Vérité Brings Intimate Vibes to June's Room Debut

New bi-monthly music event launches with sold-out Ginger Rabbit shows from New York-born artist Kelsey Byrne.

Feb. 11, 2026 at 12:47pm

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Kelsey Byrne, known professionally as Vérité, is set to perform two sold-out shows at Ginger Rabbit on Friday, June 13, marking the debut of June's Room, a new intimate concert series spearheaded by Mercedes Wallace of June House. The shows will feature a more spontaneous and interactive approach, with Byrne centering the connection between artist and audience that guided her earliest performances as Vérité over a decade ago.

Why it matters

June's Room aims to foster a sense of physical connection and intimacy in the live music experience, which organizer Mercedes Wallace believes has been diminished by the increasing digital nature of modern life. The event also provides an opportunity for artists to perform in a more stripped-back, personal setting, potentially attracting acts that might otherwise bypass Columbus on tour.

The details

For the Ginger Rabbit shows, Vérité will be joined by her cousin Matt Politoski, who will also be producing her next album. Byrne has been seeking to reconnect with the sense of freedom and spontaneity she felt in the early days of her career, moving away from the more rigid structures of larger-scale touring. The June's Room format allows her to engage more directly with the audience, pivoting and responding to the energy of the moment.

  • The June's Room debut featuring Vérité will take place on Friday, June 13, 2026.
  • The next June's Room event is scheduled for April 2026, with a yet-to-be-determined performer.

The players

Vérité

The stage name of New York-born musician Kelsey Byrne, who is known for her intimate, interactive live performances.

Mercedes Wallace

The founder of June House, who has partnered with Ginger Rabbit to launch the June's Room concert series.

Matt Politoski

Vérité's cousin, who will be joining her on stage at the Ginger Rabbit shows and also producing her next album.

Ginger Rabbit

The Columbus venue hosting the debut of the June's Room concert series.

June House

The organization founded by Mercedes Wallace that is spearheading the June's Room concert series.

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What they’re saying

“When you're doing a bigger scale of tour, you're combating so many factors. There's the scale, where just by the sheer volume and number of people, you can't meet them all. Then you're also combating fatigue, where you're just fucking exhausted.”

— Kelsey Byrne, Musician, Vérité (matternews.org)

“June's Room actually came from talking about how we're so connected digitally that we are getting less and less connected physically. And this is our way to preserve and foster that sense of intimacy, by creating a concert series that can allow us to break that third wall, inviting the audience and artist to sit together in something that feels like your living room.”

— Mercedes Wallace, Founder, June House (matternews.org)

What’s next

The next June's Room event is scheduled for April 2026, with a yet-to-be-determined performer.

The takeaway

June's Room provides an opportunity for artists like Vérité to reconnect with the spontaneity and intimacy of their early live performances, while also offering Columbus music fans a chance to experience a more personal, immersive concert setting that fosters a stronger connection between the artist and audience.