Register 49 Seats Remaining

Third Thursday Singer-Songwriter Concert Series

Hosted by Parker MacDonell

Singer-songwriter Parker MacDonell hosts a monthly concert series featuring performances from local songwriters around Columbus. Join us for this monthly celebration of songwriting by local artists.

Singer-songwriter Parker MacDonell hosts a monthly concert series featuring performances from local songwriters around Columbus. From seasoned performers to up and coming artists, join us on the third Thursday of the month to celebrate the art of songwriting and listen to original music performed by local musicians.

The rotating featured musician will perform at 6:30 PM followed by a set from Parker MacDonell.

Check back for the monthly featured artists.

About the Performers:

Host Artist Parker MacDonell has been using his original songs, voice and acoustic guitar to communicate with audiences for years. A veteran of the Los Angeles club scene and college student unions across the United States, Parker was named “Best New Artist of the Year” by the listeners of Pete Fornatale’s Mixed Bag show on New York City radio station WNEW. He picked up a bushel of stories by playing bass for Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley during his California stint. He has released four recordings: Miracle on Broad Street with Matt Munhall (2017), The Present Tense (2012), Looking For You (1985) and Home to the Heart (1983).

March 19  -  Guest Artist Rj Cowdrey writes the kind of songs that sneak up on you—quiet, honest, and armed with just enough wit to keep you on your toes. A late bloomer in the music world (she didn’t dive in until most people are taking up Pickleball), Rj has been making up for lost time with award-winning albums like In This Light, produced by Billy Crockett and What If This Is All There Is, produced by Amy Speace. Hailing from southeastern Ohio, with Appalachian roots woven into her stories, she balances heart-tugging ballads with a sly grin and the occasional perfectly timed zinger. Along the way, she’s earned top honors at Mountain Stage NewSong, Kerrville New Folk, and Sisters Folk Festival, to name a few.

April 16  -  Guest Artist Keith Larsen was selected twice to the Songwriter’s Serenade, finishing as a finalist and semi-finalist. His song “Hold On,” won the People’s Choice Award in the Nashville Songwriters Association International/Country Music Television songwriting competition. He headlined a solo concert at the prestigious Blue Rock Artist Ranch and Studio in Texas and has also appeared in the current season of Songs at the Center, a TV show that appears over 300 PBS stations.

May 21  -  Guest Artist Risk Kishk. They are a Bexley native and Columbus-based singer/songwriter who has been writing and performing original music since 2007. Originally interested in poetry, they found themselves thrust into the world of music by complete accident at age 12 after signing up for a music class they didn’t realize was a guitar class until they entered a room filled with students with guitars in their hands. Thankfully, Risk’s father had a 1966 Guild F-30 built at the Hoboken Factory he was willing to lend to them for their studies. 

Later, Risk’s older brother “Hurricane” Ben, a Santa Cruz, California based drummer encouraged Risk to write and sing and bought them their first guitar: a Hello Kitty Squire Stratocaster. He showed Risk Hole’s song “Malibu” and Ani DiFranco’s song “32 Flavors” and said, “If you can find a way to combine these two sounds, you’ll be golden.” In November 2007, Ben passed away suddenly, leading Risk to the realization that writing music could help them to move through that grief and all of life’s adversities and blessings. From that day forward, they started writing and never stopped.

These days you can find Risk gigging around Columbus venues as well as hosting Variety Open Mics at places like Witchlab Lounge and Spacebar with a passion to uplift other artists and performers, cultivating a community of support and acceptance.

The Third Thursday concerts are sponsored by Six String Concerts, which has been presenting touring singer/songwriters in concert since 1988.

For more information, contact Josh Bryant (jbryant@bexleylibrary.org or 614-231-2793) or Parker MacDonell (parker.macdonell@gmail.com or 614-305-5456)

Library Parking & Entrance Information:

While the library's main entrance is under construction, we remain open. Clear signage will guide visitors to a temporary, fully accessible entrance via a ramp in the southeast alley, leading to the dock entrance.

The library parking lot also remains open, with temporary entry and exit available via Euclaire Avenue only. Parking may be limited, so we encourage you to arrive early and use street parking on Euclaire, Mound, and other nearby streets.

For more information about the Outdoor Reading Room project, visit www.BexleyLibrary.org/ORR.

Upcoming events