Then they will never get my business again.

 

I hate these guys so much as they killed something that IMO could have been a boon for tourists to Cincy.

Was really disappointed with format and lineup this year have gone last 4 yrs, not going this year.

I'd like to know why the lineup is disappointing. I've discovered a lot of great music this weekend - both local and national - thanks to MidPoint.

I've been checking Twitter all weekend to see what people are saying about MPMF and the new format seems to be widely disliked. They official MPMF account did respond to a few people and say that they are "committed" to the new format, so don't expect it to change back to the bar format of previous years.

 

I've been doing the same thing, and I haven't seen nearly as much chatter about MPMF this year as I have in previous years. I'd love to see some attendance and ticket sales figures for this year versus last year. They had perfect weather, so at least there's that.  I skipped this year because I don't like the new format. First time in 6 years that I didn't get a 3 day pass.  I see no reason for MPMF and Bunburry to both exist with such similar formats in a city this size. It just feels redundant.

Midpoint was always one of my favorite weekends of the year, and I'm not going this year. Considering going down to try to hear Band of Horses from a parking garage or something, but this new format totally killed all that was cool about Midpoint. Walking through OTR at midnight and seeing people walking about everywhere was so cool. The tent stages that they'd set up at Grammers or Moerlein gave a real unique but still distinctly music festival vibe. The organizers really ruined Cincy's chance at creating a distinct festival that could really blow up ala SxSW.

Was really disappointed with format and lineup this year have gone last 4 yrs, not going this year.

I'd like to know why the lineup is disappointing. I've discovered a lot of great music this weekend - both local and national - thanks to MidPoint.

I've always been more into the electronic or more experimental bands that I've seen a lot of there in the last few years. Was really interested in the afro beat and jazz stuff that was going to be there this year but didn't feel was worth 50 bucks a day for that and local bands that I like and can see anytime of the year. Last year there were literally 10 bands I wanted to see each of the 3 days, this year there were 3-4 on Fri and 2 Sat. I forgot I was pissed to see they didn't have any passes/tickets for single venues they have in the past because I would have done that on Sat if it had been available.

Also, just want to point out that I'm not trying to be a hater. I want Midpoint to succeed and I don't want MEMI to lose money on it. Almost everyone seems to agree that there are a lot of great bands playing this year. The problem is entirely with the new format, and it's too bad that MEMI is digging in their heels and saying "we're committed to the new format" instead of listening to the feedback people are giving them.

 

What I don't really understand is why they didn't use the Woodward as one of their venues. They already have Sycamore closed down between 12th and 14th, so they easily could have closed down 14th between Main and Sycamore and incorporated the Woodward. If they moved one of the two main stages to the Woodward, they could have minimized the overlap between the main stage area and the WNKU stage and eliminated the sound bleed, which seemed to be the biggest issue.

I think the lineup is great, which is the only reason I reluctantly bought my 3 day pass despite the format change. Even if you forget the way this festival used to be set up, it's just a poorly run event. There is no shade, only hard hot asphalt to stand on so you can't bring a blanket and sit, the stages are on a higher elevation than the audience which is the opposite of ever venue ever and gives bad sight lines, the wnku stage is too close to the main stages leading to poor sound and making quieter bands or acoustic moments all but impossible, the two main stages overlap so much that if one band goes over time (a poultry 45 minutes for most) it delays everyone else the rest of the night, the set up makes sound checks very difficult which is visibly pissing off many artists and sound techs, there is a huge police roadblock on sycamore right outside the entrance which creates a pinch point so all the people at the festival have to squeeze through a 5 foot gap to get to the food area, the food area is open to non ticket holders so some (smart) people are just standing there to watch shows for free and panhandlers are all over the street and in the crowds (including one guy who had a sign that read "punch me in the face for $5, I'm that desperate" which was horrible and depressing), but most of all it is just an ugly unwelcoming location. If we can't go back to the old format, can we at least go back to Washington park or somewhere that feels like a real place that has shade and soft surfaces? I will be staying far away from this clusterf*ck next year unless they make some huge changes or get daft punk to headline. Even great bands like car seat headrest an wolf parade sound like S**t when you put them in a PARKING LOT.

