Burdett in front of Second Street Bean. Thornhill said right before the pandemic, Bridges was on the rise in country music with many of his original Americana ballads
“(Bridges) was on the verge of about to start touring,” Thornhill said. “He’s really talented and is a really humble guy. When I reached out to him to check his availability for August, his first words were, ‘I’m there.’ He didn’t ask me (anything). He just said, ‘I’m there. I’m there to support you; I’m there to support Columbia. I love what y’all are doing there.’”
Sponsors for the Summer Concert Series include the City of Columbia, Sweet Olive Boutique, Southern Museum of Natural History, Trustmark Bank, First Southern Bank, Second Street Bean and the Marion County Development Partnership.
Beyond bringing great music to Marion County, Thornhill said the Summer Concert Series is also about supporting the local businesses downtown.
She added the concerts are going to be a lot of fun and that people can bring chairs, coolers and whatever they need.
“Come out for a couple of hours, bring a lawn chair, bring a bucket of chicken, order a pizza from Joe Rocco’s, get some ice cream from Frosty’s and have some fun,” Thornhill said. “It will be real laid back and casual. Just come and enjoy some music.”
