MidPoint Music Festival

MidPoint Music Festival
Generic logo for MidPoint Music Festival
Genre	Alternative Rock, Indie Rock
Dates	September 23–25, 2016
Location(s)	Cincinnati, Ohio
Years active	2002–present
Website
www.mpmf.com

MidPoint Music Festival (MPMF) launched in 2001 in Cincinnati, Ohio, as an independent music festival and industry conference. The annual three-day event occurs each September in the city's downtown and historic Over-the-Rhine entertainment district. Founded by Cincinnati musicians Bill Donabedian and Sean Rhiney, the festival was acquired in 2008 by Cincinnati CityBeat, a weekly alternative newspaper.

The festival has expanded since CityBeat acquired it. The estimated attendance in 2008 was 13,500. This doubled to 27,000 people in 2012. This is partly due to the larger bands booked and the large outdoor space available for headliners at the newly renovated Washington Park in Over-the-Rhine.

Though the festival used to take place in various locations throughout the greater Cincinnati region (including one venue in Newport, KY), it is now condensed to downtown and Over-the-Rhine, a burgeoning arts district just north of the downtown Cincinnati business district.

Most artists playing at MidPoint are alternative rock, indie rock, bluegrass, soul and singer-songwriters.

The festival changed its format to be concentrated on 4 stages in parking lots in Over-the-Rhine. Over 75 bands are scheduled to perform. Bands included: Future Islands; Band of Horses; JJ Grey & Mofro; Tokyo Police Club; Reggie Watts; Lucero; Houndmouth; Antibalas; Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls; Carseat Headrest; Wolf Parade; Frightened Rabbit; Kamasi Washington; Bob Mould