GALLERY: MidPoint Music Festival: Friday night kick off
HANA took the stage Friday night in Washington Park. HANA was part of MidPoint Music Festival.
Washington Park was abuzz Friday night with the first shows of MidPoint Music Festival.
The festival started off in the brand new Indie Craft Village with a free show by the band Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. playing on the small makeshift stage of the gazebo in the center of Washington Park.
Aside from watching the show, patrons of the festival could grab craft beer from the vendors in the village.
One of those vendors supported the Kelts Rugby Team.
Tents surrounded the outside of the gazebo area which included a Blu tent for the vape company, several music tents and a WNKU tent.
“It’s an awesome radio station,” Barb Powell, a volunteer said as she set up the WNKU tent. “I’m meeting great people.”
Another volunteer held up one of the wristbands with their mission statement on it that they were giving away for free.
“Discover music!” Powell laughed.
They also were raffling t-shirts and selling other merchandise.
Following along the path of music and craft beer, patrons could find many food trucks. One of the food trucks would be home to Umami Bites.
Sarah Stoner, one of the workers for the truck could be seen smiling at the window as she explained where the inspiration of the food comes.
“It’s from backpack travels… through Asia,” Stoner said.
This was their second time being at a big music festival with the first one being Bunbury Music Festival and the truck will be returning to MidPoint on Sunday.
The real draw were the bands that were playing the main stage at Washington Park like Purity Ring, HANA and Nick Diamonds.
“I’m excited to see Purity Ring,” NKU alum Ali Willis said.
Willis said that she really started to like MidPoint after getting into music more and that she loves the ability to walk around during the festival instead of being stuck in one place.
Willis’ friend Satoru Matsubara talked about coming from Japan and finding that he likes MidPoint a lot.
“I’m definitely coming every year,” Matsubara said.
Performers that were not playing Friday night were still excited to be there.
George Byrd of Gran Bel Fisher will be playing Sunday. Byrd’s band is playing MidPoint for a second time and will take the stage before Iron and Wine.
“We have kind of a Hall and Oates feel,” Byrd said.
Byrd also said that he can’t wait to see the patrons laying down blankets before their show and getting to know their music more.
MidPoint Music Festival affects the attendees as much as the local vendors and bands. The rest of this musical weekend will continue until Sunday night.