Southern Oracles: A Celebration of the South Side
Several of Columbus’ most celebrated artists will take the stage together for one night only to honor the South Side.
The Office of Academic Affairs, in partnership with Streetlight Guild and the Johnstone Fund for New Music, proudly presents a free concert about the South Side of Columbus for the Ohio State and Columbus communities. In hosting the concert on campus, the organizers’ hope is that university faculty, students and staff can learn more about the city in which we all live. Featuring music, poetry and dance, Southern Oracles provides an opportunity to see some of Columbus’s finest homegrown talent, while also learning about the neighborhood’s institutions, history and culture.
Conceived and produced by Columbus writer Scott Woods, Southern Oracles brings together music, poetry, and dance into an evening built around a shared sense of place. The event is designed to immerse the audience in the South Side, with pieces that reference the neighborhood’s institutions, history, and culture.
“The South Side holds Columbus to account,” said Woods. “It is rich and poor. It is historical and in constant cultural flux. It has every reward and challenge that the city faces. As Columbus barrels toward a million residents, the South Side is experiencing great change. This concert ensures that important pieces of the South Side that matter to the people who built it have a place to land in the history books.”
The lineup spans genres and generations, reflecting the depth of artistic talent in Columbus:
The Mark Lomax Trio
J Rawls
Sam Johnson
Liquid Crystal Project
DJ Prime
Trista Hill
Trek Manifest
Jai Carey
Psyonik
Donald Isom
Scott Woods
Southern Oracles builds on a shared commitment from the Johnstone Fund and Streetlight Guild to spotlight Columbus’ cultural history through live performance.
Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Weigel Hall is located at 1866 College Road North at The Ohio State University Columbus Campus.
About Scott Woods
Scott Woods is an Emmy-winning multi-genre writer, poet, librarian, satirist, and critic. He runs Streetlight Guild, a performing arts non-profit, and his books Urban Contemporary History Month (2016) and We Over Here Now (2013) are available at major online retail outlets. Visit StreetlightGuild.org to learn more.
About The Johnstone Fund for New Music
The Johnstone Fund for New Music was founded by Columbus community leaders Jack and Zoe Johnstone in 2008. It supports the continuing growth and vitality of contemporary classical music by funding the creation and performance of new works for a growing audience in Central Ohio.