Cincinnati’s MidPoint Music Festival Moves the Hip with Music and…a Scion

CINCINNATI, Ohio (September 8, 2008)―The MidPoint Music Festival encourages people to come out for the music, enjoy the city and move their feet. With help from Scion, festivalgoers will be able to keep their feet focused on the dance floor.

The festival, scheduled September 25–27, marks its seventh year with some notable upgrades. More national bands. Higher profile label showcases. But also notable is the addition of several Downtown venues complementing the locations MidPoint has used traditionally in Over the Rhine. While some question the festival spreading out, organizers say this year’s Downtown movement is just the beginning.

“MidPoint is an advocate about not only what makes Cincinnati a great music city, but a great city,” says Dan McCabe, executive producer. “Our changes reflect a commitment to improving the music scene, while maximizing the potential of Downtown and Uptown.”

Movement for Urban Lifestyle
MidPoint aims to act as a change agent for improving Cincinnati’s lifestyle factor, critical for cities wanting to hold on to young urbanites. It’s just a three-night festival, but it makes a big impact. Tens of thousands of people attend traveling from around the world. The local economy gets a boost. The city’s image advances with cultural promotion and word of mouth. Most importantly, people have fun seeing the artists.

So where does MidPoint go from here? The festival endeavors to magnify that positive impact by aligning itself with other agents for change in Cincinnati. Within the past few years, Downtown’s nightlife has grown substantially with the opening of businesses such as Lodge Bar, Cadillac Ranch and the re-vamped Fountain Square. All are new MidPoint locations, along with the Aronoff Center for the Arts.

Movement for Urban Landscape
Along side this business growth is an effort to improve people’s travel into the city center via streetcars. Cincinnati officials are gathering financing for a system that would connect the city’s riverfront stadiums, the Downtown business district and Uptown neighborhoods, which include universities and hospitals. McCabe says streetcars would increase MidPoint’s attendance and offer more venue options.

“Our venues are easy to walk amongst within their neighborhood. It’s not too far between Uptown and Downtown. But streetcars would greatly affect attendance. The experience would be enhanced. And it’s possible that Downtown nightlife could see MidPoint-sized crowds every weekend,” said McCabe.

Movement with Scion
Twenty Scion xB’s will be dispatched along the proposed streetcar route, offering a taste of what the service would bring while lightening the load in festivalgoers’ loafers. The crossover vehicles will make stops at 10 locations running north on Main Street, west on 12th Street, back south on Walnut Street, and east on 5th.

Faster venue hopping requires a MidPoint wristband pass to gain access to the cars. This is yet another reason to buy the 3-day pass for $29 on mpmf.com ahead of the event. Mayor Mark Mallory, a streetcar proponent, said he loves MidPoint’s effort and plans to attend.

“Every year MidPoint brings a lot of energy, excitement, and great music to Downtown Cincinnati and the Scions are an excellent addition to MidPoint’s great lineup,” Mayor Mark Mallory said. “Strong systems of public transportation are critical to continuing our progress Downtown. The Scions are going to help people get around quicker and ultimately hear more bands.”

http://www.mpmf.com