Matters of Graves Importance: RoCo Music Fest, comedy open mic, Sugarloaf Shakedown and more

Lori Graves
·3 min read

Labor Day weekend is here and that means it is RoCo Music Fest time! This three-day country music festival will take place from September 1-3 at the Ross County Fairgrounds. The event boasts three nights of music complete with camping, food vendors, merchandise vendors, beer garden, activities for kids, and some of the most popular names in country music today. The lineup includes Jimmy Mowery, Little Texas, Jana Kramer, Nolan Taylor, Randy Houser, Dustin Lynch, Sweet Tea Trio, RaeLynn, and Parker McCollum. Pre-sale tickets and camping information can be found at rosscountyfair.com.

Parker McCollum performs before the NASCAR Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Sunday, June 25, 2023.
Parker McCollum performs before the NASCAR Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Sunday, June 25, 2023.

On Thursday my comedy open mic returns to Old Capitol Brewing. The laughs begin at 7:30 p.m. Comic spots are full but audience spots are open. Come downtown and enjoy a night of laughs with 16 of the best local and regional comedians around presented by LoriG Comedy. No cover charge. DJ Hazel will be spinning classic rock from the late 60s to early 2000s at Chillicothe City Park from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This free event is open to the public and will take place weather permitting. Steiner’s Speakeasy hosts local favorites the Greater Goods at 7 p.m.

Nolan Collins returns to the taproom stage at Old Capitol Brewing on Friday at 7 p.m. Building Rockets (a trio from Ironton) makes their debut performance at Steiner's Speakeasy at 8 p.m. If you are looking for karaoke head out to Wagner’s Roadhouse for your chance on the mic with host DJ Roush. The Pour House at Machinery Hall welcomes the Cami Nyx Band to their stage at 7:30 p.m. Call 740-771-4770 to make a reservation.

Sugarloaf Shakedown takes the stage at Shawnee Valley Campground on Saturday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and there is no cover to enjoy. The Page keeps their weekend music going with the Greater Goods at 8 p.m. Bark in the Park '23 is a car, truck, and bike show in Yoctangee Park at the Pump House from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is a great way to support a local cause, the Ross County Humane Society. Registration starts at 10 a.m. and runs until noon. Trophies will be awarded to the top thirty-five vehicles and will be presented at 3 p.m. Admission is free for spectators.

DJ Hazel will be spinning Gospel/Christian tunes on Sunday, Sept. 3 (weather permitting), at Chillicothe City Park from 4 to 7 p.m. This is a free event open to the public. All are welcome to come and enjoy the music.

The Page will open its doors on Wednesday, Sept. 6 from 6 to 9 p.m. for Cameron Mitchell's variety show, "Cam's Playskool Mixtape." Billed as a "Variety Show-Live Music, Comedy, & Poetry but Mostly Laughs," this lively evening is sure to cure your mid-week blahs. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Looking ahead…My Beginning Comedy workshop begins on Sept. 11 at Ohio University Chillicothe from 6 to 8 p.m. The class is on three consecutive Monday evenings. You will learn how to construct a three to five-minute comedy set that you will perform at the end of the sessions. Visit ohio.edu for more information or contact Ann Holmes, Administrative Specialist, at holmesa1@ohio.edu. The workshop costs $40 and space is extremely limited. Registration ends on Sept. 8.

Until next time. I hope to see you out and laughing.

*For consideration to be included in Matters of Graves Importance email Lori at lori@lorigcomedy.com

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Matters of Graves Importance: Labor Day weekend full of activities