Ink's Middle of the Map unfolds its 2013 lineup

Grizzly Bear will perform at Ink's Middle of the Map Fest in April.

Organizers of Ink’s Middle of the Map Fest have announced more than half of the 100-plus bands that will perform April 4-6 at venues in and near Westport. 

This year’s lineup of established national acts includes Grizzly Bear, Deerhoof, the Joy Formidable, Tennis and Wovenhand. It will also include dozens of emerging national and regional bands, as well as dozens of bands from Kansas City, Lawrence and the surrounding region.

The festival, entering its third year, is sponsored by Ink magazine, a sister publication of the Kansas City Star, and the Record Machine, a recording label run by local music veteran Nathan Reusch. The lineup is being booked and curated by Terry Taylor of Mammoth Productions, Steve Tulipana, co-owner of the RecordBar, and Neill Smith of the Riot Room.

“I am really excited to have Grizzly Bear in the lineup,” Reusch said. “They have been one of my favorite bands over the last five years, and its an honor to have a band of their caliber on the festival. They have never played this market; the closest they have come is Columbia.”

Last year’s Middle of the Map drew thousands of fans and attracted attention from outside Kansas City. Its lineup featured the band Fun just as the band’s single, “We Are Young,” reached No. 1 on the Billboard 100 chart. The band has since become a major headlining act. Fun will perform at Sunday’s Grammy Awards show, where it is nominated in six categories.

“It’s exciting to see the profile of the festival rise and head towards being a spring tradition in Kansas City,” Reusch said. “I think this is our strongest lineup at launch. Last year it was really interesting to watch a band like Fun grow, but we really had no idea how big they were going to get that fast.”

In addition to the music festival, this year’s Middle of the Map will feature two other components: the Art, Culture and Tech Forum (April 18-19) and the Middle of the Map Film Fest (May 1-5). Details on those events are forthcoming.

A three-day pass to the music festival is available for $45. Passes to the technology/culture forum are $50, and a pass to the film festival costs $25. A pass to all three components is available for $100. Tickets are on sale now at the Middle of the Map web site.

OfficePort in the Crossroads District will host the technology forum. The Alamo Draftouse in the Power and Light District will host the film festival.

The music festival had to adjust to the closing of the Beaumont Club, which was its hub for the first two years. 

“To accommodate the loss of Beaumont Club, we’ve added the Uptown Theater,” Reusch said. “It will allow us to grow a little bit and have larger bands. We will be taking advantage of some of their different rooms.”

In addition to the Uptown, the other venues are the Riot Room, the RecordBar, Gusto Lounge, the Union and Westport Coffeehouse. The festival expects to add another music site. 

The lineup so far

Grizzly Bear, the Joy Formidable, Tennis, Deerhoof, Jeff the Brotherhood, Kids These Days, Iceage, the Whigs, Wovenhand, the Appleseed Cast, the Casket Lottery, White Lung, People Get Ready, Denison Witmer, Kitten, Guards, Cowboy Indian Bear, Soft Reeds, Palace, Making Movies, Détective, Owen Pallet, Mister Lies, Last Bison, Pujol, Joe Pug, La Guerre, Spirit is the Spirit, Sleepy Kitty, My Gold Mask, Dots Not Feathers, Smoker, the Soil & the Sun, Trouper, Little Legend, Maps For Travelers, She’s A Keeper, Bloodbirds, Quiet Corral, Akkilles, Radkey, Steddy P & DJ Mahf, Thee Water Moccasins, Doris Henson, the ACBs, Shy Boys, Fourth of July, Ghosty, Shadow Paint, the Slowdown, Cherokee Rock Rifle, Clairaudients, White Girl, Antennas Up, Heartfelt Anarchy, Six Percent, the Regrets, the Belles, the Noise FM.

| Timothy Finn, The Star

Comments

[Endtro]

the logistics of replacing the Beaumont with the Uptown sounds like a nightmare. I assume they'll run a shuttle between westport and the Uptown like they did with the record bar last year, but even then it seems like it will be really odd to have the biggest venue a few miles away from the rest.

[Tim Finn]

it's inconvenient but i've walked three and four times as far between venues at other festivals.

[Endtro]

yeah, after looking it's less than a mile. I should note that I'm really lazy too.

[kj]

the uptown is only about a half a mile from most of the venues in westport, not a few miles...

