Earth, Wind & Fire in Columbus

About Earth, Wind & Fire

Earth, Wind & Fire formed in 1970 and became one of the most commercially successful bands of the 70s and 80s. Led by Maurice White, they blended funk, soul, jazz, and pop into something that felt both sophisticated and utterly danceable. The band's horn section was their secret weapon — those brass arrangements on tracks like September and Shining Star defined an era. They weren't just a funk band, though funk was the spine of their sound. They could do tender soul ballads like After the Love Has Gone, which showed White's arranging genius and the band's emotional range. By the early 80s, they'd crossed completely into pop territory with Boogie Wonderland and Let's Groove, songs so ubiquitous they've essentially become part of the cultural furniture. What made them different from other funk acts was the sheer musicianship and the sense that every arrangement was considered, intentional. They won six Grammys and sold millions of records worldwide, influencing everyone from Prince to contemporary funk and neo-soul acts.

Earth, Wind & Fire shows are celebrations. The horn section locks in tight, the rhythm section is immaculate, and crowds know every word to September. People actually dance in the aisles. Maurice White commanded the stage with understated cool, and the band played like they enjoyed it.

Known for September, Shining Star, After the Love Has Gone, Boogie Wonderland, Let's Groove

Earth, Wind & Fire + Columbus

Earth, Wind & Fire played Value City Arena in Columbus on June 13, 2024, and the 15-song set was a masterclass in catalog management. They opened with Shining Star, worked through Serpentine Fire and System of Survival, and gave Verdine White his bass solo moment. Got to Get You Into My Life and Devotion anchored the mid-set. The closing stretch of Fantasy, Boogie Wonderland, Let's Groove, and September is basically four consecutive reasons to keep dancing. After the Love Has Gone provided the quiet before the storm.

Earth, Wind & Fire in Columbus News

• Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire announce concert at Schottenstein Center June 27 WSYX · Jan 30, 2026
• Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire announce concert at Schottenstein Center June 27 cwcolumbus.com · Jan 29, 2026
• Lionel Richie, Earth, Wind & Fire head to Columbus on 'Sing a Song All Night Long' tour 10TV · Jan 27, 2026
• Lionel Richie, Earth, Wind & Fire head to the Schott in June The Columbus Dispatch · Jan 26, 2026
• Lionel Richie, Earth, Wind & Fire to come to Columbus Spectrum News · Jan 26, 2026

Live Music in Columbus

Columbus has a strong soul and R&B lineage—it's a city that understands rhythm and horns. Earth, Wind & Fire's blend of funk, soul, and jazz sophistication should hit right here, where there's real appreciation for musicianship over flash. The city's got taste, and EWF rewards that kind of attention.

Columbus road trip to see Earth, Wind & Fire?

Stay in German Village, where the restored brick townhouses and tree-lined streets feel like an actual neighborhood rather than a tourist zone. Dinner at Harvest Bistro on High Street for refined American food done without fuss. Spend the afternoon at the Columbus Museum of Art, then walk through the Short North corridor—the gallery district has real energy without feeling manufactured. Catch the show at Nationwide Arena, then grab drinks at Drinkery in German Village for something low-key.