MidPoint Music Festival 2008: Under New Management

If you went to the Web site for the MidPoint Music Festival over the past few weeks, all you saw was this cryptic message: "After six years, everything changes."

So what's the big change? CityBeat is now the proud operator of MPMF, which will return Sept. 25-27. A huge overhaul of the event is underway. Over the course of five years, MidPoint founders Sean Rhiney and Bill Donabedian developed their labor of love into one of the preeminent showcases for unsigned bands in the country. Their dedication to the up-and-coming artist should forever be commended as it has helped Cincinnati's profile as a "music city" in the midst of our current musical renaissance period.

CityBeat will keep true to that initial spirit and also work to broaden the appeal of the fest overall. Unsigned bands will still be a large focus of the event. Any and all artists interested in performing can submit starting later today (or early tomorrow at the latest) at the MPMF Web site.

No more industry panels (at least this year), just music. Over the next few weeks we'll be making further announcements about the fest (keep an eye on this blog), culminating with an event at Below Zero in Over-the-Rhine (the former Alchemize and Cavern locale) on April 9. The Omaha-based band Cursive, members of Connor Oberst's Saddle Creek Records family, will perform at the April 9 launch event.

We would love your input. As a fan/attendee, what would you like to see at MidPoint this year? As a performer/participant, do you have suggestions? Please leave your comments below and help us take MidPoint to the next level.

— Mike Breen

Comments

[Jeff]

Cool news, Mike. I'd suggest making the kick off day for MPMF a celebration of local music. It's always a hard time getting people out the first night, and it has always killed me to see the band that drove 500 miles to play 10pm on a Thursday play to 5 people. So why not make the opening night a local music fest?
JR

[foxyroxy]

This is good news--I had started losing interest in MPMF, because it had gotten a little stale, at least to me--I'd read the schedule, and find the same bands, the same types of bands, etc. every year (not that a lot of those bands weren't good, please don't get me wrong). It seemed that only the first couple of years did they really critically review people's submissions, and then it became "oh, we picked them before, they're in again, or oh, this band sounds like such and such, let's pick them." I hope under CityBeat this changes. No ofense to Sean or Bill--I know they worked very hard to get this thing going, and it is not easy, which is why I'd never even attempt such a thing. But I know them, and I know they can take criticism. We do owe them a debt of gratitude for what they've done for Cincy music.

[The Wheel's Still In Spin]

This is very interesting. MPMF has had its ups and downs with the concertgoers of Cincinnati, it seems. In years past I have heard a lot of people say the festival needs to bring in some bigger names or label showcases. You seem be hinting that Citybeat may take the festival in that direction. I'm excited to see what the changes are going to be and look forward to yet another year of the festival. Congrats to Citybeat and MPMF!

[ZIPPY]

you already know all of this..

broaden the music styles to broaden the appeal to the general public.

work smart - not long! don't try to stuff the festival into a dead area of town that no one goes to and have to setup "tentative venues" since they don't normally exist.. who's benefiting there?? talk about square peg/round hole and working twice as hard. move it to northside where new and established venues already exist and those venues could actually benefit. so what if it's not in downtown "proper"?? city council won't give a crap.

notify/attract specific regional/local labels to bring their "products" to town for exposure in actual showcases.

promote the event thru these labels/artists, on-line through myspace and maybe get some coverage thru that long list of blogs to the right... so that people can sample bands prior to the event and the good word will spread like wildfire.

combine this effort by including woxy.com to specifically help promote and support the music in the midwest region on a global scale as they do by visiting SXSW and other festivals.

create more opportunities by expanding to use ALL the GREAT local resources that already exist.

have "warm up preview show/s" or woxy lounge acts months in advance for select local/regional bands that will be in the event in order to establish the "brand" and location.

[Brian Griffin]

Midpoint wouldn't work in Northside for 4 reasons off the top of my head:

1. There are not enough venues, and none big enough for a big enough crowd.
2. There are not enough venues with sound equipment. Renting 7 or 8 PAs isn't cheap.
3. No one is going to walk to the Comet or Gypsy Hut or Alchimze (if it is set up as a tentative venue.
4. If you want to expand the attendance, you will not do so by having it in Northside. Northside draws a specific audience, not a broad audience. If the audience that goes to Northside will not go downtown 1 weekend year, that says more about them, than about any marketing or planning of the festival.

