The MidPoint Indie Summer Series returns to Fountain Square on Friday evenings through Sept. 2. For the third consecutive year, MidPoint presents national, regional and local acts for free on downtown's main public square. Headliners include Maps & Atlases (June 17), Pomegranates (July 1), Big Freedia (July 8), Ted Leo & the Pharmacists (July 29), Bad Veins (Aug. 19), Margot and the Nuclear So & So's (Aug. 26) and The Greenhornes (Sept. 3).  

The MidPoint Indie Summer Series returns to Fountain Square on Friday evenings through Sept. 2. For the third consecutive year, MidPoint presents national, regional and local acts for free on downtown's main public square. Headliners include Maps & Atlases (June 17), Pomegranates (July 1), Big Freedia (July 8), Ted Leo & the Pharmacists (July 29), Bad Veins (Aug. 19), Margot and the Nuclear So & So's (Aug. 26) and The Greenhornes (Sept. 3).  

The initial 20 national artists booked for this September’s MidPoint Music Festival (coming Sept. 22-24 to various venues in Downtown and Over-the-Rhine) were recently announced and they show the fest is already off to a great start. This year’s event will feature Cut Copy, Deerhoof, Kaki King, Xiu Xiu and more.  

This week's posting has been winnowed by a killer combination of my MidPoint Music Festival judging duties and a long holiday weekend, so try to contain your disappointment at the shortage of reviews. This week I tackle new releases from Michelle Shocked, Viva Voce, Maurice Mattei & the Tempers, Chris Gaffney, Dave Alvin & the Guilty Women and Hatcham Social.