As we approach day one of Midpoint Music Fest, which starts in just 36 hours or so, there’s not much to be said about MPMF that hasn’t been said already. The festival is one of the city’s finest assets. Not only does the festival nurture local artists but it attracts three crucial types of headliners: up-and-coming buzz bands (Washed Out, Unknown Mortal Orchestra), solid top bill acts (Deerhoof, Gang Gang Dance) and seasoned veterans who have made a significant impact on today’s music (Booker T. Jones, Man or Astro-Man?).

I’m so excited for the 10th annual MPMF and I am stoked to share my picks for the upcoming weekend. In addition to the wealth of amazing music, don’t forget to check out the other events MPMF has to offer. Artworks has teamed up with MPMF to offer The Midpoint Midway, a street festival and carnival featuring games, art and more by some of the city’s most creative collectives. And did you hear Busken Bakery is giving away 10,000 doughnuts? Seriously, this festival just went from great to off-the-charts-can’t-handle-so-much-radness.

Thursday:

6:15-7:00 – Bro. Stephen (Segway Room – 1150 Vine St.)
Part of the Unofficial MPMF Day Party hosted by BrokenMic.com
I absolutely adore Brother Stephen’s earthy, melancholy folk. If you miss him at the Broken Mic day party, catch his set at Mr. Pitiful’s that night.

7:30 pm The Seedy Seeds (SCPA – Corbet Theater)
Watch: The cutest music video filmed in a truck you’ll ever see

9:00 pm The Ridges (Cincinnati Club Room) vs. Kaki King (SCPA – Mayerson Theater)
Listen: The Ridges totally recorded their album in an abandoned asylum

9:15 pm Bro. Stephen (Mr. Pitiful’s)

9:30 pm The Joy Formidable (Grammers Deweys Pizza Main Stage)

10:00 pm The Madison Square Gardeners (Blue Wisp King Records Room) vs. Yawn (Below Zero Lounge)
Read: ENS sings the praises of Yawn (which are totally deserved, btw)

10:30 pm Tristen (Know Theater on the Biore Strip – Main Stage)
Read: MPMF loves the ladies

11:00 pm Beat Connection (MOTR)

11:30 pm The Town Monster (Below Zero) vs. Those Darlins (Cincinnati Club Room)

12:00 am The Dodos (vitaminwater Room)
I can’t say much for the Dodos new album, but Visiter was my jam in 2008. “Fools” on repeat, e’ry day.
Watch: “Fools” on the liveDaily session

12:30 am The Pass – Below Zero
If you’ve survived the first night of MPMF, congrats! Reward yourself by dancing till you puke at Below Zero with Louisville’s best new band, The Pass.

Most excited about: All the bands? Am I allowed to say that? There are a lot of bands listed on Friday that I’m not terribly familiar with so I’m excited to discover some new music.
Bummed I have to miss: The Ridges at the Cincinnati Club. Alas, I just can’t deny my love for female-driven guitar rock so I’m opting for Kaki King.

Friday

5:00 The Black Owls (Southpaw Prints)
Part of the Unofficial MPMF Day Party hosted by BrokenMic.com

8:00 pm Viva Voce (Grammers Deweys Pizza Main Stage)

8:30 pm Astro Fang (Media Bridges) vs. Unknown Mortal Orchestra (SCPA – Corbett Theater)
I’ll see you at Unknown Mortal Orchestra, but for those who prefer their rock ‘n’ roll more aggressive and face-melting over psychedelic and poppy, I highly recommend Astro Fang.
Listen: Unknown Mortal Orchestra on Daytrotter

9:00 pm The Low Anthem (SCPA – Mayerson Theater)

9:30 pm Cheyenne Marie Mize (Know Theater on the Biore Strip – Main Stage) vs. Okkervil River (Grammers Deweys Pizza Main Stage) vs. Toro y Moi (SCPA – Corbett Theater

11:00 pm Xiu Xiu (Artworks on the Biore Strip)
11:30 pm Booker T. Jones (Cincinnati Club) vs. for Algernon (Media Bridges)
11:45 pm Deerhoof (Know Theater on the Biore Strip – Main Stage)
12:00 am Gang Gang Dance (vitaminwater Room)
I’m just going to ignore the fact that four of my most anticipated bands are all scheduled within 60 minutes. Here’s to hoping I stumble across the answer to time travel by Friday.
Read: Each Note Secure interviews Deerhoof

12:30 am Asobi Seksu (Below Zero) vs. STRFKR (MOTR) vs. Delicate Steve (The Drinkery)
Watch: STRFKR totally loves LARPing

STRFKR – “Julius” from Consequence of Sound on Vimeo.

