Columbus Summer Fun 2022: Pop goes the music at indoor and outdoor concerts and festivals

Pop music, indoors and especially outdoors, is exploding this summer. No matter what your favorite style or era, you should be able to find something that fits the bill.

Kemba Live, which is taking advantage of seasonal warmth to spread out onto the hillside behind the building, has something going on almost every night, from vintage acts to hip-hop, while the Ohio State Fair keeps the Celeste Center hopping with country and other acts.

Columbus Summer Fun 2022: Our comprehensive events guide to concerts, festivals, theater, arts and more

Those who like their concerts indoors can look forward to the light and sound extravaganzas of Roger Waters and New Kids on the Block, or the softer approach of Mary Chapin Carpenter.

Festivals will be flourishing both inside the city borders and out in the country, with jam bands, bluegrass, country, metal and pop all well-represented.

Check out the event listings below to see what suits your fancy.

You can get tickets for many of the shows and events listed below at TicketSmarter.com.

margaretquamme@hotmail.com

John F. Wolfe Columbus Commons

East Rich and South High streets

• Summer614 Concert, 3 p.m. June 4. Enjoy R & B and hip-hop artists galore, along with food trucks and other vendors.

• Sheryl Crow with Keb' Mo' and Southern Avenue, July 10. Singer-songwriter Crow, best-known for “All I Wanna Do” and “Soak Up the Sun,” will be joined by blues master Keb' Mo' and soul and roots band Southern Avenue. Reserve your tickets early for this free concert.

• The Navigators, 7 p.m. Aug, 5. Columbus executives and professionals play rock tunes from the '60s on.

• The Spinners, 7 p.m. Aug. 6. The Spinners and other Motown vets will “Rock The Boat” on the Commons.

Contact: columbuscommons.org

Easton Town Center

160 Easton Town Center

• “Sounds of Summer,” 6 p.m., select Wednesdays in June, July and August: Music lovers and casual shoppers alike will enjoy the music of SWAGG (June 22), Earth to Mars, a Bruno Mars tribute group (July 13) and the Fabulous Johnson Brothers (Aug. 10) in the Town Square of the shopping complex's south district.

Contact: www.eastontowncenter.com

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Hinson Amphitheater

170 E. Dublin Granville Road, New Albany

• Katharine McPhee and David Foster, 8 p.m. June 14. "American Idol" favorite and Broadway star McPhee will join forces with songwriter Foster.

Contact: 614-469-0939, www.capa.com

Kemba Live

405 Neil Ave., Arena District

The outdoor venue will be hopping all summer long, with more shows being added all the time. The following are a few of the highlights.

• Bastille, 6 p.m. June 17. Bounce along to the British pop band's “Pompeii” and “Bad Blood.”

• Maren Morris, 6:30 p.m. June 24. Singer-songwriter Morris blends a country sound with a touch of R & B and hip-hop.

• Flogging Molly, 5 p.m. June 28. The L.A.-based Celtic punk band has been going strong since the '90s.

• My Morning Jacket, 6 p.m. June 29. After taking a break for a few years, the psychedelic rock band has reunited for a couple new albums and the current tour.

• Ted Nugent, 7 p.m. Aug. 12. Love him or hate him, you can't ignore the opinionated rocker, now 73.

• Wiz Khalifa, 7 p.m. Aug. 31. The rapper, songwriter and cannabis advocate promises a lively show.

Contact: 614-461-5483, promowestlive.com

Nationwide Arena

200 W. Nationwide Blvd., Arena District

• Chris Brown and Lil Baby, 7 p.m. July 31. Controversial Brown and young rapper Lil Baby should be a fascinating combination.

• Roger Waters, 8 p.m. Aug. 10. Best-known as a founding member of Pink Floyd, Waters promises a “rock and roll cinematic extravaganza” in what's billed as his “first farewell tour.”

Contact: 614-246-2000, www.nationwidearena.com

Ohio State Fair

Celeste Center at the Ohio Expo Center, Interstate 71 and East 17th Avenue

The Ohio State Fair will be featuring concerts nearly every night of its run. Here's a sampling:

• Kidz Bop, 6:30 p.m. July 27. Expect family-friendly and thoroughly danceable versions of popular songs.

