The Columbus Association for the Peforming Arts last night kicked off the third installment of its online concert series with a performance by the Castros. Launched in April as a way to help Columbus artists during the pandemic, CAPA's ApART Together series has featured 16 musicians with another 9 scheduled for this round.
"When the COVID shutdown happened, naturally we had to shut down all our venues here in Columbus," CAPA VP of Programming Rich Corsi said. "We tried to get creative and find a way to continue to present music. We had the idea of working with some local artists on a two way street in getting them some publicity because they're shut down and can't perform, and then keeping CAPA out there and promoting the series and putting it together."
Nick D'Andrea opened the series on April 24th. Other performers have included Matt Munhall, Angela Perley, Honey & Blue, Paisha Thomas and Counterfeit Madison, and Watershed's Colin Gawel.
"CAPA is basically paying the artists on the series to perform a 30-40 minute video," Corsi continued. "When we air it, we will have a virtual tip jar that will be on the screen. So people can watch the video and if they feel inclined, they can donate money to the artist. This actually just funnels money to artists who are in need. People have been very generous so far on these first two legs donating money to the artists to help them out through these tough times"
The pandemic has also put a strain on CAPA.
"You're talking about a company that's doing 800 to 900 events, rehearsals, weddings, concerts, symphonies, whatever to just a total shutdown," Corsi said. "We had the last quarter of our season and basically had to uplift everything from the spring and shift it into the fall and next year. We didn't lose a ton of shows, but it's definitely an interesting part. I've been here at CAPA for 30 years. It's just weird not seeing the venues open and busy, but we understand with the pandemic going on. We're being patient, but it's hard. There is no reopening date, and that's the tough challenge."
For now the focus remains on this third leg of the online concert series, which will air for the next three weekends on CAPA's Facebook page at 7 pm. Scheduled artists include Joe Peppercorn, Mojo Flo's Amber Knicole, Donna Mogavero, Sean Carney, and Willie Phoenix. Talisha Holmes performs Saturday night.
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"I'm excited to be doing this in this way, mainly because a lot of us musicians aren't really doing a whole lot right now," Homes said. "I get to work with somebody that I like working with in Brandon Bjazz Scott. The fact that it's already pre-recorded so there's not going to be any streaming issues kind of takes away some of the stress too."
Holmes recently released a four-song EP featuring deep reflections about being a child of domestic violence, experiencing an abusive relationship as an adult, and of course the current fight for racial justice.
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"It is my outlet," Holmes said of music. "I would not be here if I were not able to write and sing in front of people and feel visible and heard and seen and understood and valued. It means so much. It's everything. To challenge yourself to say the thing that you're sitting on and hiding from the world, and then say it in front of the world, it is liberation. It is freedom. It is living."."
Holmes performs Saturday night at 7. She's also the featured guest on the latest Music Journeys podcast. In the coming days, we will highlight other artists involved in this third edition of CAPA's ApART Together concert series. You can find Music Journeys in the WCBE Podcast Experience.