Most excited about: Booker T. Jones and Deerhoof
Bummed I have to miss: either Booker T. Jones or Deerhoof…unless I find a Delorean parked on Main Street, there’s no way I’ll be able to catch both. Why, festival gods, why must you torture me?

Saturday:

12:15 pm The Capstan Shafts
1:15 pm Total Babes
2:15 pm Cheyenne Marie Mize
3:15 pm Nerves Junior (VitaminWater Room)
Part of the Official MPMF Day Party hosted by Each Note Secure

Listen: No, seriously, have you heard Nerves Junior’s new album yet? Easily of my favorite releases of the year.

7:30 pm The Receiver (SCPA – Corbett Theater)

8:00 pm Bella Ruse (SCPA – Mayerson Theater) vs. Washed Out (Grammers Deweys Pizza Main Stage)

Fun fact: As an MPMF submissions judge, I gave Bella Ruse one of the highest scores I have ever given out (apparently, I am an elitist jerk). Washed Out may be attracting lots of attention, but are they as adorable as this Minnesota-based folk-pop couple?
Watch: Bella Ruse adds 1,000 cute points with kazoos

8:30 The Dukes Are Dead (VitaminWater Room)

9:00 pm Vandaveer (MOTR)

9:30 pm Cut Copy (Grammers Deweys Pizza Main Stage) vs. The Album Leaf (SCPA – Corbett Theater)
Watch: Apparently, if I blink then I’ll miss a revolution

10:30 pm Milano (Main Event ICB Stage)
There’s no shame in admitting you love pop music, and Milano is unabashedly pop, so go ahead and say it: you love Milano. The Chicago natives take the upbeat pop stylings of Rufus Wainwright and Sondre Lerche and add strings and synthesizers, creating beautiful and catchy pop tunes with a folk twist.
Listen: Mmm, Milano. No, not the cookie (but equally enjoyable)

11:00 pm Tallahassee (Arnold’s Bar and Grill)
Listen: Jealous Hands LP, streamed in full, in all its folk rootsy goodness

11:30 pm Nerves Junior (Below Zero Lounge)
Watch: Nerves Junior’s debut music video “Kale”

12:00 am Man or Astro-Man? (vitaminwater Room)
How does this description of the band (found on their Facebook page) not make you love them? “In all earnestness, you could say Man or Astro-Man? was far more influenced by college football [MoAM are from Alabama where people live and breathe football] and muscle-bound fraternity loons than science fiction. The band propelled itself, especially in the live setting, to be as ridiculous as possible, mocking serious “alternative” acts and, along with them, the music industry itself. On a potential early signing opportunity by Island Records, Man or Astro-Man? told the label they would sign only if they agreed to get rid of the Traffic back catalogue and lose the ‘palm tree’ logo.”

12:30 am The Bright Light Social Hour (Blue Wisp King Records Room) vs. Prussia (The Drinkery)
I was given explicit instructions to make sure I see The Bright Light Social Hour “…unless [I’d] rather [my] face not melt off.”
Watch: Four dudes in extremely close quarters getting weird with it

Most excited about: The ENS day party, duh! Man or Astro Man should be pretty good too.
Bummed I have to miss: Washed Out…just because, I don’t know, people say they’re good.

- Caitlin Behle is a senior contributor at Each Note Secure and will be giving a full play-by-play of her MPMF antics via Twitter – follow her @cutelin.

About Joe Long

Joe started ENS in 2003 after most people he wanted to talk to about music were worn thin by his ramblings. The outlet this site provided helped out, and somehow is still going 9 years later. After a four year stint as a WOXY DJ, Joe returned to Cincinnati and continues to pioneer ENS. In addition to the overall look and feel of the site, Joe provides regular reviews, and kinda makes sure this whole thing stays afloat.