The OTR edition of Cincy Summer Streets will be happening on the Saturday of MPMF. Should be something cool for visitors to Cincy to check out.

First night of MidPoint is tonight!

 

My highlights are: Bailiff, Good Graeff, The Ridges, American Wrestlers, and Bully

 

 

 

 

 

They really have a solid lineup this year.  The newly renamed Jr Jr has a free show starting at 6 today - they are pretty entertaining.

Had a blast this yr! My faves were hana, purity ring, vinyl williams, zola jesus, multimagic and tune-yards

It was a fun year (though I'd argue that 2012 still was the best year of the whole event).  The craft fair could have used some work, and they need to get back to having alternative events elsewhere in the city during the day that support the festival - the segway shop and Rhinegeist got it, but it would be nice to see more.  I brought a friend from Chicago, who really enjoys the architecture and hidden gems of the city which I showed during the day.

 

I like the day change, made it easier to get down without disruption to work, however Sunday really brought home something Cincinnati needs to change if it wants to get with the 21st century - Restaurants should be open in OTR on Sunday - a shocking number of them are closed.  This is the hippest most with it neighborhood in the city and that makes no sense.  I know that everyone deserves a rest day, but Cincy should join the rest of the north and make that day Monday which typically has less business than Sunday does and it fiscally makes more sense to close down stuff on that day.  The only reason to continue to close on Sunday is to cling on to an old tradition that in a lot of the rest of the country is not there.  We pretty much had to eat up by the University just to get decent food because very few places in OTR were open (only the stuff owned by the Bakersfield guys, which luckily are now 3 restaurants were open - though their wait times were inflated because well, nothing else was open).

 

Also Chris Witterich from the Business Courier noted that the crowds seemed kind of sparse, did anyone else note this?

I actually thought the crowds were surprisingly strong. During the Purity Ring set at Washington Park I saw a band at Mr. Pitiful's. I was worried it was going to be me and 3 other people. The place was packed, though. I was really glad to see that.

 

There were long lines outside of some of the bars on Main Street to end Friday and Saturday. There was a good crowd for the last set Sunday night at Mr. Pitiful's despite ending around 12:45am. Tune-yards brought a strong crowd despite the late night Sunday start as well. I thought the attendance was pretty good even though the headliners weren't as big as previous years.

 

The only issue right now is the Taft Theater Ballroom, which, while a great sized venue, is a little too far from the other venues. Hopefully Memorial Hall can permanently replace the Taft since it's more centrally located.

 

I liked the gazebo stage at Washington Park and hopefully they can stack that stage a little better next year. The Jr. Jr. show was really crowded and created a good atmosphere.

Yeah the gazebo stage was one of my favorite things this year - great to see it being used for what it was made for at this festival.  I love it when a midpoint venue makes the band talk about how crazy the venue - JR JR talked about how they felt like they were at a zoo by playing there.  It was just like last year when Gardens and Villa said they felt like they were General Grant delivering a speech to Union troops when at Memorial Hall.

 

Also love hearing the bands genuinely complementing the city, noting how beautiful the architecture is - you can tell its beyond the normal working the crowd too...  This does a ton to both raise the self esteem of Cincinnatians and raise the profile through word of mouth about the city around the country.

 

There is the pygmalion festival in Champaign-Urbana the same weekend which is a lot closer for me, but I'd argue midpoint is competitive due to its setting - a typical middle-of-the-cornfield college town can't beat OTR for this kind of music festival.  Midpoint needs to continue to think bigger and work to accommodate tourists and bands as much as possible (like having more low cost hotel options - I heard complaints from bands about there being no good cheap places to stay - no hostels and a lot of the Airbnbs in Cincy overcharge).

 

Also, to my understanding, the streetcar will be up and running in time for the festival next year!

Soapbox surveys MidPoint as well as the two other major, in-the-basin festivals in September.

 

http://www.soapboxmedia.com/features/092915-soapdish-casey-coston-september-festivals.aspx?utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=Soapdish%3a+A+September+of+festivals+to+remember&utm_content=%7bEmail_Address%7d&utm_campaign=Working+together+to+solve+problems

Also, to my understanding, the streetcar will be up and running in time for the festival next year!