 

Edit: sorry I just realized I posted a drunk version of this last night up thread.

Midpoint was always one of my favorite weekends of the year, and I'm not going this year. Considering going down to try to hear Band of Horses from a parking garage or something, but this new format totally killed all that was cool about Midpoint. Walking through OTR at midnight and seeing people walking about everywhere was so cool. The tent stages that they'd set up at Grammers or Moerlein gave a real unique but still distinctly music festival vibe. The organizers really ruined Cincy's chance at creating a distinct festival that could really blow up ala SxSW.

 

I am in the same boat as you. I also might head down to watch Band of Horses - I watched some shows Friday night from the parking garage on Sycamore (the one with a Subway in the bottom) and had a good time. From the sound of it, the view from the garage was better than the view the paid audience gets.

 

Also, just want to point out that I'm not trying to be a hater. I want Midpoint to succeed and I don't want MEMI to lose money on it. Almost everyone seems to agree that there are a lot of great bands playing this year. The problem is entirely with the new format, and it's too bad that MEMI is digging in their heels and saying "we're committed to the new format" instead of listening to the feedback people are giving them.

 

What I don't really understand is why they didn't use the Woodward as one of their venues. They already have Sycamore closed down between 12th and 14th, so they easily could have closed down 14th between Main and Sycamore and incorporated the Woodward. If they moved one of the two main stages to the Woodward, they could have minimized the overlap between the main stage area and the WNKU stage and eliminated the sound bleed, which seemed to be the biggest issue.

 

The crowd for Future Islands (which I viewed from above) looked tiny, and that was their biggest headliner. I think the organizers thought they were going to fill that entire parking lot up, given their layout. If so, they were at about 1/10 of what they expected. There were bigger crowds at Washington Park last year, and those shows had anywhere from 5-10 simultaneous shows going on. Future Islands was the only show at the time Friday.

 

If they are so dedicated to this format that they try it again next year, I don't think we'll see many more iterations of MPMF.

Well I flew the drone over MPMF today and the crowds appeared to be quite light. This was at 2:00 on Sunday and does not show the crowd at the free stage so take it with a grain of salt. But very few people at the three paid stages.

 

If you don't want to go to MPMF (or even if you do), go to our adjacent Fiesta de la Zarigüeya: Music & Beer Festival in Pendleton. Basically we are in the pocket park uphill from the WNKU stage. Great sight lines despite the screen (because, well, uphill). $50 for three days gets you all the Rhinegeist you want. $25 for a night. Even if you do go to MPMF, it's cheaper to drink over here. And the park is way more pleasant. Right across from Cafe Urbana and Nation.

 

Noel and Travis spotted at the Fiesta. We'll have three kegs of Rhinegheist today.

 

Can confirm.

 

Sunday was the only night I was interested in and seemed to be a pretty solid crowd. When running out to get a drink before band of horses lots of folks coming in with purchased tickets still. While I've enjoyed many midpoints in the past can we please stop romanticizing how great it was back in the day.  I remember working the door at kaldis and having to turn people away who were just trying to get coffee or a curried chicken burrito and how pissed they would be that they couldn't hang in there neighborhood spot.  Basically people have been complaining about it in every iteration of the many that have existed of mpmf.

Was really disappointed with format and lineup this year have gone last 4 yrs, not going this year.

I'd like to know why the lineup is disappointing. I've discovered a lot of great music this weekend - both local and national - thanks to MidPoint.

I've always been more into the electronic or more experimental bands that I've seen a lot of there in the last few years. Was really interested in the afro beat and jazz stuff that was going to be there this year but didn't feel was worth 50 bucks a day for that and local bands that I like and can see anytime of the year. Last year there were literally 10 bands I wanted to see each of the 3 days, this year there were 3-4 on Fri and 2 Sat. I forgot I was pissed to see they didn't have any passes/tickets for single venues they have in the past because I would have done that on Sat if it had been available.

Okay, that's cool. Just curious what your thoughts were.

