MidPoint Music Festival Welcomes Free Family Programming At Downtown Library

CINCINNATI, Ohio (August 25, 2010) – Oh, don’t worry about being shhhed by a librarian. That live music you’re hearing is all part of the plan, so join in the fun. The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County is partnering with MidPoint Music Festival to present festival-related programming sure to interest local music fans.

All three days of MidPoint, September 23–25, you can visit the Main Library in the heart of the festival to catch bands, see music-centric photography, and on the final day, catch a film festival based around Cincinnati music. Those who think of MidPoint as only being for late night barrooms may ask, why the library?

“We’re geared for nightlife, but we hear from folks wanting to experience the festival during the daytime,” said Dan McCabe, the festival’s executive producer. “The library has done a great job creating compelling programs we’re lucky enough to offer for free. Anyone can enjoy this, but especially parents who don’t normally get out to see live bands…this is your chance to bring your kids out, hear some music, and not be in a late-night bar.”

Discover bands on the side
Find great MidPoint artists performing just outside the Main Library, located at 800 Vine Street, on their brick-terraced plaza. All showcases, scheduled daily at noon and 4 p.m., are free to attend.

This is an all-ages stage. Teens and tweens may be particularly interested in Saturday’s act, The Trouble with Boys, from Louisville. This punk/pop quartet, ages ranging 13–15, played last year’s festival with an energetic show receiving rave reviews.

Discover what’s on view
The exhibition Where the Kids are Goin’ Tonite: Music Photography by John Curley, David Garza, and Michael Wilson will be on display in the atrium on the first floor in the south building. Three local photographers present selected works from their collections of Cincinnati musicians such as Magnolia Mountain, The Greenhornes, and Wussy, as well as visitors to the Queen City like Henry Rollins, Lyle Lovett, and Sleater-Kinney.

The public is invited to attend the exhibition opening Wednesday, September 15, 5–7 p.m. hosted by Mr. Rhythm Man of 89.7 FM WNKU. Curley, Garza, and Wilson should be on hand to talk about their work and there will be giveaways, including a chance to win passes to Midpoint Music Festival. The exhibition will be on view through October 8.

Discover what’s on film
While MidPoint usually focuses on the here and now, the Library’s Real to Reel Documentary Series will present a special screening of documentaries highlighting Cincinnati’s music past. This group of rarely screened works should be a treat for anyone who loves music and history.

The series kicks off at 1:30 p.m. with Midsummer Rock, a 1970 WLWT-produced documentary of the Cincinnati Summer Pop Festival featuring some of the first filmed performances of Alice Cooper, Iggy Pop, Grand Funk, as well as rare footage of Steve Winwood’s Traffic. At 3 p.m. Philip Paul: Keeping the Beat honors the career of the former house drummer at King Records, who still plays weekly at age 85. Next at 3:30 p.m. take a closer look at The Historic Southgate House, one of the region’s storied music venues. And finally at 4 p.m. follow one of Cincinnati’s best-known bands on their 1993 European tour in Ladies and Gentlemen: The Afghan Whigs. The filmmakers will be on hand to introduce each work in the Library’s tower room.

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MidPoint Music Festival programming at the Main Library
800 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. For more information, call 513.369.6919

MUSIC

FREE live performances at the Main Library Vine Street Plaza across from the Garfield Suites Hotel

Thursday, September 23
12 p.m. Magnolia Mountain, Cincinnati, OH
4 p.m. The Bears of Blue River, Chicago, IL

Friday, September 24
12 p.m. The Young Republic with Adrien & the Fine Print, Nashville, TN
4 p.m. Tobie Milford, Scottsdale, AZ

Saturday, September 25
12 p.m. The Coppertone, Ontario, Canada
4 p.m. The Trouble with Boys, Louisville, KY

www.mpmf.com