Three of the finest music festivals in the region — spring’s Nelsonville Music Festival in northeastern Ohio, summer’s Forecastle Festival in Louisville and Cincy’s own MidPoint Music Festival, returning Sept. 22-24 — have made recent announcements concerning their 2011 events.—-
• The Forecastle Festival — which usually features several acts from Greater Cincinnati — is movin’ on up the music fest ladder, announcing a partnership with AC Entertainment, which has produced such popular events as Bonnaroo, the Big Ears Festival and Moogfest. Louisville’s “premier event for music, art and environmental activism,” which has consistently attracted a stronger and stronger lineup each year, promises even better things for Forecastle, but the bigger plan is to produce more events of its stature in the Louisville area.
Even the mayor, Greg Fischer, was excited about the new partnership. He’s quoted in the press release saying, “Music and arts are important to Louisville’s vitality, appeal, economic growth and city branding … Forecastle help represent Louisville’s creative, entrepreneurial, forward-thinking spirit. The new partnership with AC Entertainment recognizes and builds on that spirit.”
At a press conference yesterday, plans were announced to hold the 10th anniversary festival in 2012 (skipping this summer) while expanding this year’s Halfway to Forecastle and moving it to the summer instead (it’s usually in the winter). The Halfway fest is schedule for July 8-9 at a new downtown, indoor/outdoor venue (specifics to be announced shortly).
For more on Forecastle, visit the official site here.
• Nelsonville organizers unveiled three of its big headliners for this year’s seventh annual event. Running May 13-15, the fest returns to the Hocking College campus in southeastern Ohio (near Athens) and will again feature a wide-range of styles spread out over multiple stages.
Headlining the three-day event this year are Art/Psych Rock champs The Flaming Lips (May 14), AltCountry hero Neko Case (pictured; May 15) and Country music legend George Jones (May 13).
Three-day passes for Nelsonville went on sale Feb. 7 and are $60 (the price will go up as the event approaches). To buy tickets, find more info and keep an eye out for more booking announcements, head over to www.nelsonvillefest.org.
• The MidPoint Music Festival (organized by CityBeat) announced that the early submissions period for artists interested in performing at 2011’s 10th anniversary event starts Feb. 25. Those interested in playing what is sure to be the best MPMF yet can save a few dollars on entry fees by submitting early. So, bands and solo artists, get your submissions prepared and, in just a couple of weeks, head to www.mpmf.com to be sure you’re in this year’s MPMF mix.
