In a recent editorial, we highlighted “lifestyle” festivals as one type of event that is thriving in this challenging turning point for the music industry. If you consider that the industry itself is a lifestyle in its own right, the announcement of the new Elsewhere Festival and Conference makes perfect sense. Taking place in Wichita, Kansas on June 21st and 22nd, Elsewhere is designed to bolster opportunities for artists and music professionals in the community.
But that doesn’t mean it’s taking a strictly local approach to its lineup: Headliners include Killer Mike, Steve Aoki, Vince Staples, and Lane 8. Also on the bill are BADBADNOTGOOD, TOKiMONSTA, Snow Tha Product, Le Youth, Blu DeTiger, Sunflower Bean, PUP, Sudan Archives, A Place to Bury Strangers, Oh He Dead, THICK, and more. As for Wichita-based talent, there’s Breeding Brainbow, Flake, Glass Age, Goaty the Kid, Paris Jane, Sir Charles, Apathy Unit., The Travel Guide, and more.
All of these artists and other conference programming — including a panel led by Killer Mike — will take at multiple Wichita venues, with one free stage open to the public. In addition to discussions with guests from City Winery, Stand Together, No Depression, and Primary Wave, Elsewhere will feature a variety of art experiences designed by visual artists in the community, including “an immersive light and sound stage.”
The goal of the event is to explore new ways to better serve the “historically undervalued and underserved” artists and music workers in the Midwest. Created and produced by Wichita-based collective Midtopia, the inaugural Elsewhere hopes to “serve as a catalyst for the local music community to increase its impact by modeling partnerships with organizations committed to social change.” With all that in mind, tickets have been consciously set at a low entry point, as Midtopia wants to make sure musicians, industry workers, and anyone interested in working in music has the opportunity to attend.
“There are so many talented artists and music workers alike, and such wonderful local scenes, but industry support is really lacking and systematically flawed,” Midtopia CEO and Director Jessie Hartke said in a statement. “Midtopia is an opportunity to reimagine the traditional industry structure and its ability to positively impact society, and create a new framework that puts artists and music workers first. We want to do the same thing with Elsewhere and create a new kind of music event that is truly built to support the community and artists, both local and from afar.”
Tickets to the inaugural Elsewhere Festival and Conference are now available here. Find the complete lineup poster below.
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