Drive up and get down: Drive-in concerts come to Columbus

The live music industry is putting the pedal to the metal with concerts at drive-in theaters across the country. Now national acts are finally making their way back to Columbus.

Prime Social Group rolled out their first full weekend of drive-in concerts Sept. 17-19 at the Drive-In at Westland Mall after a soft open with local favorites Mojoflo and The Floorwalkers earlier this month. PSG co-founder Zach Ruben said he is excited to be bringing some normalcy back into music fans’ lives.

“There’s no replacing a live event. A livestream does not replace a live event,” Ruben said. “When you’ve been deprived of that product for so long, and it’s not really a product, it’s a culture and it’s a way of life, and so many people need that outlet.”

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Ruben is optimistic about the new model so far. He said some artists are excited at the opportunity to get back on stage, even if it’s in front of a sea of cars instead of a swarm of sweaty people. Upcoming national acts include dubstep producer Peekaboo and singer-songwriter Quinn XCII.

In addition to the obvious appeal of getting out of the house for the first time since March, concertgoers can expect a few other advantages. Ruben said each car receives a 15-by-20-foot parking space, giving guests privacy and comfort they wouldn’t have in a tight crowd of strangers. Concessions and merch are provided via an online order system with notifications when the order is ready, meaning no more waiting in an enormous line for a snack or a t-shirt. Guests can even exit their car to dance in their parking spot or bring lawn chairs and sit outside, as long as they don a mask.

“All the attendees that have come out to the event are just thrilled that there is that fix of live performance, live music,” Ruben said.

Each ticket covers a car of four passengers, with options for VIP and front-row sections at higher rates. An additional fifth and sixth passenger can be added at a set rate. A full list of upcoming acts and prices can be found on Prime Social Group’s Eventbrite page here. More information about COVID-19 health and safety guidelines and a guest FAQ are included in the event listings.

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