Bellwether Music Festival 2018, during the Flaming Lips’ setPhoto: ProvidedIn Paste magazine’s roundup of the “Best American Music Festivals in 2019,” it name-drops the Bellwether Music Festival, the Southwest Ohio event (founded by Bunbury and MidPoint Music Festival creator Bill Donabedian) that debuted last year in Waynesville, Ohio (about 45 minutes north of Cincinnati) with a lineup that included The Flaming Lips, Japanese Breakfast, Echo and the Bunnymen and more.
The camper-friendly Bellwether’s second-year lineup is equally packed with AltRock/Indie Rock favorites, including Cold War Kids, Beach House, Twin Shadow, Real Estate, Pinback, Caroline Rose, Cake, Guided By Voices, STRFKR, Black Moth Super Rainbow, the just-announced We Are Scientists and more. Bands with local ties performing at Bellwether this year include Young Heirlooms, Multimagic and R. Ring, featuring Greater Cincinnati veteran musician/producer Mike Montgomery and Breeders guitarist Kelley Deal.
There will also be a plethora of other activities throughout the weekend. Bellwether is held at the home of the annual Renaissance Fair so, logically, attendees can indulge in some “full-contact” Rock & Roll jousting, as well as axe throwing, after parties, tons of food and other vendors and much more.
Gates open at noon and music begins at 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets are available in advance for $69 per day or $119 for a two-day pass.
Check the full music schedule (plus some music/video samples) below and visit bellwetherfest.com for more info.
FRIDAY, AUG. 9
Shipwreck Stage
2 p.m. Eldren
3:30 p.m. The Brook & the Bluff
5:45 p.m. We Are Scientists
8:30 p.m. Real Estate
11 p.m. TOBACCO (DJ set)
Acoustic Stage
2 p.m. Frederick the Younger
3:30 p.m. Saint Aubin
5:45 p.m. Quiet Hollers
8:30 p.m. Katie Pruitt
Sunset Stage
2:45 p.m. Caroline Rose
4:30 p.m. Twin Shadow
6:45 p.m. Cold War Kids
9:15 p.m. Cake
SATURDAY, AUG. 10
Shipwreck Stage
2 p.m. Fern Murphy
3:30 p.m. Multimagic
5:45 p.m. Sego
8:30 p.m. Pinback
11 p.m. STRFKR (DJ set)
Acoustic Stage
2 p.m. Souther
3:30 p.m. R. Ring
5:45 p.m. Young Heirlooms
8:30 p.m. Hailey Knox
Sunset Stage
2:45 p.m. Black Moth Super Rainbow
4:30 p.m. STRFKR
6:45 p.m. Guided By Voices
9:15 p.m. Beach House