• Toby Keith, 7 p.m. July 28. The boisterous country singer will likely encourage the hoisting of red Solo cups.

• Nelly, 8 p.m. July 30. Long-time rapper Nelly went a little country on last year's “Heartland.”

• Ice Cube, 7 p.m. Aug. 4. Rapper and actor Ice Cube should please several decades' worth of fans.

• Willie Nelson, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 5. The legend, now 89, is still happily hitting the road.

Contact: www.ohiostatefair.com

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Riffe Center

77 S. High St., Downtown

• Mary Chapin Carpenter, 7:30 p.m. July 21. Singer-songwriter Carpenter will be touring in support of her new album, “The Things That We Are Made Of.”

Contact: 614-469-0939, www.capa.com

Value City Arena

West Lane Avenue and Olentangy River Road

• New Kids on the Block, 8 p.m. June 25. Not so new anymore, but still harmonizing angelically, the guys will be joined by fellow '90s acts Salt-n-Pepa, Rick Astley and En Vogue.

Contact: 614-688-3939, www.schottensteincenter.com

MUSIC FESTIVALS

Black Diamond Music Festival

June 10-11, Hocking College, Nelsonville

The new country and bluegrass festival showcases Elle King, Marty Stuart, Elvie, the Kentucky Headhunters and many other acts.

Contact: www.blackdiamondmusicfestival.com

Duck Creek Log Jam

June 16-18, Duck Creek Camping and Events Area, adjacent to Lake Logan (see website for venue details)

The small but mighty Duck Creek Log Jam offers a weekend of camping and mostly local music leaning toward American and bluegrass, with bands including Fruition, the Brothers Comatose, the Hocking River String Band and Hillbilly Chic.

Contact: www.duckcreeklogjam.com

Werk Out Music and Arts Festival

July 14-16, Legend Valley, Thornville

Groove to multiple sets by the Werks, Umphrey's McGee and other jam bands in a campout weekend.

Contact: www.thewerkoutfestival.com

Inkcarceration

July 15-17, Ohio State Reformatory, Mansfield

Celebrate music and the art of the tattoo at the three-day festival showcasing Korn, Papa Roach, Breaking Benjamin, Evanescence, Disturbed, Lamb of God and more bands than you can shake a stick at.

Contact: inkcarceration.com

Lancaster Festival

July 21-30, various sites in Lancaster

Music will be playing all over town during the 10-day celebration, with the showcase concerts — complete with fireworks — taking place at the Lancaster campus of Ohio University. Among the highlights:

• Rick Springfield, 8 p.m. July 23. The Australian singer is known for the '80s mega-hit “Jessie's Girl” and for years of performing as Dr. Noah Drake on “General Hospital.”

• Lady A, 8 p.m. July 30. The country music trio formerly known as Lady Antebellum will be showcasing their 2021 album “What a Song Can Do.”

Buckeye Country Superfest

July 23, Ohio Stadium

Beer enthusiast and up-and-coming country singer Luke Combs will headline, with support by Cody Jinks, Zach Bryan and other young country stars.

Contact: www.buckeyecountrysuperfest.com

Breakaway Festival

Aug. 26-28, Historic Crew Stadium, 1 Black and Gold Blvd.

Two days of music by Chainsmokers, Griz, Slander and others will be followed by an all-hip-hop-day on the 28th. In addition to music, attendees can look forward to a silent disco, roller rink, rides and more.

Contact: www.breakawayfestival.com

Wonderbus

Aug. 26-28, The Lawn at CAS, 2540 Olentangy River Road

Duran Duran, Lorde and the Lumineers will headline three hopefully sun-filled days on the lawn.

Contact: wonderbusfest.com

Nelsonville Music Festival

Sept. 2-4, Snow Fork Event Center, 5685 Happy Hollow Road, Nelsonville

Spend Labor Day weekend with an astonishing array of artists, including Japanese Breakfast, Angel Olsen, Yo La Tengo and Lucinda Williams at the festival's new site.

Contact: nelsonvillefest.org

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Summer concerts in Columbus: Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, Toby Keith