In March it was announced that City-Beat was partnering with Music and Event Management Inc. on the MidPoint Music Festival, with MEMI — a subsidiary of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra which books events at Riverbend Music Center, Taft Theatre and other venues — taking over operations of the festival. Now, MEMI, producer of fests like Lumenocity and the Ohio River Throwdown, has announced the exciting first wave of artists scheduled for MPMF 2016. The event returns to Over-the-Rhine Sept. 23-25 featuring some of the biggest performers in MidPoint’s history.
The first batch of artists includes Band Of Horses, Future Islands, Bob Mould, Nada Surf, JJ Grey & Mofro, Wolf Parade, Reggie Watts, Lucero, Frightened Rabbit, Houndmouth, Kamasi Washington, Josh Ritter, Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls, The Mountain Goats, The Wood Brothers, Tokyo Police Club, Car Seat Headrest, Antibalas, Langhorne Slim, The Budos Band, Russian Circles, Elephant Revival, AJJ, The James Hunter Six, Aloha, Joan of Arc, Helms Alee, The World is a Beautiful Place & I am No Longer Afraid to Die, Into It. Over It. and Lucy Dacus. More will be announced later this summer.
This year marks MidPoint’s 15th anniversary. Initially focused exclusively on unsigned artists, the three-day event was acquired by CityBeat in 2008, and the booking was expanded to include internationally renowned acts (including Grizzly Bear, Andrew Bird, The Afghan Whigs, The Head and the Heart, Chromeo, Surfer Blood and Caribou, among numerous others), while still spotlighting local and regional talent. MidPoint will continue to feature local/regional acts; area artists interested in being considered for the event will be able to submit information through mpmf.com.
A big change for MidPoint this year is the stage layout. While previously spread through a dozen or so indoor and outdoor clubs and stages throughout Over-the-Rhine and downtown, MidPoint 2016 will be concentrated in OTR on four outdoor stages, set up in parking lots near the Main Street entertainment district, around 12th and Sycamore streets. The event will also include local restaurant and craft beer vendors.
Three-day MPMF passes are $99 and go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m. through mpmf.com and ticketmaster.com. To avoid fees, tickets can also be purchased in person at the box offices at Taft Theatre and Riverbend. Single-day tickets will be made available when the full lineup is announced.
Complete MidPoint information is available at mpmf.com.
More Local Notes
• Playing off NPR’s popular Tiny Desk Concerts, which feature established and up-and-coming acts performing in the NPR offices, the public radio juggernaut has been holding a contest asking for video submissions from anyone interested in performing their own Tiny Desk gig. Many Greater Cincinnati acts submitted over the past couple of years, and this Saturday at the Southgate House Revival (111 E. Sixth St., Newport, southgatehouse.com), local public radio station WVXU is presenting a Tiny Desk Showcase featuring many of them. Music begins at 9 p.m. and performances will take place on the venue’s Lounge and Sanctuary stages. Artists scheduled to appear include Baoku, Charlie Millikin, Comprador, Daniel Van Vechten, Elk Creek, Ellie Fabe, Equator Bear, Founding Fathers, Adam Stone, Heather Hamlet, Kaitlyn Peace, Kyle English, Pike 27, Salty Candy and The Soft Peaks.
Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door. Proceeds go to support WVXU.
• This Saturday, the massive World Music Fest will bring music, dance, art and food representing cultures from across the planet to seven locations in Covington, Ky. The free, all-ages fest showcases everything from Cajun Jazz (from Lagniappe) to Brazilian Hip Hop Fusion (from LIVLongEnough, featuring Napoleon Maddox of IsWhat?!) throughout the day. Other local musicians performing include Sylvain Acher, Watusi Tribe, Congo Kette, Ron Esposito and many others.
Check out the enormous schedule and find more info at worldmusicfest.org.
CONTACT MIKE BREEN: [email protected]