Sunday was the only night I was interested in and seemed to be a pretty solid crowd. When running out to get a drink before band of horses lots of folks coming in with purchased tickets still. While I've enjoyed many midpoints in the past can we please stop romanticizing how great it was back in the day.  I remember working the door at kaldis and having to turn people away who were just trying to get coffee or a curried chicken burrito and how pissed they would be that they couldn't hang in there neighborhood spot.  Basically people have been complaining about it in every iteration of the many that have existed of mpmf.

I really do think that the original iteration of MPMF had run its course - and the original founders had one goal in mind when starting MPMF 15 years ago, and that was to help revitalize OTR and the city. I'd say that mission was accomplished a long time ago. Heck, even when CityBeat took over it changed too - actually having nationally known bands play, among other things. Change is inevitable, that's just something we have to accept.

 

I attended two out of three days this year and I had a good time. Are there things MEMI needs to work on? Sure. But for a complete revamp it certainly was not horrible. I'm just glad that there is an event like this that has both national and local acts in Cincinnati.

Totally agreed! It's a bit of Columbus syndrome and "when I discovered it was when it was at its best". with each version it has filled the role that it has needed to fill. I mean I'm not certain what year this would have been,  06 or 07, but nearly every venue was in a closed bar, storefront, etc.  I'd say the midpoint of the last few years is pretty unrecognizable from that!

Exactly. I did really enjoy the format for the past several years though. It was the best of both worlds. We still had big stages at Washington Park and Christian Moerlein, but you could also could sneak away to see an intimate show at Arnold's or MOTR. We had touring national acts but also a ton of local bands.

I went down and watched Band of Horses from the parking garage for $6. Totally worth it. The festival set up looked like a fortress- completely lacking any sort of ambiance at all. There was no art place making type of things anywhere, just a lousy parking lot surrounded by fencing. The 12th Street Midway was always one of my favorite parts of the festival. I loved going to the different trucks and doing the different activities in each. That's totally gone now. It just seems really bland and I'll thought out.

 

There is a way to grow the festival away from some of the smaller bars, while still maintaining the vibe that so many people loved about MPMF. I think a barbell type shape from Washington Park to Ziegler Park (or current parking lot) where you have dual villages and bigger stages in those locations, and other smaller venues like Memorial Hall, some of the bars on Main, etc. I think that'd be pretty cool and keep it authentically MPMF. Something needs to improve over this current set up.

"authentically MPMF"

 

That went out the door a long time ago, along with when bands were judged for MPMF by a panel of local people involved in the Cincinnati music scene via Sonicbids.

 

Just sayin'.

I'm just curious how they plan to stick to this new format when those lots get developed.

 

It's not a sustainable plan in the least bit. This might last for the next few years, but at the rate OTR is getting developed, the whole, "lets find a giant empty lot to host our music festival" will become harder and harder.

 

In my dream scenario it would be potentially awesome to host Midpoint across a future, redeveloped liberty street. It would be really cool to just shut that street down, and sort of host it at the epicenter of OTR, and have a festival after party that sort of intersects through the beginning blocks of Race/Vine/Walnut/Main, as sort of like a giant, in the middle-of-it-all, festival of sorts.

^I could get on board with a Liberty Street MPMF. When I was in San Francisco a few years ago I went to the How Weird street fair. They had a main street closed off and then on the blocks of side streets that intersected it they set up stages. That way they were all in close proximity but each stage was shielded from the next by buildings. It worked really well.

I could get on board with any other location in OTR besides the parking lot they picked, which is technically Pendleton anyway. #MoveMidpoint

"authentically MPMF"

 

That went out the door a long time ago, along with when bands were judged for MPMF by a panel of local people involved in the Cincinnati music scene via Sonicbids.

 

Just sayin'.

 

I don't think that alters the fan experience nearly as much as this format change, though. They shifted from intimate venues that engaged the whole neighborhood to 3 stages in a parking lot. That's a pretty big shift.