 

If the Taft and Arnold's are still being used as venues next year, I hope MPMF promotes using the streetcar as a way to get between venues. They could do this by putting a map on the back of the schedule labeling the "best" streetcar stop to use for each venue. Even cooler would be adding Rhinegeist or Findlay Market as venues. Maybe the vacant lot at the corner of Elm & Liberty (formerly the Findlay Market Farm) could be used as an outdoor venue as well.

 

I was a disappointed that Arnold's did not go "all in" on MPMF. It was difficult to watch shows there because they did not remove any of the tables and there was not really anywhere to stand. In fact, they were still seating people in the courtyard for dinner until the first band of the night started. So it was a confusing mix of people just trying to enjoy their dinner and people there to watch bands at a music festival.

Unless Rhinegeist gets a separate room that is conducive to bands, I hope they aren't a MidPoint location.

 

Also, it is really far for anyone not using the streetcar. I hope they make it tighter next year, not more spread out. That would just be another venue I don't want to go to because it's too far.

 

They should add Memorial Hall again, lose Taft Theater, and add back Below Zero and/or The Know Theater.

Yea I liked how alot was in main and sycamore area. I was surprised at the crowd for zola jesus, thought people wouldnt come to the taft for that since it was so far. I realized it really isnt that far though, walked like 11 blocks to get there in 10-15 min.

Zola Jesus was great. The crowd was pretty sparse right when the show started. I think a lot of people underestimated how long of a walk it is even though it isn't too far. I used Redbike to get to the Taft from Moerlein and it worked pretty well (used the Kroger station).

 

They could add a couple of Redbike stations to promote usage in the basin still. The biggest problem was a lack of a station at the southern end of Washington Park. One at Moerlein would also have been nice. I know they built a pad for a station in Grant Park. Putting one by the Shell Station would be good too.

Unless Rhinegeist gets a separate room that is conducive to bands, I hope they aren't a MidPoint location.

 

 

What about when their rooftop is complete? :D

 

 

The redbikes needed to be somewhat closer to Arnolds.  Not a problem for a Chicagoan who is used to walking the equivalent of at least 5 Cincinnati basin blocks every day just to get from place to place but it could be a deterant to Cincinnatians espicially those who insist on driving from Main Street to Wash park O_o

I still think the distance is a problem.

 

And honestly, they like doing their own thing anyway. During Bockfest they release Saber Tooth Tiger and pretend Bockfest doesn't exist. During Oktoberfest they have their own Franztoberfest.

I still think the distance is a problem.

 

And honestly, they like doing their own thing anyway. During Bockfest they released Saber Tooth Tiger and pretend Bockfest doesn't exist. During Oktoberfest they have their own Franztoberfest.

 

To my understanding (if all goes to schedule) the streetcar will be a factor, that should help with distance issues.

 

One other observation - now that the core is getting populated again Cincinnatians need to start driving like they are in a big city - the slow driving drove me nuts - lots of unecessary traffic jams due to tepid drivers - I'm concerned about the streetcar getting stuck for this reason.

I still think the distance is a problem.

 

And honestly, they like doing their own thing anyway. During Bockfest they released Saber Tooth Tiger and pretend Bockfest doesn't exist. During Oktoberfest they have their own Franztoberfest.

 

To my understanding (if all goes to schedule) the streetcar will be a factor, that should help with distance issues.

 

One other observation - now that the core is getting populated again Cincinnatians need to start driving like they are in a big city - the slow driving drove me nuts - lots of unecessary traffic jams due to tepid drivers - I'm concerned about the streetcar getting stuck for this reason.

 

^Disagree. Slow driving downtown makes it safer for pedestrians, Redbikes & horse carriages. The trend is towards slowing things down- "20's Plenty" movements are afoot in cities in the UK.  I do hope all modes of transportation will be deferential to the streetcar and get out of the way though. 

In an ideal world the streetcar would have dedicated lanes...

I think there will be times when the streetcar is clogged in a logjam, but that will be limited to rush hours and special events.  95% of the time it will run on schedule.  The major frustration will be getting four of the five streetcars in operation consistently while Cranley continues to harass the project.   

I can't take it any longer. jmecklenborg withholding his annual criticism of the latest Bunbury lineup. What's the hold up!??!

 

We talking Mudcrutch, MUDCRUTCH!!

 

Yeah well the good news is that with the shrunken format there are fewer mediocre bands with dumb names to complain about.

I know you can't be talking about Diahrea Planet, because they're great. Who doesn't love a band with four lead guitarists?

