Hogstock Live Music and Beer Festival, an inaugural outdoor concert fundraiser for the Columbus Area Arts Council, seemingly hit all the right notes while attracting 400 people from their 20s to 60s on a recent, hot Saturday afternoon while generating more than $10,000 for the cause.
"I really think we could have attracted even more people if the weather was nicer," said event organizer Scott Wilson of Scott Wilson Insurance.
For much of the day, rain threatened in forecasts — so much so that Wilson considered trimming the acts during the afternoon.
"But the crowd steadily built as the day went on," he said.
Wilson is also a member of one of the bands, Three Beards Strummin’, that performed at the 10-hour event with eight other acts in the parking lot of Columbus’ Hog Molly Brewing Co. at 830 Depot St. on Columbus’ north side. Hog Molly owners Lou and Martha Krempel worked alongside Wilson and an organizing committee for the gathering that included food trucks.
For Wilson, one of the many highlights was playing with the headlining new group, Soul Patch, with a daringly eclectic mix. The set list was so varied that the ensemble performed Black Sabbath’s "War Pigs" followed by Neil Diamond’s classic "Sweet Caroline."
"People probably have never heard a concert where you’ve got those two songs back to back before," he said with a chuckle. "It was incredible."
The group closed the evening with Bruno Mars’ "Uptown Funk."
"It was a really fun night just to see a lot of people come together," Wilson said. "For our first year, raising just over 10 grand — we’re really happy with that. And I think that maybe we can double that next year."
Columbus Area Arts Council Executive Director Kathryn Armstrong was grateful for such support for the arts council’s work, much of which are programs presented for free to the public.
“After a long year of virtual programs and events, CAAC was pleased to see such a great turnout at the inaugural Hogstock," Armstrong said. "We are also incredibly grateful to Hog Molly and Scott Wilson, for organizing this event and selecting CAAC as a partner with the proceeds benefiting future arts programs and events in Columbus.”