I got the VIP pass and have to say it was totally worth it.  As others have mentioned the festival certainly lacked ambience being in a parking lot, but I was there for the music and the fun.  Tokyo Police Club, Future Islands, Bob Mould, Car Seat Headrest, Frightened Rabbit, and Wolf Parade all in two days.  I love Band of Horses and Nada Surf but was just too tired after two big days, but this was a pretty strong lineup.  I wonder if they could somehow utilize Ziegler Park in the future or if they would/could consider Washington Park.

http://www.soapboxmedia.com/features/092716-soapdish-fall-festivals-relocated-mixed-reviews.aspx

 

One person's opinion.

Bunbury announces 2017 lineup

 

 

Bunbury Music Festival announced its all-star 2017 lineup on Tuesday night.

 

Muse, Wiz Khalifa, G-Eazy, Bassnectar and Pretty Lights will headline this year’s festival, which will be held June 2-4 at Sawyer Point and Yeatman’s Cove in downtown Cincinnati.

 

The rest of the lineup includes: The 1975, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Death Cab for Cutie, The Shins, AFI, Jon Bellion, D.R.A.M., Flogging Molly, MUTEMATH, Tech N9ne, Watsky, Mike Stud, Moon Taxi, Reverend Horton Heat, NF, Hayley Kiyoko, Kevin Garrett, Protoje, Eden, Cobi, Arkells, Civil Twilight, CVBZ, San Fermin, July Talk, VHS Collection, Dreamers, Frenship, Charlie Hirsch, White Reaper, CAAMP, Time Cat, The Upset Victory, Liberty Deep Down, Flying Underground and Current Events.

 

More below:

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2017/01/25/bunbury-announces-2017-lineup.html

The MPMF twitter account posted last week that "an announcement will be made when we're ready." My prediction is that they want to use Ziegler Park and Sycamore Street for the festival this year and they are waiting to finalize the details before making an announcement.

The MPMF twitter account posted last week that "an announcement will be made when we're ready." My prediction is that they want to use Ziegler Park and Sycamore Street for the festival this year and they are waiting to finalize the details before making an announcement.

 

I was thinking the same thing. And the Pendleton cranks are already poised for HOWLS of protest/outrage.

I used to plan vacations around MPMF. This year I've already scheduled one for that weekend. Hope it goes back to a format closer to every other year, but I have little hopes for it. I agree Ziegler will probably be the announcement.

I loved the old setup, but anything would be better than the parking lot from last year. I had friends in from out of town who we took down on Saturday, and we only went to the two shows we all really wanted to see, and then went and hung out in OTR bars the rest of the day because it was so unbearably uncomfortable. They loved OTR and had never been to Cincinnati before, but we all agreed that the Midpoint setup last year was embarrassing. The sound still won't be much improved even with a move to Zeigler park, flat outdoor space is just not conducive to good concerts.

 

Bunbury is running a contest called #RedneckBands right now where they're going to give free tickets to the person who comes up with the best "redneck" version of a band playing the festival. One of the examples in the photo above is "Meth Lab for Cutie". This seems a little... odd? tasteless?

The 2017 lineup overall is a bit of a letdown.  The Friday lineup is pretty good and the Sunday lineup has two huge draws with Muse and 30 Seconds to Mars, but that Saturday lineup is anemic.

Cincinnati's underground music festival expected to double in size, add more national acts

 

 

Cincinnati's Ubahn festival started in 2012 to meet an unfilled niche in the Queen City: hip-hop and electronic dance music. Now, five years and three festivals later, Ubahn keeps getting bigger and is drawing major national acts.

 

More below:

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2017/05/03/cincinnatis-underground-music-festival-expected-to.html

Announcement coming June 28...

Announcement coming June 28...

 

An announcement of the bands or if its, you know, going to happen at all?

New guys who run this have been pretty bad at community relations.  Look at their twitter.  Also there would have at least been some kind of peep out of them by the end of may under the old ownership.

 

I don't see the festival having many more years to go.  Way to go old school Cincy for doing what you do best.... :/

Announcement coming June 28...

 

An announcement of the bands or if its, you know, going to happen at all?

