Styx in Columbus

About Styx

Styx started as a power ballad outfit in Chicago before transforming into one of the '70s most ambitious rock bands. They built their reputation on increasingly theatrical albums, culminating in the double album The Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight, where they proved prog rock didn't require Robert Fripp's guitar wizardry to land conceptually. Then came Pieces of Eight and Pieces of Eight again, in different forms, because the band couldn't quite stop tinkering. Paradise Thru the Windshield and Kilroy were concepts about manufactured realities and rock stardom itself—self-aware to the point of absurdity. By the early '80s they'd splintered across theatrical ambitions and musical disagreements. Dennis DeYoung pushed toward synths and musicals, while the rest wanted to stay anchored in rock. The tension defined them as much as the songs did. They reunited periodically, most notably for a 1995 tour that felt less like nostalgia and more like settling old arguments.

Their shows are part concert, part stadium-sized theatrical production. Audiences sing every word to the deep cuts. The energy is reverent rather than loose—these crowds know the albums inside out and came to hear them played properly.

Known for Lady, Renegade, Come Sail Away, The Best of Times, Blue Collar Man

Styx in Columbus News

• Nelly among newest performers announced for Ohio State Fair concert lineup 10TV · Feb 3, 2026
• Nelly, Styx, Don Felder added to Ohio State Fair concert lineup Yahoo · Feb 3, 2026
• Classic rock legends, others announced for the 2026 Ohio State Fair WTTE · Feb 3, 2026
• Classic rock legends, others announced for the 2026 Ohio State Fair WSYX · Feb 3, 2026
• Chicago & Styx Confirm 2026 Co-Headlining Tour JamBase · Dec 1, 2025

Live Music in Columbus

Columbus has always had a soft spot for the weirder side of rock. The city's produced its share of art-rock experimentalists and has supported acts that don't fit neatly into boxes. Styx's theatrical prog sensibilities should find some genuine interest here, especially among folks who remember when rock was allowed to be ambitious and strange.

Columbus road trip to see Styx?

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.