THE
BEAT
GOES
ON!
In keeping with the Jasper Project’s mission to showcase and spotlight the creative arts and entertainment scene in Columbia, we are happy to reveal a new partnership going forward that will increase Jasper’s coverage of the music scene in the clubs and small venues, from rock and metal to jazz, hip-hop, folk, bluegrass, blues, country, and more, by bringing back to local media a weekly music-centric column– “The Beat.”
Originally a weekly print column created by longtime local freelance music critic Kevin Oliver to give him a framework for writing about the scene in the Columbia Free Times newspaper back in the mid-1990s, the early version of “The Beat” included news and reviews of local bands alongside previews of upcoming concerts. The column was supplanted by larger, separate features after a few years, but Kevin’s coverage of local music endured through his departure from those pages in early 2020. The only other appearance of “The Beat” and its focus on local music was an online blog version in the 00’s.
So, consider this new take on “The Beat” to be not a resurrection of the original, but an extension of its concept as a space to write about all things relating to local music. It’s a throwback, sure, but also an acknowledgement of the long history of great local talent in the Columbia area and its importance to the continued existence of opportunities for the current generation of local musicians.
Kevin is on board to direct this effort for Jasper and serve as the main writer and editor of the space, but he’s not alone–several other writers from the Jasper family and the greater Midlands area arts community will be joining in to provide broad, diverse perspectives.
“I’m excited to be back in the business of writing about local music here in Columbia,” Kevin says. “There is more to cover now than ever, and I look forward to being able to help sift through the many different opportunities out there to enjoy our local musical talent.”
What should you expect from the new “The Beat”? We will offer up a rotating lineup of coverage to include local album reviews, in depth artist interviews and features, live show reviews, and anything else local music related that we can think of. If you have story ideas, or you’re a local musician, band, or involved with a local project that you think deserves some attention, drop Kevin a line at kevingoliver@gmail.com.
Watch this space for our first full column, dropping next Sunday.