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Soda City sounds wrapped 🎶

Soda City sounds wrapped
Cottontown Art Crawl-0145.jpg

Local songwriter Katera performs with her band outside Indah Coffee at the 2022 Cottontown Art Crawl. | Photo by COLAtoday


Chances are, you’ve seen friends share their Spotify Wrapped 2022 this week showing users’ most-listened-to songs and special messages from artists. As the year is coming to a close and we begin to reflect, we want to highlight ten excellent new albums from Midlands musicians.

We’ve included a little bit for everyone, from pop, rock, and R&B, to a whole lot in between. Throw on your headphones and dive into this Spotify playlist of Soda City sounds.

🐎 Band of Horses — Though they’re currently based out of Charleston, Band of Horses features two members with Cola roots in frontman Ben Bridwell and multi-instrumentalist Ryan Monroe. Their new album “Things Are Great” peaked at No. 21 on the Billboard Rock Charts and is one of South Carolina’s most notable 2022 releases.

🔪 Brandy and the Butcher — The band’s latest album “Lucky Foot” is a fresh dose of rock n’ roll recorded here in town at the Jam Room Music Studio. The new album is pressed to vinyl and was celebrated with a release show at the Art Bar in the Vista.

🎸 Katera — Soulful singer-songwriter Katera explores a blend of modern R&B on her new album “Fear Doesn’t Live Here.” Her skills as a guitarist and her sultry voice shine at her live shows. You might have seen her at Cottontown Art Crawl or you can catch her Fri., Dec. 16 at Gardner’s Outpost.

🧹 Lang Owen — Singer-songwriter Lang Owen’s album “She’s My Memory” is a masterpiece as he writes about the beauty in everyday life. He films short videos of his songs at many recognizable local spots that tie into his lyrics.

📖 Rex Darling — One of the Soda City’s most promising indie pop acts, Rex Darling shines on their debut album “Living Room Diaries.” You might have seen them open for the viral act Marc Rebillet at the sold-out show at The Senate.
5 MORE LOCAL ALBUMS
Columbia Metropolitan Airport
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Friday, Dec. 2
  • Holiday Market - Junior League of Columbia | Friday, Dec. 2-Sunday, Dec. 4 | 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. | SC State Fair Grounds, 1200 Rosewood Dr., Columbia | Thousands of shoppers head to the South Carolina State Fairgrounds to find the perfect gifts from 150+ merchants.
  • Midlands Clay Arts Society Annual Holiday Sale | Friday, Dec. 2-Saturday, Dec. 3 | 11 a.m.-7 p.m. | Stormwater Studios, 413 Pendleton St., Columbia | Free | Local ceramic artists will showcase their sculptural, functional, and whimsical wheel thrown and hand built ceramic art at the 21st Annual Midlands Clay Arts Society Holiday Sale.
  • Stagbriar, Lighthearted, Slow Funeral, Kat Gandy | Friday, Dec. 2 | 7-10 p.m. | New Brookland Tavern, 122 State St., West Columbia | $15 | Columbia Americana band Stagbriar will headline the night and perform new songs off their upcoming album.
Saturday, Dec. 3
  • Steel Hands Brewing 4 Year Anniversary Party | Saturday, Dec. 3 | 12-10 p.m. | Steel Hands Brewing, 2350 Foreman St., Cayce | $0-$90 | Celebrate with giveaways and live music all day in the outdoor beer garden — VIP tickets include five beer tickets, a logo anniversary glass, a case of Steel Hands Beer + more.*
  • The CMA Gala | Saturday, Dec. 3 | 7-11 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St., Columbia | $150-$175 | Proceeds from the black tie event help fund vital museum programs.
  • A Christmas Carol | Saturday, Dec. 3 | 2 p.m. | Harbison Theatre, 7300 College St., Irmo | “A Christmas Carol” is the perfect holiday offering to warm even the Scroogiest of hearts.
Sunday, Dec. 4
  • Homes for the Holidays | Sunday, Dec. 4 | 1-5 p.m. | Hollywood-Rose Hill, 2818 Devine St., Columbia | Join the Shandon Hollywood-Rose Hill neighborhood’s “Homes for the Holidays Tour” of homes to kick off your holiday season.
  • Carolina Jazz Society Christmas Concert | Sunday, Dec. 4 | 2:30-5 p.m. | Heyward Street United Methodist Church, 2501 Heyward St., Columbia | Free | Carolina Jazz Society’s gift to the community, a free concert of traditional jazz music and holiday favorites.
We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
100+ MORE EVENTS
Lowes Foods

