A history of live music in Athens
Photo via Ohio University Digital Archives
Without question, Athens has been a hotspot for live music for years. Over these years, the music scene has shifted significantly. Students have seen artists ranging from Led Zeppelin to Kendrick Lamar leave their mark on stages in Athens.
Athens has had several main venues for live music over the years. Today, the most popular venue is the Templeton-Blackburn Memorial Auditorium. Andrew Holzaepfel, the Director of the Ohio University Performing Arts & Concert Series, works with many of the artists who come perform at the Memorial Auditorium.
“I love that every day is different. I mean one morning, I come in here and work with a classical quartet, and then the next day I’m setting up for a huge country concert, Noah Kahan or Caamp,” Holzaepfel said.
Although today Athens hosts a wide range of genres and shows, many of the earliest performances in Athens were jazz shows. Famous jazz musician Duke Ellington played Junior Prom in 1936. Ellington had reached nationwide fame at this point, leaving many students excited over his performance. Ellington even returned to Athens in 1961 to play at Homecoming.
Built in 1968, the Convocation Center today is known mostly for hosting basketball games and student housing. However, in the 1960s and 70s, it saw several famous faces. Neil Young, The Beach Boys and Grateful Dead all played at The Convo in early stages of their respective careers. One of the most famous groups to pass through the doors of The Convo was Led Zeppelin, although it was actually Jose Felichano who headlined their 1969 performance.
Billy Joel also played The Convo twice in his career. His second performance in 1979 led to students waiting outside the box office for two days to get their hands on tickets, which sold for a record-high price of $8.50.
The world of live music has certainly changed with the rise of music streaming platforms. Today, many artists rely on live performances for income. “Years ago, before streaming, artists were making money off of record sales so the performances were more of a way to sell CDs and albums rather than being a source of primary income for touring artists,” Holzaepfel said.
Athens also became known for its music festivals. Number Fest was one of the most popular music festivals to pass through Athens. The festival was held a few miles off campus and had several famous headliners during its 18-year run, such as The Chainsmokers, Post Malone and Wiz Khalifa. Super Bowl Halftime performer Kendrick Lamar even took the Number Fest stage in 2013, headlining with Steve Aoki. Unfortunately, Number Fest met its end in 2020 after ticket sales dropped significantly.
The Convo also hosted several music festivals over the years. The Ohio University Music Festival was very popular among students in the 70s and 80s. The 1973 show saw The Eagles, Joe Walsh and Bruce Springsteen all take The Convo stage. The Ohio University Folk Festival also took place at The Convo and was a chance for many upcoming folk artists to take the stage.
As The Convo grew older, it became unable to host as many shows as it once could. “I think you’ll probably hear a lot about how there used to be concerts in The Convo all the time,” Hozaepfel said. “The Convo is a wonderful building, but it is very old and doesn’t have the capability of doing large shows because the ceiling can’t hang eight semi-trucks worth of sound and lighting like most tours require these days.” Because of this, the MemAud has become the main venue for live shows on campus.
Today, another popular venue for bands to play is The Union on West Union Street. Almost every weekend, the bar hosts several local bands each night. One of the most popular bands to take The Union stage was Caamp, a folk band started by lead singer Taylor Meier while he was studying at Ohio U.
Caamp has also returned to Ohio U to play at Memorial Auditorium. “There’s a lot of performances I’ve really enjoyed, from comedians to concerts,” Hozaepfel said. “I always enjoy having the Caamp guys back in Athens for a performance.”
The rich live music background in Athens runs deeper than many students today realize. While the scene has certainly changed over the years, one thing is certain: the passion for live music in Athens will continue on for generations.
This article was published in TNP’s Spring 2025 Print edition.