Summer concerts begin to fill Columbia arena’s calendar, comedy reigns at local theaters
As March began, I remarked in The State’s monthly roundup of concert announcements that the summer calendar was off to a bit of a slow start in Columbia, with Colonial Life Arena, the largest such venue in South Carolina, having not yet announced a music event between May and August.
We have a little more clarity on what the summer will look like at the arena as we leave March behind, with the venue having announced four new concerts, including two that will take place between May and June.
Those summer concerts both tilt R&B, with Fantasia (June 13), one of the more enduring stars from “American Idol,” coming through with Anthony Hamilton, and The Queens concert (May 16) bringing together “four legends” on “one stage,” with Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight and Stephanie Mills all set to perform.
And the fall at Colonial Life Arena won’t be without firepower. The Jonas Brothers (Nov. 6), the pop-rock titans that celebrate their 20th anniversary this year, are making a stop, as is ‘90s neo soul herald Maxwell (Oct. 4), who will appear alongside KEM.
Tickets for all of those arena shows are on sale now.
Comedy continues to be heavily on the menu at the Township Auditorium, with Tom Segura (Dec. 6), the veteran of five Netflix stand-up specials, and Killers of Kill Tony (Nov. 14), featuring comedians who have been featured on the popular podcast “Kill Tony,” both on tap.
Columbia’s largest theater will also welcome The Rock Orchestra (Nov. 9), “a collective of classical musicians, breathing beautifully dark energy into legendary rock and metal” set to perform hits from such artists as Metallica, My Chemical Romance, Evanescence and more.
Tickets for all those Township shows are on sale now.
Comedy is also on tap at the city’s other large theater. Sal Vulcano (Aug. 10), of “Impractical Jokers” fame, is headed to the Koger Center. Tickets are on sale now.
The city’s large rock club The Senate also added to its calendar last month. Rapper Project Pat (June 20) and emo rock band Origami Angel (June 8) are now on the venue’s upcoming slate, as is a late addition on April 5, with Hidden City, the large EDM festival that has thrown down for three years in Cayce, taking a break in 2025 and looking to “keep the momentum going” by presenting DRINKURWATER, WonkyWilla, Name unknown, and GOO. Tickets for all these shows are on sale now.
This story was originally published April 3, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
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