Written by Alexa Anderson
Image courtesy of The Loft
Walk into Upstairs at The Loft on any given Wednesday, and you’ll find more than just a great date-night spot with live music, delicious food, and top-notch drinks—hello, Dragonfly. Look closer, and you’ll discover the Sweet South: Music Revival, a thriving, all-ages celebration of music that’s given Columbus’s music scene a new pulse. Blending the talents of local musicians, college-aged newcomers, and seasoned professionals from across the United States, this weekly event is free and buzzing with energy.
Since mid-2023, Columbus natives Jason Ezzell and Jesse Shelby have taken turns leading the charge as bandleaders every Wednesday. Jesse, a local legend, has played with bands like Fellas and the Vine and the Shelby Brothers Band. Meanwhile, Jason, a talented musician and producer, has rejoined Skydog Gypsy and runs Spinnaker Studios, where he’s worked with artists like Zac Young, Sarah King, and Julianna Money.
At its core, Sweet South is more than an open mic night. It’s a jam session with heart, where musicians are invited to play, improvise, and collaborate. “We wanted it to be more than an open-mic night where someone comes in, does two or three songs, and then leaves,” says Jesse.
Each week, a rotating bandleader organizes the setlist and directs the night’s musical flow. Regular players often join, while special guests—sometimes even audience members—are invited to step up and jam. On any given night, you’ll find a mix of pros and emerging talents sharing the stage. One recent evening in January, Jesse led a stellar lineup including Jason DeBlanc on bass, Martell Hughes on drums, as well as Brennan Brown and Hank Shelby on guitar and Manny Santos on congas. The vibe? Dynamic, warm, and inviting—a true celebration of music.
Cultivating a Community
Creating such an inclusive environment doesn’t happen by accident. From the stage setup—complete with instruments like an organ, keyboard, and maracas—to the Cheers-like atmosphere, Sweet South fosters connection. “It feels good to show up and know everyone,” says Jason. Jesse adds, “We’ve built a group of genuinely nice, good-hearted people. We want this to be fun and successful.”
Intentional steps have been taken to create this vibe. “Being part of the family, building a community - that’s what we’re here for,” Jesse shares. Jason elaborates: “We try to provide basic instrumentation every week—drums & percussion, bass, guitars and amplifiers, an organ, and piano. If there are specific instruments or effects pedals or anything at all that’ll make you more comfortable personally, we encourage you to bring that with you (within reason of course). We also try to do a good job of putting people on stage together (especially newcomers) that we think will complement each other.”
From personal invites—calls and direct messages—to celebrating participation on stage and in public praise, Sweet South makes everyone feel included. They’ve also ensured that instruments and gear are readily available, and they often pick familiar songs to make it easier for newcomers to join. Gratitude and appreciation are at the core of this effort, and it shows.
Jason agrees: “I think all of those things Jesse mentioned are how we get people interested, how we make it easy on them (they don’t even have to bring a guitar or bass if they don’t want to), and how we hopefully get them to come back. Some of the long-term payoff of all that is we start to see musical relationships develop. People go from never playing together to looking forward to playing with one another every week, even to the point of learning songs together. That feels special.”
Building a New Generation of Artists
Sweet South isn’t just about the music of today—it’s about nurturing the artists of tomorrow. Columbus’s younger musicians, many from Columbus State University’s Schwob School of Music, are finding their footing on this stage. For them, Sweet South can be a classroom of its own, offering real-world experience alongside seasoned performers.
“The most exciting part about working with college-aged musicians might be their enthusiastic energy and rapid progression,” says Jason. “They’re also boldly experimental, ready to try other instruments. Something that is a lot of fun when playing with the college kids is how different the jam-centric Sweet South environment is from their classroom and scholastic performance environment. The result of that is that we are privileged to see a lot of young talented musicians take their knowledge for a test-drive and get a lot more comfortable in a different kind of way. I really love this part because it reminds me of when I was in my late teens and early twenties. I didn’t have the same kind of regular ‘Cheers’-type environment at that point, so it makes me feel great to help create one.”
Gary Gordon, a CSU senior studying percussion and audio technology, is a prime example. He runs the soundboard most nights but often hops on stage to play keyboard or percussion. “It’s a nice, inviting space,” he says. “It makes it easier to come up and play.”
And then there’s Noah Herrera, a young organ player who regularly jams alongside the Sweet South crew. Noah not only brought the organ to life but later switched to guitar, showcasing his versatility and passion for music with an enthusiastic cover of Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone” that had the crowd on their feet singing along. Watching Noah make the organ a central feature of the night is a reminder of how Sweet South inspires musicians to stretch their talents and explore new sounds.
Jason and Jesse are thrilled to see young musicians gain confidence and showcase their skills. “It’s exciting to see them play here and then show up at other venues in town,” says Jason.
For younger folks—or even those with a bit more grey in their hair—thinking about stepping on stage, Jesse has some advice: “Know that some of the most seasoned musicians have your back and will do everything possible to support you. This is not a competitive environment, but one that celebrates the fun and togetherness of music. Please come to the stage and introduce yourself to Jason or me because there might not be a chance off stage—we hardly ever take breaks—and we’d like to meet you. We generally start inviting guests on stage after about an hour, and we do our best to fit everyone in before our time is up.”
Why You Should Go
Whether you’re planning a date night, a girls’ night out, or just a midweek pick-me-up, Sweet South: Music Revival at the Loft is the place to be. The music kicks off at 7:30 p.m. every Wednesday, and the vibe is guaranteed to leave you inspired. Come for the Dragonfly, stay for the music, and leave as part of the community.
Left to right – Jesse Shelby, Hank Shelby, Jason Deblanc, Manny Santos | Photo by Charley Windham