Weather
  • 59º | Partly cloudy | 3% chance of rain
Community
  • Help tidy up Cola. The City of Columbia Solid Waste Division added a new leaf collection option this fall for residents to drop their bagged leaves at containers around the city. Check the city’s Waste Wizard for a calendar of garbage + recycling collection and street pickup. 🍂
Cause
  • WLTX + The Salvation Army are collecting unwrapped toys for boys and girls, along with canned foods, for the Stuff-A-Bus campaign. Stop by these Walmart locations around the Midlands on the first and second Fridays this month to drop off your donations. 🧸
  • The Town of Lexington is hosting its annual Toys for Tots collection through Thurs., Dec. 8. This year kicks off the new “Pack the Pontoon” provided by Mountain Top Marine. Check here for a list of locations, or drop off at the Lexington Police Department at 111 Maiden Ln. (ABC Columbia)
Soda Citizen
  • Columbia baker Selena Dennis and her husband, Antavis, competed on season six of Food Network’s “Christmas Cookie Challenge” this week. You can watch it here, and if you’re looking to up your Christmas cookie game, sign up for an Embellished Dough cookie decorating class. 🍪
Eat
  • Is it Yesterday’s or perhaps El Burrito? The State wants to know what closed Columbia restaurant you miss the most. Check out our list of your favorite meals from bygone restaurants for some inspiration before you vote. 🌯
Outdoors
  • The gardens at the Museum of the Reconstruction Era at the Woodrow Wilson Family Home (1705 Hampton St.) are getting a makeover thanks to the 2022-23 Annual Fund. Pro tip, the gardens are free and open to the public from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and are perfect for lunchtime strolls.
Travel
Wellness
  • It’s the most wonderful — er, stressful? — time of year. According to health experts, high expectations for joy + happy memories (along with disrupted norms, financial worries, and more) can take quite the toll on our mental health. Here are 16 tips + tricks to get through the holidays, including three key stress-reducing takeaways.*
Health
  • Open enrollment for individual and family health insurance is now. Enrollment events are happening this week at Mega Insurance at 1004 Cermack St. in Columbia on Fri., Dec. 2 from 12 p.m.-7 p.m. and HealthMarkets at The Flight Deck Shoppes at 109 Old Chapin Rd. in Lexington on Sat., Dec. 3 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.*
Shop
  • Your holiday music just got better. 1byoneaudio sells high quality and easy-to-use turntables equipped with incredible sound quality and hi-fi speakers, plus some that connect to Bluetooth headphones. Think: a great gift for the record lover in your life (or even an early present for yourself). 🎶*

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MUSC Health

Food

Publico is now Santa’s Pub
publico santa's pub
We love this upside-down snowman. | Photo by COLAtoday team
You may have noticed that Publico Kitchen & Tap is looking a little more festive. That’s because this Latin and Asian-inspired eatery has transformed into Santa’s Pub.

Stop by 2013 Greene St. for holiday cocktails like the Cranberry Spiced Paloma (made with spiced cranberry syrup and lunazul) and specialty desserts — think: s’mores.

All of its cocktails are holiday-themed, it will be playing holiday tunes, and showcasing round-the-clock holiday classics like “Elf,” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” and “Home Alone.” Oh, and it snows every night at Santa’s Pub.

Don’t forget — you can also reserve a private heated igloo, by reservation only, if you want to dine on the patio.
Columbia Fireflies
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by David.

Editor’s pick: In 2020-2021, I had the opportunity to partner with Richland Library and the Free Times to film 50 live music sessions at iconic Columbia locations. The “1 or 2 Sessions” are all available to stream for free and feature many of the musicians listed above.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Read our winter events guide, here.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Samantha Robertson, David Stringer, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Lindsey Rhinesmith | Advertise with us.

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