As announced at the end of April, the first annual MidWest Friends Fest takes place on Saturday, August 31, at the historic Southgate House Revival in Newport, Kentucky, with the first band kicking things off just after 4:00 pm. Fest founders Jared Bowers and Ben Seitz are partnering with the legendary venue to bring music to all 3 stages, with 9 local bands and 12 regional and touring bands ready to pack the house. The stage lineups and set times for all 21 bands have been announced!

MidWest Friends Fest will feature local friends Scarlet Street, Tooth Lures A Fang, Bear The Moon, Alex Kasznel & The Board of Directors, Dustbin, Abandoned Malls of America, As It May, LayLow, and Ryan Rockwell, and visiting friends Teens In Trouble, Bat Boy, Camping In Alaska, Kerosene Heights, Nowhere Fast, Honeycrush, Pinksqueeze, FinalBossFight!, The Dreaded Laramie, Manor Gates, Routine Fuss, and OK Cool.

Additionally, MidWest Friends Fest is excited to partner with brand new community wellness non-profit Start Today Harm Reduction and LGBTQ+ support and education organization, PFLAG Cincinnati, who will both have tables set up and engage with concertgoers throughout the event. More community partnerships are in the works, as well, and will be announced before the fest takes place on Saturday, August 31.

Between Seitz’s experience playing live, touring, and knowledge of the industry, and Bowers’ experience booking shows, writing, and photographing bands for CincyMusic as a champion of the scene at large, their combined efforts have resulted in a fest that brings together bands from all over the country, from across the spectrum of punk, emo, pop, and rock, to create something unique, fun, and memorable for bands and fans alike.