[Joe]

Many of you know how I feel about Midpoint and I am stoked that City Beat is taking the reigns. The changes I know about sound more than promising and I have been chomping at the bit waiting for this announcement. Congrats to CityBeat! This will take Midpoint to the next level.....

[KK]

Just Have it at Southgate House.

[Luke]

Keep it in OTR. There are plenty of venues, all of which are very receptive to festivals. On top of that, everything fits in a "block" of blocks between Vine and Sycamore from Central to 14th, whereas in Northside every single venue would be on an overlong stretch of Hamilton. You can't walk from Alchemize to the Comet, and driving would kill the festival.

[Shawn Abnoxious]

I TOTALLY agree with the third point by Brian Griffin... I long thought that on certain weekends or whatever (MPMF would be a good one) there should be constant shuttles between venues... This could also foster an enviroment where people would be more apt to drink some $3.50 adult beverages.... Hell, you could get old school busses and maybe even have some sort of entertainment on them. One guy playing guitar, some theatrical students acting out scenes from movies... i dunno. Something where there was nothing.

[Breen]

Thanks for the great suggestions everyone. Many of the things mentioned are either being considered or in the works. Keep 'em coming! This is really helping us shape things up.

For the reasons mentioned above, MidPoint is NOT moving to Northside.

[zippy]

first, i think citybeat getting involved will be great for the festival. i'm excited to see the changes that will be made.
northside has the tavern (which is expanding), gypsy hut, comet, art damage space, blue rock tavern, alchemize among other venues that could be "created"..
i just figured that there were a few years where bands played in tents and other makeshift last minute (crappy, imho) venues that were opened only for the festival. If that much work were to be required, northside would be a viable alternative area given the support that already exists there.

not moving it to northside makes sense too, considering it's been downtown for years and already established there. if you're thinking bigger venues for bigger crowds, then i'm all for that.

shuttles would be a good idea regardless of where it is.. if it will be main st. centered, convincing the city to close main st. to traffic would be brilliant.

[dave p.]

Great news. Congrats to CityBeat for taking the mantle from Sean & Bill. I'll be happy to see the festival grow even bigger and better, and also to see the creation of two friends/bandmates live on.

[sirthought]

Northside is a really bad option compared to Over the Rhine or even downtown

- No parking; OTR has more garages and lots
- Bad access; Northside is harder to drive to for people coming from the burbs and out of town. Unless you go there often its PITA.
- Northside bars, overall, are more crowded and it's harder to see bands perform. Plus, the sound passes, but it is not great.
- Northside is further from hotels

I don't see the problems people have with the OTR venues. They always come together well for an event this large.
- Lose the tent. It's not worth a crappy atmosphere just to have another venue. If you want to have a tent it would be great if there were more food options available.
- Follow JR's advice and don't book out-of-town bands on Thursday unless they are a band that could draw well (good idea for Thursdays)
- Must admit I never traveled to the more distant venues like Poison Room, Arnolds, or Blue Wisp. Didn't seem worth it with other closer options. Would rather have fewer close venues with better bands than more venues trying to fill the bills with a certain genre.
- Don't be afraid to have bands with different styles at the same venue. Even if you like a certain style, people want to move around a bit. Also, the MPMF does NOT need to have all styles available. Find what you're good at and make it the best.
- Don't be afraid of label involvement. We know some of the past bands did have some business backing. Keep bringing in the independent bands and treat them well, but let some labels promote a few of their bands and help the event overall. As long as they don't dominate all the good slots its cool.

I also wonder if doing this downtown might be an option. I know bars around 6th and 7th aren't normally presenting original music, but there are some large bars in walking distance that could accommodate the crowds, are close to hotels and parking, plus have food and culture options nearby.

I liked the music-business sessions, but I'm sure it was a money loser. I'm also guessing shuttles lose money.

I wish the best of luck to CityBeat and look forward to whatever form MidPoint takes.

[Tweeter]

Lots of people in this town will never go and have never gone to Midpoint because they are scared to go to OTR and downtown at night. Those of us who've been to the fest know it's no big deal, but facts are, OTR's reputation is unlikely to change anytime soon..Plus, yes, there are decent crowds now on Fri/Sat, but that's only about as much as the area will support, parking-wise, etc.

I suggest you move it away from OTR, put it in a place where people aren't scared, an area where it will have room to grow. Like, what about Newport, or Newport/shuttle to downtown Cincy?