MidPoint Nails Down “Party” Bands, Keynote Speaker

The MidPoint Music Festival, coming up at the end of September, has always been about the unsigned artist. It’s about sharing under-the-radar music from artists on the rise, as well as a means for those artists to network and learn. Organizers have long resisted allowing name “signed” bands to be a part of the showcase, despite the potential for bigger attendance numbers.

The organizers are sticking to their guns, but this year, in an effort to get MP revelers out to the showcases earlier, they have enlisted a couple of nationally-known acts to play the nightly parties preceding the actual showcases. The pre-parties are to take place at The Exchange club on Main Street.

Knoxville-based Power Pop masters Superdrag are slated to play the first pre-party on Sept. 27. The band recently got back together with its original members and have six dates scheduled throughout the fall. But the band’s MidPoint show will be its first of the reunion tour, a real coup for the festival. It’s this version of the band’s first show together in eight years. Given the band’s fervent cult fanbase, expect lots of extra out-of-town visitors for the show (hopefully they’ll stick around for all of MidPoint).

On Sept. 28, Superdrag’s singer/songwriter/guitarist John Davis will be the “artist keynote” for MidPoint (following past keynotes by Bootsy Collins and Greg Dulli). Davis will participate in an “artist’s conversation” segment (like Dulli and Collins). Yours truly gets the honor of conducting the live interview. John has seen the music biz from many different angles — he's been on a major label and an indie label, explored the Christian music market and does sound and session work in Nashville today. He should have lots of insight for the aspiring musicians assembled.

For the Sept.28 pre-party, Forget Cassettes — a local Indie favorite based in Nashville — performs. The Art Rock band concocts hovering sheets of noise and melody and is a riveting presence in a live setting.

Attendance is limited, so those interested in going to the pre-party are advised to arrive early. You will need a three-day MPMF pass to attend.

Tomorrow, MidPoint announces the unsigned acts picked to showcase. Check here to see who made the cut.

(photo: superdrag.com)

— Mike Breen

Comments

[bobestes]

If they want to take it to the next level, they need to integrate bands like Superdrag (and bigger) into the festival much more than they already do.

There's a middle ground between doing it SXSW-style (which is inaccessible) and having a mix that has a little more starpower.

[Daniele]

Holy crap. Best news ever. Superdrag!!!