Although we are not out of the woods yet, it sure feels good seeing artists and venues getting revved up again. Before long, everybody and their brother will be hitting the road after being cooped up for the last year. 

It’s safe to say that we probably won’t see the arena/stadium acts until venues can accommodate those crowds. Until then, enjoy the next best thing: tribute bands. 

On Saturday, July 31, at 4:30 p.m., Headwaters Park will welcome an entire evening of tribute acts paying homage to some of the best hard-hitting arena acts. 

Tribute Stock will feature Too Fighters (Foo Fighters tribute from Chicago), Stupify (Disturbed tribute from Cleveland), Freak on a Leash (Chicago’s legendary tribute to Korn), and SODA (Fort Wayne’s own System of a Down tribute). This show is part of the Fort Wayne Music Festival, which also includes Bone Thugs-N-Harmony on Friday, July 30. Advance tickets for Tribute Stock are $10 and can be purchased through Eventbrite.

First Fridays in Columbia City

Columbia City’s First Fridays is set to return for another season on the evening of May 7. This community event takes place on the first Friday of each month from May to October from 6-9 p.m. You can shop at local businesses, eat at food trucks, and listen to live music. 

Scheduled to perform at First Fridays are Todd Harrold Band (May 7), Southbound (June 4), The Band Brother (July 2), Uncle Muscle (Aug. 6), Debutants (Sep. 3), and Jethro Easyfields, Jess Thrower, and Matt Weirick (Oct. 1). 

Spreading the love for Pit Bulls

Local rock quartet OLC (Overseas Love Crisis) will perform at the Pits n’ Pints Blockhead Party on Saturday, June 26, at Rudy’s Shop, 409 W. Brackenridge St., Fort Wayne, from 5-10 p.m. 

The annual event includes an auction, food for purchase from Full Circle Grill & BBQ, multi-prop fire/LED performer Danielle Fredrick, and good tunes by OLC. This is a 21+ event that benefits the Fort Wayne Pitbull Coalition whose mission is to improve the conditions for pit bull-type dogs in Northern Indiana with education, public awareness, and resources for pit bulls in need.  

Block the Plaza

Rock the Plaza, the popular summer concert series, has been canceled for the second straight year. The Allen County Public Library cancelled the event because of health and safety precautions. Masks, social distancing, and crowd size would have been difficult to enforce during the concert series. 

Hopefully 2022 is the year we get RTP back in order and people back on the ACPL lawn singing and dancing together.