| Columbia Township Auditorium | |
| Coordinates: | 34.0097°N -81.0278°W |
| Architect: | Lafaye and Lafaye; John C. Heslep |
| Architecture: | Georgian Revival |
| Added: | September 28, 2005 |
| Area: | less than one acre |
| Mpsub: | Segregation in Columbia, South Carolina MPS |
| Refnum: | 05001104 |
Columbia Township Auditorium, also known as Township Auditorium, is a historic auditorium located in Columbia, South Carolina. It was built in 1930 (94 years ago), and is a three-story, brick building with a Doric order columned portico in the Georgian Revival style. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places[1] in 2005, and in 2009 it underwent a complete renovation/modernization that saw the architects/facility win national awards for historic preservation[2] /renovation. The auditorium has a seating capacity of 3,072 for standard concert seating and 3,383 with general admission floor seating.
In the early years of the building the facility was a major tour stop in the Southeast US with everyone performing there, including Duke Ellington in 1951 with Nat King Cole, The Ink Spots r&b group in 1940, Louis Armstrong in 1940 (for $1.20 a ticket) and 1944, Ella Fitzgerald in 1941, Count Basie & His Orchestra in 1947, Elvis Presley in 1956, Bill Haley & His Comets with Bo Diddley in 1956, Florida's Ray Charles in 1960, The Isley Brothers in 1960, Johnny Cash in 1963, Peter, Paul, & Mary in 1963, Augusta's James Brown in 1965, Macon's Otis Redding (died 1967) with Atlanta's Gladys Knight in 1965, Beach Boys in 1965, Greenwood's frat rock Swingin' Medallions in 1966, Paul Revere & The Raiders in 1967, Joan Baez in 1968, and Loretta Lynn, just to name a few. Through the 1970s and 1980s the building was a major part of the success and growth of professional wrestling in the US. Pink Floyd played there in 1972, Bruce Springsteen played there in 1978, The Jacksons performed there in 1979, Bob Seger played there in 1984, Blue Öyster Cult in 1979, The Clash in 1984, Athens' R.E.M. in 1986, the Beastie Boys in 1987, Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1989, Blues Traveler played there in 1992 and 1997, The Smashing Pumpkins (3 times: in 1994, 2000, and 2007), Phish in 1994[3] (Trey Anastasio has returned twice with his solo band in 2001[4] and 2005[5]), Toad the Wet Sprocket in 1995, Virginia's Dave Matthews in 1997 and 1999, Live in 1999, Godsmack in 2004 and '24, Alicia Keys in 2005, Train in 2006, and Switchfoot in 2007. In 2010, Tony Bennett performed at the reopening of the Township. Although the building always had popularity, since the renovation the building has had more major shows come through like Jason Isbell, Cake in 2012, Rise Against with Florida's A Day to Remember in 2012, John Legend, Charlotte's K-Ci & JoJo and Anthony Hamilton, Mary J. Blige, Bob Dylan (6 times), ZZ Top, Pretty Lights, Stone Temple Pilots with Chester Bennington (died 2017) in 2013, Charleston's Band Of Horses in 2013, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Jack White in 2014, Queens of the Stone Age in 2014, Skrillex in 2014, Amos Lee, Alison Krauss, Greensboro's Daughtry, Charlotte's Avett Brothers in 2015, Rob Thomas (raised in Lake City, SC) in 2015, John Mellencamp in 2015, Raleigh's Ryan Adams in 2009 and 2017, Modest Mouse in 2018, Upstate SC band Needtobreathe in 2019, Chicago in 2019, Diana Ross in 2020, a rap concert with Ja Rule, DMX, and Juvenile; the Atlanta rapper Future, Atlanta rap group Migos in 2017, and Common in 2019; and comedians Dave Chappelle in 2004 and 2020, Jerry Seinfeld in 2005, Gabriel Iglesias in 2012, Steve Martin with Martin Short in 2021 and 2023, and Bill Maher in 2023. Also as a special honor when the legendary jam band Widespread Panic from Athens celebrated their 25th Anniversary Celebration, they picked the Township Auditorium as one of their favorite places to play. Widespread Panic played there in 2013, 2015, and 2016. Also the king of blues music BB King played one of his final shows at the building before he died in 2015. Author Pat Conroy from Beaufort also spoke at the Township two years before he died in 2016. Zedd's October 2015 concert (on the True Colors Tour) was cancelled due to the flooding of Columbia. Breaking Benjamin's 2018 concert was also cancelled. Shinedown's 2020 concert was cancelled due to COVID-19. Nelly's 2021 concert was cancelled. There were no concerts at The Township (due to COVID-19) from Jerry Seinfeld on March 7, 2020, until The Isley Brothers concert on September 10, 2021. Earth, Wind & Fire performed there on October 9. Atlanta's Collective Soul played at the Township with Better Than Ezra and Tonic on October 7, 2021. Jeezy and Monica performed there in November 2021. KC & the Sunshine Band and Aaron Lewis of Staind performed there in April 2022. Charlotte-born George Clinton (funk musician) gave an interview there in June 2022, and R&B group Jodeci from Charlotte performed there in 2022. Ziggy Marley performed a tribute to his father in August 2022. Incubus performed there in 2023. South Carolina musicians that played at the Township were James Brown, Swingin' Medallions, Rob Thomas, Jeezy, Band of Horses, and Needtobreathe.
https://www.setlist.fm/search?page=5&query=Township+Auditorium&venue=73d626c9
Pink Floyd 1972 tour: Dark Side of the Moon TourSpringsteen 1978 tour: Darkness TourThe Jacksons 1979 tour: Destiny World TourRise Against 2012 tour: Endgame Tour
The facility is owned and operated by Richland County, with currently Aundrai Holloman serving as Executive Director and Andrew Horne serving as the Assistant Executive Director. Staff also includes Bo Abernethy Box Office Manager, Tresha Clark Marketing Manager, Julian Fajardo Event Manager and Melanie Sims as Business Manager.