[Darrell]

The trip from Westport to The Uptown via Broadway is largely uphill. We'll see how that works out for foot traffic.

[Tim Finn]

shuttles.

[Tim Finn]

... and it's only uphill one way.

[kj]

it's very clear to me now, how Missouri became one of the fattest states in America..

[Bob L.]

This is growing into a GREAT festival! I'm down!!

[Professor]

NOTE to Pedi-Cab Operators: THIS IS YOUR MOMENT TO SHINE. We have some lazy/drunk/fat/spoiled/high maintenance people w/ disposable cash in their wallets just waiting to be placed in your wallet......ACT NOW.....

Unlike festivals who don't let you bring your bike inside the venue, one could easily schlepp their bike along and ride to each venue in minutes. Get some exercise, save some carbon, and have a good time...or just pay someone else to do everything for you like a good American.

[Dave]

Any idea which night each band is playing? I can't go Friday night and I will be totally bummed if that's the night Grizzly Bear is playing. They really need to check with my schedule before planning any concerts haha.

[Dave]

There's another room in the Uptown where bands can play, right? There will probably be a couple bands playing at once in there. I think the Uptown will work because I really wanted to see Fun last year but the line outside the Beaumont was ridiculous.

This is a very random question and I relying on the veteran, music-savvy folks on there to answer....which band in this year's lineup is closest to F*cked Up from last year? The F*cked Up show was amazingly awesome and I want to know which band is the "sweatiest loudest big mess of fun" this year.

[pellboy]

Uphill? If you can call maybe a 5 degree incline "uphill". I mean wtf, it's literally like FOUR blocks from The Riot Room. Shit, you don't even have to cross the street!

[Endtro]

Dave, my vote would be Iceage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtIbGik0Sys

I doubt their live shows are as good as Fucked Up, but they're certainly loud.

Maybe White Lung as well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PoQhaNiXvg

I've never seen either of those bands live though so I'm not speaking from experience

[Endtro]

I guess I'm the first one that mentioned the distance issue before realizing it's only a half mile (I'm really bad at judging distances apparently). I'm not concerned about the distance so much, just the time it takes because previous years I only had minutes between bands I want to see.

I don't mind walking at all, I'm more concerned about the time it will take to get from venue to venue.

[Jack Mehoff]

Hey, at least it's not at Crossroads.

[Dave]

Thanks Endtro, I appreciate the info. Yes, the timing issue is a big deal and I missed several of the acts I wanted to see because I was caught in long lines. I am sure a band at recordBar will end at 9 pm and another will start at 9 pm at Uptown and my head will explode trying to figure out how to build a helicopter "MacGyver style" in the parking lot.

[pellboy]

Heck, it might almost be more entertaining to just setup a chair out in front of The Blarney Stone, watching you guys scurrying back and forth in a panic.

[eric]

Iceage was pretty awesome at the jackpot in 2011. That would be the closest band to fucked up in the current lineup.

[wadkc]

Anybody that doesn't want to walk 4 blocks, please stay away from SXSW. One must train for that event.

[Ronnie]

Hey Tim, do you know what happened to Aaron Pillar from The Appleseed Cast?

[Dave]

The MOTM website says "SHUTTLES." So there you go. My advice would be to walk. By the time you wait in line for shuttle, get stuck at a stoplight, and have some dude puke on your Chucks, you could have walked three blocks.

[Dave]

Grizzly Bear is probably Friday night as they are in Iowa on Thursday and Dallas on Saturday. Oh course, I can't be there Friday. Thanks, universe.

[Gents]

""Hey, at least it's not at Crossroads.""

Thank God, actually... thank the promoters ;)

[Gents]

btw- Is it possible someone might do a writeup / preview of the music styles of each group for old farts who are looking more for rock and roll bands and to help us avoid (what I am guessing based on todays' trends will be a lot of) BS prerecorded electronica DJ/light show crap acting like they are a real band and help us avoid the rap crap.

Thanks

[MBA Admission 2013]

It might almost be more interesting to just installation a seat out at the front side of The Blarney Rock, viewing you people scurrying returning and forth in a anxiety.

[Anxiety]

I needs an MBA but I aints gots da Blarney Rocks!

