Indy Weekend: Fountain Square’s Cataracts Music Festival
Since graduating from college and departing from the oasis of hedonism that is Bloomington, IN, there has been a a single, constant void in my life. It’s not Kilroy’s pepperoni bread sticks (now available downtown and in Broad Ripple). It’s not late night rounds of “Sink the Biz” at Nick’s. It’s not even the early wake-up call for a full day of drinking on 17th St. before a football game that nobody planned on watching. What I miss the most are raucous house parties. Those all night ragers, marked by loud music and questionable decision-making, that only come to a halt when the kegs run dry or the cops show up.
Fortunately for me, I have the opportunity to make up for lost time this weekend. A handful of houses between 927 and 945 E. Morris St. in Fountain Square will transform into music venues for two days of free music. Yes, you read that right FREE. Festivities will kick off this Friday around the Fountain Square Grand Prix and continue until the wee hours Sunday morning.
Cataracts Music Festival offers Indy citizens the opportunity to binge on their favorite local (and a few not-so-local) underground musicians. Check out a list of who will be where below. Also, be sure to check out Cataracts’ Tumblr for a treasure trove of videos from the performing artists. So don’t sleep on an opportunity to get weird, get wet (a dunk tank is promised) and get your ears blown off by some of Indy’s most talented, underappreciated musicians.
Connect with Cataracts via Facebook | Twitter
Schedule:
Friday, August 17 – Fountain Square Grand Prix – Murphy Building Parking Lot
1:00- Organ Grinder
2:00- Beer
3:00- Bed
4:00- Hammer Screwdriver
5:00- Christian Taylor & Homeschool
6:00- Bonesetters
7:00- KO
8:00- Oreo Jones
9:00- Pravada
10:00- Margot & The Nuclear So & So’s
Saturday, August 18 – Cataracts Music Festival – E. Morris St.
Debbie’s Palace of Noise and Laundry
1:00- 2150′s
2:00- Creeping Pink
3:00- Teenage Strange
4:00- Psychic Feel
5:00- Jovontaes
6:00- Thee Open Sex
7:00- Learner Dancer
8:00- Crys & Heavy Hanging Sun-
9:00- Vacation Club
10:00- Burnt Ones
SKULL MANOR
1:30- DMA
2:30- Tight Genes
3:30- Ancient Slang
4:30- The Hecks
5:30- Marmoset
6:30- Bigcolour
7:30- Magic Milk
8:30- Lazy
9:30- Expo 70
10:30- White Mystery
JASONA BEACH
1:00- Hen
2:00- Death Tram
3:00- Slushy
4:00- The Orchidales
5:00- Energy Gown
6:00- Lushes
7:00- Pomegranates
8:00- Plains/Holy Youth
9:00- Gap Dream
10:00- Tammar
DAVE CAVE
1:30- Normanoak
2:30- The Mutations
3:30- Ramma Lamma
4:30- Purple Seven
5:30- Smoking Nurse
6:30- The Soft Opening
7:30- Scammers
8:30- Three Man Band
9:30- TV Ghost
10:30- Natural Child
Written by Rob Peoni
Fresh Track + Video: Oreo Jones ft. Freddie Bunz “Needy”
The stars appear to be aligning for Indianapolis rapper Oreo Jones. Fresh off his selection as Indy’s best rapper in NUVO’s Best of Indy poll, today Jones released the debut single from his forthcoming LP Betty, due to drop via local label Rad Summer on September 4. Always a skillful MC, Jones’ rhymes often underscore his acerbic wit and wry sense of humor. “Needy” takes care of business first and jokes second, hitting listeners with a more serious, no nonsense approach. This makes sense given Jones’ confession via Twitter that the track was inked following the theft of his lap top, an earth shattering blow to any DIY artist.
The video, shot at DOPE Couture, features Jones performing alongside Freddie Bunz and DJ Action Jackson for an intimate crowd that includes fellow Rad Summer labelmate Andy D. The track’s producer J. Brookinz looks content, head-bobbing and half-smiling, as he watches the song unfold in live time. If “Needy” is any indication of Betty‘s strength as a whole, consider my breath officially bated.
Connect with Oreo Jones via Facebook | Twitter
Written by Rob Peoni
Thought on Tracks 
IndyFringe Pairs Music with Theater
Indianapolis’ eighth annual IndyFringe Festival officially kicks off tomorrow evening in and around downtown’s Mass Ave. The 10-day event has grown into one of the city’s most celebrated cultural happenings and offers local residents the opportunity to convene in a summer celebration of the arts. This year’s festival is taking the party to the streets with a diverse line-up of musical performances that will be housed in the IndyFringe Beer Tent, located at the intersection of Mass Ave. and College.
This is exactly the type of multimedia approach that I have been looking for from Indy’s art scene. For a city with a small-town feel, Indianapolis’ various “scenes” – for lack of a better term – remain incredibly fragmented. Some of those barriers have begun to blur as First Friday events have grown to encompass live music alongside the visual arts. Nevertheless, I am thrilled to see IndyFringe showcase everything from jazz to indie rock in an attempt to indulge all of the attendees’ senses.
A full list of the beer tent’s line-up can be found below. Local brewery, Flat 12 Bierwerks‘ Misummer Apricot Wheat is the official festival beverage, and will be served throughout the event. Free entrance to the beer tent will be granted to anyone with a backer button, but music fans simply looking to hang out in the tent may purchase a wristband for $1. Eager attendees can head downtown tonight for a preview of the week’s performances. Downloads of the festival schedule and Fringe Map are available at the IndyFringe website. The social media-inclined can follow the festivities via Twitter through the official hashtag: #Fringe12.
Connect with IndyFringe via Facebook | Twitter | Google+
IndyFringe Beer Tent Schedule
Thursday, August 16
Opening Night Party – Performer Showcases
Friday, August 17
IndyFringe Music Night Featuring:
Hotfox
Young Heirlooms
Saturday, August 18
Indy Jazz Festival Showcases featuring:
Rob Dixon and Trilogy with Indy Jazz Fest Band
Cynthia Layne
4Evolution
Sunday, August 19
4 PM: Blues with a Twist ft. Ken Skelton & Paul Henry
5-7 PM: Sticky Fingers
Wednesday, August 22
Brazil Dance Exchange Party Night
Thursday, August 23
DoItIndy Showcase featuring:
Missing Pieces
MG & The Gas CityThree
Edge of Dance
DJ Jammin Joe Hutton
Friday, August 24
IndyFringe Music Night featuring:
Bears of Blue River
The Dapper
Saturday, August 25
IndyFringe Music Night featuring:
Mark Alexander & The Good Shame
Chandelier Ballroom
Sunday, August 26
4 PM: Blues with a Twist ft. Ken Skelton & Paul Henry
5-7 PM: Queen Delphine and the Crown Jewels
Written by Rob Peoni