I actually am a big fan of this line up. Good job, Bunbury!

I actually am a big fan of this line up. Good job, Bunbury!

 

Love the Killers. They put on a great show and Brandon Flowers is a great front man. Saw him solo at The Wiltern in September promoting his excellent solo record The Desired Effect.

MidPoint Music Fest sold, poised to grow

 

[New MPMF owner] MEMI is no stranger to the local and national music scenes. A subsidiary of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the company produces more than 250 events at its venues: Riverbend Music Center and PNC Pavilion, Taft Theatre and The Ballroom at the Taft, and The Rose Music Center (located in Huber Heights, Ohio). It has also produced festivals such as Lumenocity, Cincy-Cinco, The Ohio River Throwdown and Tall Stacks.

Not sure what to make of this... Mcabe had a good ear to the ground on what was going on with music plus If they get rid of the multivenue format I'm out. I loved how it highlighted the growth of otr and would have been a fantastic demo of the streetcar.

Yeah, MPMF is one of my favorite weekends of the year in Cincinnati, and if the style of the festival shifts dramatically from what it's been I'll likely stop going. If they focus on bringing in bigger headliners rather than finding new and upcoming bands, they'll lose the appeal they had.

However I did feel that MPMF didn't grow as much last year as I think it has potential to grow.  I would like this festival to take its strengths but then leverage them to make themselves stand out a bit more and give Cincinnati more exposure nationally - I don't think they were at that point just yet.

I am thinking that CityBeat just didn't have enough resources to put on MPMF by themselves anymore, so they got help. Nothing wrong with that as long as there are no drastic changes to the festival itself.

MEMI was handling a lot of services for MPMF already.

The best part of MPMF is the use of multiple existing venues throughout a vibrant neighborhood. Once Memorial Theater is done with renovation it will be perfect to have an epicenter near Washington Park with the main stage and "village there, with other venues spread throughout OTR. I think Taft ballroom is too far away from the other venues, and hopefully in the future the Emery theater could be added again.

The Emery was a mindblowing venue.

 

I love how "Gardens & Villia" said they felt like they were General Grant when they were at Memorial Hall. 

So, for 2016, the new organizers of MPMF have decided to stop having the festival in random venues throughout the neighborhood and instead set up 4 stages in the parking lots near Alumni Lofts.

 

 

???

That's going to really kill the mood of the festival. It being at random venues spread throughout the neighborhood was the biggest appeal in my mind. You got a really great variety of types of shows that way and it moved people around which was awesome. Now they'll be confined to...a parking lot...

I agree this is bad for the festival. It now will be like any other festival where you're herded between Stage A and Stage B buying $6 beers in between.

 

It's ironic that the first year the streetcar is in operation that MPMF has contracted to such a small footprint.

^, ^^ I agree - this seems like an absolutely horrible decision. The appeal of MPMF has always been the format. I totally hate the typical festival format for the reasons stated in the post above, so I probably won't go to this for the first time in about 10 years. This move took it from being a unique festival to just being a pretty vanilla one, and they upped the price by about 25% in the process.

Wow, I am really unhappy to hear this, and I am sure many businesses around OTR are unhappy about this as well. Instead of spreading spending customers across multiple bars and venues throughout the neighborhood they are compressing everyone to a parking lot? This seems greedy and stupid, and opens up their concerts to be affected by rain/weather more that in the past. Is this a one time deal because venues like Memorial Hall and Emery can't be used? Washington Park is a beautiful venue, not to mention the fact that it is much more comfortable to stand on grass all day instead of asphalt.

 

I will finish with this quote from Midpoint's own website in the 'about' section. "For three days each fall, fans can walk easily between venues dotted throughout beautiful, resurgent Over-the-Rhine. This collection of young creative talent amongst an architecturally rich urban setting makes MidPoint a one-of-a-kind experience."

Yeah, I agree. I am trying to look at the bright side, but what I loved about MPMF was walking around to different venues to see a wide variety of bands. It was cool to see shows in bars and music venues I don't normally go to. Not to mention that at its peak, MPMF had 25 participating venues, and now they're down to just 4 stages. It really seems like the new owners just bought the name and are having a completely different type of festival using that name.

