Saturday June 11th marked day two of the Columbus Arts Festival rocking the Riverfront with a weekend of art, music with dozens of food vendors handing out sweets, spirits, beverages and festive franks. With nearly 200 vendors showcasing their art and talent for public consumption and purchase, anything and everything the human mind could conjure up using whatever media and materials available were hung in the seemingly endless tent caravan. You could’ve even gotten caricatures and Henna tattoos.
The CoverMyMeds Big Local Music Stage and Cultural Arts Center Stage hosted the weekend’s entertainment with the ABC6 Bicentennial Park Stage hosting national and international bands, entertainers and performers from 11am – 10:30pm. The evening officially started with Portland’s three-piece Weakened Friends. The multi-member jazz fusion Mistar Anderson, a special guest solo act, and headliners from Edinburgh, Scotland We Were Promised Jetpacks. Guitarist/keyboardist Andy Monaghan represented fellow countrymen Frightened Rabbit..
Event organizers had tried for several years to get the Jackpacked lads to the outdoor stage. On a warm summer, open air night in Columbus, the Jetpacks fired up a great, major venue level experience. The 90-minute show consisted of 15 tunes covering five records and two EP’s spanning almost two decades with a nice selection from each effort and a vocal, loyal crowd yelling support for their favorites.
The show began with an indie rocking spirited night out on the town with “Human Error” and “Nothing Ever Changes” jangling uncertainty. “Blood Sweat Tears” offered four rooms with a voyeuristic view while “Don’t Hold Your Breath For Too Long” hit time stamps in early ‘80s synth pop and retro atmospheric surroundings.
The crowd got its first tastes of debut material on “Moving Clocks Run Slow” and “Roll up your Sleeves.”
Singer/guitarist Adam Thompson was all smiles most of the night looking out at the crowd, thanking everyone for coming, whether you were fans or not, and getting to play such a wonderful stage. Fans were very active with their favorites and requests, some wishing him a very loud Happy Birthday.
The slow, addictive melancholy of “Sore Thumb” led to the enchanting feel of “Impossible.”
“If it Happens,” continued a nice new wave vintage flavoring while the traveling lyrical vibe of “Fat Chance” gave musical voice to life’s milestones and road markers. A bit apropos by chance but a few drops did fall from the sky earlier as they closed with “It’s Thunder & It’s Lighting” ending the evenings and days festivities.
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mages by Mike Ritchie
