Killer Mike, Vince Staples, Steve Aoki Lead Lineup of Inaugural Elsewhere Festival and Conference

Jem Aswad
·3 min read
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Killer Mike, Vince Staples, Steve Aoki, Lane 8, Snow Tha Product, BadBadNotGood, Sudan Archives and more lead the lineup at the inaugural Elsewhere Festival and Conference will make its debut in Wichita, Kansas on the weekend of June 21-22, 2024. (The full lineup of participating artists and venues is below.)

Created and produced by Midtopia, a Wichita-based artist and music worker collective, both the festival and conference will take an unconventional approach to supporting regional arts. The stated mission of the festival and conference is to “build community and opportunity for musicians and music workers in the Midwest, an area historically undervalued and underserved by the music industry despite its rich musical history.”

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Many local Wichita venues will host festival and conference programming throughout the event, with one free stage open to the public. The festival will also include various art experiences and an immersive light and sound stage.

The conference will feature Killer Mike discussing the importance of freedom of expression, as well as guests from City Winery, Stand Together, No Depression, Berklee College of Music, Union Stage, Primary Wave, and others, sharing their experience in and knowledge of the music industry with conference attendees. Along with Midtopia, other organizations including Empower North End, Learning Lab Wichita, The Phoenix, and Create Campaign will participate and be showcased at the inaugural event, with the support of  Local entrepreneur and philanthropist Chase Koch. Those community-based organizations that will have special access to the festival and conference.

Jessie Hartke, Midtopia’s CEO and Director says, “Midtopia was created to serve a need in Wichita, but really applies, well, elsewhere. 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 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.”

“As both a lifetime musician and an industry professional, I’ve seen how challenges music workers and artists face aren’t being properly addressed.” Rudy Love Jr, recording artist and member of Midtopia’s Board of Directors explains. “Elsewhere was created with artists and the community as priorities from the start, working to best serve Wichita and the greater Midwest and make an event that will create opportunities for local artists while also drawing bigger, national attention. Creating community, both on a local and national scale, is a reflection of how we already work in Wichita.”

Full Artist Lineup

Killer Mike
Steve Aoki
Lane 8
Vince Staples
Snow Tha Product
TOKiMONSTA
NOTD
BADBADNOTGOOD
Le Youth
Sultan + Shepard
Blu DeTiger
D Smoke
Massane
Sunflower Bean
A Place to Bury Strangers
The Motet
Oh He Dead
PUP
QRTR
Sudan Archives
French Cassettes
Kiss the Tiger
The Macks
Marcey Yates
Jigsaw Youth
King Youngblood
Mambo Sauce
THICK
Angelo Tomas
Breeding Brainbow
DJ Carbon
FLAKE
FYI
Goaty the Kid
JAI37
James Porter Jr.
Jesus Christ Taxi Driver
Jey Lattimore
Josué Estrada Band Presents: Volcán ICT
June.MP3
Marrice Anthony
Mx Vs. The Railroad Industry
Paris Jane
Phantom Black
Rail G
Rudy Love & The Encore
Shvkxir
Shocker Sound Machine
Soothsayerz
TF Bundy
Unknown Venus
VEHICLES
Yae
2LØT
Apathy unit
Buddy Crime
Cash Hollister
CHEW
Chris Barnett
Curl
Delirium
Dj Carbon
The Encore
Ferris Wheel Regulars
Gilda House
Glass Age
Horse Bitch
Social Cinema
The Travel Guide
The Whips
XV

Participating Venues

Wave (Outdoor Stage)
Wave (Indoor Stage)
Emporia Tent
Norton’s Brewing Company
Barleycorn’s
Naftzger Park
Looney Bin

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