A scene from last year’s Community Downtown Block Party, which will return to Seventh Street on July 22.
Photo provided
As far as bluegrass veteran Allie Jean is concerned, her set list at Community Downtown’s Free Summer Block Party 2023 will be a good, old-fashioned jam session with toe-tapping tunes such as “Rolling in My Sweet Baby’s Arms.”
“That’s part of the fun of it,” she said of the planned spontaneity without much rehearsal. “And that’s not to say that there aren’t a lot of good bluegrass bands out there who are very well-rehearsed and tight.”
She’s joining forces with other seasoned bluegrass musicians Roger Banister (mandolin, fiddle, whatever else is necessary) and Devin Brown on bass. So the trio’s 45-minute time could shape up to be enough foot-stompin’ fun to make proud their genre’s forebears.
Those down-home sounds and others featuring alternative rock, pop and more will unfold from 6 to 9:30 p.m. July 22 along Seventh Street in downtown Columbus. Food will include a Latino group selling authentic Mexican tacos. Children’s activities will also be part of the night.
Community Downtown is the Seventh Street satellite counseling agency of Community Church of Columbus. The annual gathering “is our gift to the community,” said Scott Hundley, the church’s director of counseling. “This is also a way to celebrate our grant from the Indiana Department of Health to provide mental health care to Spanish-speaking individuals at no cost.”
Heritage Fund — the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County has provided financial support for the event.
Other musical acts are New Heart Worship, Treasured and The Striped Sweaters, a foursome presenting covers of groups Green Day, Blink 182 and Yellow Card. Columbus native and guitarist Chris Gorbett shares lead vocals with guitarist Ed Kriz. Jacob Phillips plays drums and Christopher Bausch plays bass.
“We’re kind of lyrically angst-y, but we really just want to have fun with this,” Gorbett said.
The seven-member New Heart Worship figures to perform contemporary praise covers ranging from “Burn For You” by Iron Bell to “Rattle” by Elevation Worship.
“We see this as a good outreach,” said Justin Reid, the group’s founder and one of the lead vocalists.
About the event
What: Community Downtown Block Party 2023
When: 6 to 9:30 p.m. July 22.
Where: 500 block of Seventh Street in downtown Columbus.
Information: Facebook page for Community Downtown.