 

When Midpoint dies off I'll pick up the slack...I was trying to find a park shelter to reserve recently and discovered that you can rent out the Bellevue Hill Shelter and potentially throw a 5,000 person event there (has not been done since the 1950s).  So coming in 2018...3 Doors Down Fest. 

 

Way too many people will show up to that unironically. And they won't be cool

Way too many people will show up to that unironically. And they won't be cool

 

http://www.thedailybeast.com/meet-the-hero-who-duped-ohio-into-believing-limp-bizkit-was-having-a-concert-at-a-gas-station

 

'nuff said hahahahaha.

^A friend of mine's son went to that. Ironically.

Announcement coming June 28...

 

An announcement of the bands or if its, you know, going to happen at all?

 

When Midpoint dies off I'll pick up the slack...I was trying to find a park shelter to reserve recently and discovered that you can rent out the Bellevue Hill Shelter and potentially throw a 5,000 person event there (has not been done since the 1950s).  So coming in 2018...3 Doors Down Fest.

 

I randomly picked a date, I hope you aren't busy that weekend as once it is immortalized in a crappy promo poster it cant be changed :laugh:

^That would be me jumping the day after losing $50,000 on the event. 

It would be like Jake's version of Fyre Fest.

It would be like Jake's version of Fyre Fest.

 

Can we call it Desdemona II?

MPMF announced their initial lineup:

 

http://www.citybeat.com/music/article/20866053/onthemove-midpoint-music-festival-announces-initial-2017-lineup

 

Instead of last year's sea of parking lots, this year it will be held in the Taft theater and surrounding streets. Weekend passes are all the way up to $115.

It's cool that they'll be using the Masonic Center! Compared to last year, this seems like a much better location/setup for a music festival, with a mixture of indoor and outdoor spaces.

I'm going to agree that its better than last year setupwise, but its still not a festival that would bring me down from Chicago like the old format was ;).

 

On the old format they could have gotten walk the moon to play in the mockbee to reenact their old music video ;)

The change to a more established venue like Taft, as well as the main headliner being a more mainstream pop band (albeit a local one), really solidifies that I no longer care about Midpoint, and that my former favorite weekend in Cincinnati is officially gone and in the past. I hope it's successful, but the difference between this and Bunbury is now becoming so slim that I don't see how both are necessary.

So they're down to just three stages now. And the emphasis on up-and-coming bands is completely gone. This is a completely different type of festival than the old format, which had as many as 25 different venues at its peak. Now, that was starting to get a little out of hand, since the venues were not even within walking distance of each other. But in 2012 they were down to 16 venues, mostly in OTR with a few in the CBD. The whole point was that you could use your same wristband to wander into a bunch of different places a see a wide variety of bands. Now it's no different than any other music festival. Bleh.

The change to a more established venue like Taft, as well as the main headliner being a more mainstream pop band (albeit a local one), really solidifies that I no longer care about Midpoint, and that my former favorite weekend in Cincinnati is officially gone and in the past. I hope it's successful, but the difference between this and Bunbury is now becoming so slim that I don't see how both are necessary.

 

Retweet. I would have way less issue with this if they would change the name.

 

Is there anyone talking about resurrecting the original concept of MPMF under a new name? Add a lecture/talk/conference/film component.

Hopefully attendance spirals and it just folds. Someone else can resurrect MPMF a few years afterward.  This is no longer a "must attend" event with the new format. It's just a cookie cutter concert weekend now. The term music festival is too generous because there's nothing festival-like about MPMF anymore. Yawn.

 

EDIT: Just noticed that the dates are 9/23 & 9/24 (Saturday & Sunday). No Friday shows?  Lame.

^ Yeah over the course of two years MPMF went from 15+ venues and 3 days of music to one venue with 3 stages, and 2 days of music. The cost for the tickets has nearly doubled, and it moved out of OTR. They should probably change the name as it's just getting confusing at this point.

 

Someone should start another festival and do exactly what MPMF had been doing in years past. The formula worked great and seeing as how MPMF abandoned it, someone else should use it. Woodward and MOTR had an anti-midpoint last year, maybe that will eventually grow into something bigger.