Weekend Entertainment | The Beach Boys at The Amp; Country Songwriters at Birdfish
A Beach Boys concert might not be as momentous as a Rolling Stones appearance.
But the band – like the Stones – is one of the most influential of all time and a direct connection to the early days of modern rock.
The Beach Boys will return to the Mahoning Valley on Tuesday, July 2, for a concert at the Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre.
The iconic act continues to be led by 83-year-old Mike Love, the only original member in the band.
The Beach Boys’ most recent local appearance was in 2021, and also at The Amp. At that show, the band delivered its intricate harmonies and timeless hits on a pleasant summer evening, while a video backdrop showed footage that provided historical insight. I expect the upcoming show will do nothing less.
The Beach Boys have been back in the spotlight this spring, thanks to an excellent documentary on Disney+. It’s one of the best rock docs ever made and shows the ugly family drama that tested the act.
The film also lays bare the emotional and serious sides of Love, who continues to shepherd the band and burnish its legacy.
Tuesday’s concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $34.50 and are available HERE.
Taylor Borton
Thursday was a big day for Taylor Borton, the Nashville-based country singer-songwriter who hails from Hubbard.
It was her last day on the job at the chiropractic office in Music City where she worked for four years.
Quitting her day job means Borton can fully embrace her career as a performing artist and a songwriter.
“I’m surrounding myself completely with music,” Borton said in a phone interview Thursday morning. “I’m going through a big change, and it’s scary but exciting.”
The artist with the throwback style will return home this weekend for an interesting show at Birdfish Brewing in Columbiana on Saturday afternoon.
She’ll take part in a “round” with Ryan Blakeman and Andy Timko. A second trio of songwriters at the event will include Mike Cunningham, Sam Winterberger and Pete Shelby.
Rounds are a Nashville tradition in which three singer-songwriters take turns performing on acoustic guitars and sharing stories about their songs. Borton’s rounds will start at 1 and 3:30 p.m.
Borton took part in the inaugural event, dubbed Cowtown in the Round, last year at Birdfish and was invited back for this year’s event.
While she’s home, she’ll play two other shows: July 4 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Halliday’s Winery in Lake Milton; and July 6 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Iron Mann Grille in Girard. Admission to all three shows is free.
Borton loves playing for hometown audiences. “They’re more attentive,” she said, because – unlike in Nashville – they’re not surrounded by music 24/7. “It’s more fun for me, too, and the vibes bounce off each other.”
Borton focused on writing and co-writing this year and plans to release the new songs next year. She’s also working on a publishing deal that will allow her to sell her songs to other artists and is also looking into teaching.
Fireworks Festivals
Other events this weekend include fireworks festivals in Canfield and Boardman on Saturday, and in Austintown on Sunday.
For a complete look at everything going on in the Mahoning Valley, check out The List.
Pictured at top: Taylor Borton will be among the country singer-songwriters who will perform in a showcase event Saturday at Birdfish Brewing in Columbiana.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
