'Next at Wex' series brings buzz bands to town

Wexner Center For the Arts

Vampire Weekend. Fleet Foxes. Wilco with Andrew Bird. Girl Talk. Feist.

If any or all of the above catch your interest, then you probably know all about the Wexner Center’s very hip, very indie “Next at Wex” concert series, which over the past few years has brought some of the coolest bands on the national music scene through Columbus.

With the Camera Obscura (June 29), Conor Oberst (pictured, July 13) and M83 (July 18) playing as part of the series dring the next month, this is as good a time as any to get to know a little more about the series.

Metromix talked with Wexner Center for the Arts Media Coordinator Tim Fulton about the popular concert, why the Ohio State University venue is able to book these shows and whether or not a PBR is needed to witness a good concert.

In a nutshell, what is the modus operandi of “Next at Wex?”
Basically the goal is to bring in indie rock artists who are just sort of on the cusp of their making it or being in the public eye. Like Fleet Foxes, we had them last year. And at the end of 2008, they’re making a bunch of best-of lists. The goal is basically to give those artists an opportunity to come through Columbus and do a show where they’re treated as artists and getting slightly better money. Also, they have a marketing arm with us where they don’t necessarily have it with their label or management company. All of the “Next at Wex” shows there’s no alcohol. They are all-ages show that provide a good environment for the artist to show their work and provide an atmosphere for the audience that it’s all about the music and not about necessarily a bar atmosphere or something like that. 

What’s interesting is with so many clubs and venues in the Columbus area, the Wexner Center is able to book these buzz bands.
We’ve got sort of a little bit of a vacuum for mid-size venues. One of the main venues we had a couple of years ago, Little Brothers, closed down two years ago and they were one of our few 500 to 600-person venues in the city. So I think we’re having probably some success as a result of that to get those shows in here. We’ve got large venues, multiple arenas and a lot of small 150-people clubs, but not a venue in the mid-range. So we’ve been really fortunate and really able to bring in some great bands.

That said, can this series—which features dozens of shows annually—grow into something larger?
I don’t know. I don’t think we’ll become a venue where we’re doing “Next at Wex” shows every weekend, certainly not. With all of the programming we have here, with music, dance, theater and we have a couple of different performance spaces, but it’s not infinite. 

In looking back at the many “Next at Wex” shows, which acts do better than others?
I think in just having the “Next at Wex” series that people are more willing to take a look at stuff. In my experience with my short tenure, the little bit poppier and upbeat shows tend to do a little better and also people that have a more established name, which is going to be the same across the industry.

What are you hoping Columbus audiences take away from the “Next at Wex” events?
As a fine arts institution, I think the goal is just to view the music as art and take it in, and not always expect to be in an environment where you can order a PBR. You can really take it in, really enjoy it and make it about the music rather than the “scene.”

Ticket prices vary. For more information, visit Wexner's Web site.