Wow, I am really unhappy to hear this, and I am sure many businesses around OTR are unhappy about this as well. Instead of spreading spending customers across multiple bars and venues throughout the neighborhood they are compressing everyone to a parking lot? This seems greedy and stupid, and opens up their concerts to be affected by rain/weather more that in the past. Is this a one time deal because venues like Memorial Hall and Emery can't be used? Washington Park is a beautiful venue, not to mention the fact that it is much more comfortable to stand on grass all day instead of asphalt.

 

I'm pretty sure it has more to do with the new owners wanting to make all the money off of alcohol sales. Under the old format, the venues did not give a cut of alcohol sales to MPMF.

That format wasn't sustainable in the long run, and the ticket prices needed a price hike for this to be a worth while venture.

 

All music festivals essentially take place in a big empty space. The lots, while not as unique, make sense. At the end of the day, the popularity of Midpoint won't be based on the various locations (while cool, it's not the reason why people will travel down all the way from say Chicago, St.Louis, Florida, NYC, etc...It's the quality of the music acts. Whose performing means everything to these music festivals.

 

 

So far the lineup seems quite a bit of a step up compared to last years.

I disagree completely. Atmosphere is exceptionally important to live shows. Festivals crammed into big ugly open spaces are never as enjoyable. You don't have any numbers to back up your claim the old format wasn't sustainable either. This move is, as others have pointed out, one that comes from wanting the new owners to reap all the benefits of the festival and its associated alcohol sales.

I was really bummed that I had to miss Midpoint for my brother's wedding this year when they announced the date. Now, I don't care. I might be bummed to miss a couple of acts, but this festival has always been about bringing the community together to focus on music, and now, it's just an empty lot with a couple of stages. I could get that anywhere. The atmosphere of Midpoint's past has always been the big draw for me in addition to the great lineups they get. Wandering into a random bar at 1am to check out a band I have never heard of has always been fun, and some of my favorite bands have been found that way.

 

My two favorite weekends in Cincinnati have always been Midpoint and Bockfest. I'd rather be at Bunbury down on the riverfront park than in a parking lot.

Not only are there less total venues, but since many Midpoint shows were indoors they could play much later as well. Last year shows were starting at or past midnight, which really is better than a 2 in the afternoon time slot where the crowd and artist and light show aren't really into it. I once saw M83 at Pitchfork in a day time set, and they were mediocre. I just saw them last night at Bogarts with proper sound, lights, and a lively crowd and they were 10 times better. This sucks for consumers of good quality music in Cincinnati, period.

You guys are acting like the lots are in suburban park in mason.

 

The lots will be filled with people, and the backdrop will be beautiful churches and historic architecture everywhere. I don't see the issue honestly, at least the atmosphere comment. Yes it's a lot, but the backdrop will still be beautiful regardless.

But you lose that "actually immersed within the community that you're visiting" atmosphere. A backdrop isn't the same as actually moving between real businesses, running into people who aren't also at the festival, going to cultural institutions, etc. It's nowhere near the same.

Well, I'm officially not attending MidPoint this year, for the first time in probably 5 or 6 years.  I'm not really into music (which my friends find to be an insane position to hold); I just like the atmosphere and jumping between venues, especially ones that aren't accessible on a daily basis like the Emery, Memorial Hall, or the basement of The Phoenix.  That's a bummer.  I always look forward to that weekend.  Sigh.

This was the appeal of MPMF:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But you lose that "actually immersed within the community that you're visiting" atmosphere. A backdrop isn't the same as actually moving between real businesses, running into people who aren't also at the festival, going to cultural institutions, etc. It's nowhere near the same.

 

Totally agree.  I remember several of the bands commenting with a sense of reverence about how amazing the venue was when they played Memorial Hall 2 years ago.  It was notable because of how genuinely surprised and pleased they were.  Now they'll be in a parking lot.  Sorry guys.

 

//EDIT:  Added 2 photos from Memorial Hall that year.  There's something I just loved about a girl with pink hair fronting a band on that stage.  Very cool.

Ugh.

I hate multi-stage, multi-venue music festivals.  The concertgoers don't have a common experience.  Also, any festival suffers from a rigid schedule, and real rock & roll is not a regimented activity.  Also, few festivals, aside from Bonarroo and the others out in the middle of nowhere, are able to play late.  At 2003 I saw Marilyn Manson play at 4pm, in full summer sunlight.  I don't want to see that guy take the stage before midnight. 

If alcohol sales were the driving factor, then the organizers could have / should have worked out different revenue sharing agreements with the venues.