Six highlights of Indie Grits
Indie Grits is underway, bringing gritty Southern performances to downtown Columbia.
The schedule is packed. See for yourself at indiegrits.com.
To help readers of Go Columbia consider what they might want to see, here are details on six wildly different offerings from the festival, which continues through Sunday.
Tonight, Thursday, April 16 – Fork & Spoon Records, a local production company, celebrates its fifth anniversary with a revue of bands at the Music Farm, 1022 Senate St. The show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 on the day of the event at indiegrits.com. On stage are Valley Maker, Elvis Depressedly, Bombadil, Can’t Kids, Say Brother, William Starr Busbee and Southern Femisphere.
Friday, April 17 – The Nickelodeon Theatre at 1607 Main St. is the epicenter of Indie Grits, after all, so catch a movie. At 6 p.m., the festival presents the documentary “American Cheerleader” at its new upstairs screen. It’s set in the cutthroat world of competitive cheerleading as two high-school teams — one from New Jersey, the other from Kentucky — seek a national title and coverage on ESPN. The 89-minute film challenges the “preconceived notions of femininity and sportsmanship that marginalize cheering as something other than the strenuous athletic activity it is.” Cost: $10 at indiegrits.com
Friday, April 17 – Master of ceremonies Toby Lou, A.K.A. The Nasty One, is back by popular demand with his Weekly Revue variety show, a bawdy comedic performance that will incorporate some local characters into the line-up. Show time is 9 p.m. at the Big Apple, 1000 Hampton St. Definitely for adults. General admission tickets are $10 at indiegrits.com. Bring your wallet for the cash bar.
Saturday, April 18 – The festival appeals to families with Kindie Grits, allowing children to create their own films. Participants use pictures from magazines, glitter and other materials to tell a story on a reel of film. The event appeals particularly to elementary-school aged children but all are welcome. If they stick around, they can see the animated results at the end of the day, shown on an old-timey projector. Hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Tapp’s Arts Center, 1644 Main St. Free.
Saturday, April 18 – Hip Hop Family Day, an increasingly popular day of music and fun featuring Nice & Smooth, Monie Love and Big Gipp of the Goodie Mob. It’s meant to showcase the diversity of hip hop and be a place where the whole family can enjoy music. 1700 block of Main Street. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday. Free.
Sunday, April 19 – Slow Food at Indie Grits brings 18 of the Midlands’ most progressive chefs together as each prepares a dish featuring local ingredients. This event is always a sell-out, so plan on forking over $25 in advance to sample these dishes. (Tickets are $20 for Nickelodeon members.) Guests will enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres in a casual setting with lively tunes by the Greater Columbia Society for the Preservation of Soul and a cash bar by The Whig, featuring S.C.-brewed beers and carefully selected wines. For a $10 ticket, guests can bring a potluck dish and share in the culinary atmosphere. The two best home cooks gets prizes awarded by “The Local Palate” magazine. Hours: 3 to 6 p.m. at 711 Whaley, in the historic Olympia mill village.
Dawn Hinshaw
This story was originally published April 15, 2015 at 2:37 PM with the headline "Six highlights of Indie Grits."