[pellboy]

Gents, I know that last year B2R and The Star Preview section had a pretty in-depth breakdown of all the bands that were playing with comparisons to other more well-known acts as well as recommendations on the must-see acts for the festival. Unfortunately, that information probably won't be available until closer to the actual festival so you might have to do some of your own research beforehand if you like to plan ahead.

[Gents]

Thanks pellboy :)

Hopefully they will offer up another nice preview of the bands to see, and we do still have plenty of time.

This is a good time to point out the glaring hole the now gone Bueamont leaves. As much as people loved to hate on it, it was a real venue.

I hope someone takes it over and either raises the roof/stage, or digs a pit in front of the stage, that would make the sight line much better.

[pellboy]

I spoke too soon, Gents. Just opened up my Preview for lunch and there's already a decent little primer in there about some of the main acts. I'm guessing they'll end up posting in here as well.

[Dave]

Rolling Stone just gave Kitty's "D.A.I.S.Y. Rage" album 4/5 stars. I checked some of the tracks out on YouTube and I definitely plan to check her out. Sort of Amanda Blank or Peaches white girl rap. Not normally what I listen to, but that's the point of the festival, right?

[pellboy]

Okay, judging from the writeups thus far, these are the acts that interest my totally unhip self...

Jeff The Brotherhood
Kids These Days
The Whigs

As for the locals, have heard good things in this space about Quiet Corral so I plan on checking them out if possible.

[Endtro]

pellboy, two of those bands I've seen before and they're both pretty great.

The Whigs first two albums are fantastic. They kinda went in the direction of Kings Of Leon on their third with more of a pop sound and I lost interest, but they put on a great live show. This song rules: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv00Qk23i-c

JEFF the Brotherhood are a great live band as well and their stuff is a lot of fun. Once again, this song rules: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lunYo16vQhg

[Endtro]

my other favorite track from The Whigs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1JFpbcnhDo

[pellboy]

Thanks, Endtro. I'll have to check them out when I get home as we had recently had a super virus at work and youtube now gets blocked. Have heard of some Jeff The Brotherhood before so I know a little about them, but for some odd reason (as I'm partial to bands with that type of sound) The Whigs have completely eluded me until this point.

Kids These Days sound interesting as well. According to the writeup, based out of Chicago, they combine DMB-type jams w/ hip-hop, jazz and funk. And their 2012 debut album was produced by Jeff Tweedy.

[Dave]

My bad, it's Kitten not Kitty. Still a good band though. I love a lot of those local bands and highly recommend them, but I try to prioritize the bands that play here infrequently. I've seen Jeff the Brotherhood, they have the Black Keys set-up with only guitar and drums but a lot of energy and worth seeing. The Appleseed Cast will be good, moody psychedelic guitars. Thanks for the heads up on Kids These Days, although the Dave Matthews Band comparison is scary haha. I would love for them to add Death Grips! Ever heard them? Ha, that's the sort of craziness I am looking for. I am really "Mumforded" out right now and want to hear feedback and profanity and mad beats.

[Dave]

Go check out the MOTM Facebook page. They mentioned they have still yet to announce another 50 bands. For $45, it's a steal. Diverse, interesting lineup. It's like Kanrocksas is blond with big boobs, but she has a sister named Middle of the Map that is darker and more mysterious and intrigues you more over time.

[Green]

Local podcast did a nice breakdown, take a listen.

The Mailbox, vol. 84

http://blog.midwestmusicfound.org/2013/02/06/the-mailbox-vol-84/

[pellboy]

Yeah, the big-titted bimbo is great for one night, but I'd rather spend more time with the deeper chick. Plus, she probably has some good pot.

[pellboy]

Hey thanks for those video postings, Endtro, both bands sound great. Looking forward to catching The Whigs especially. In digging deeper, I'm totally sold on those guys.

[Dave]

On that podcast mentioned above, they also said they had just added another big act and they were going to sit on announcing it for a while. The more I check out the bands so far, the more I like the diversity. Nice to have something the city can be proud of.

[Green]

I think Sharon Van Etten is going to be announced soon, that's my lottery pick!

[Auto Accident Lawyer Austin]

I cannot tell you how excited I am to see Grizzly Bea again!

[Dave]

If you go to the Middle of the Map Facebook page, they've created a Spotify playlist that contains 200 songs from bands playing the festival. I've been jamming to it all day. Just bummed there is no way to see ALL the bands, without cloning or time warp.

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