With MO Fest, Columbia venues spotlight country, bluegrass, punk, hip-hop acts

Aarik Danielsen, Columbia Daily Tribune
·2 min read

Missouri in surround sound.

That's what sister venues The Blue Note and Rose Music Hall offer just after Jan. 1 each new year with MO Fest. What's evolved into a two-plus weekend affair breaks up Missouri artists loosely by genre, highlighting both a fine array of Columbia talent as well as acts around the state.

Weekend One will feature showcases in country, punk, bluegrass and hip-hop; funk, indie-rock, blues, metal and reggae are to come.

For each showcase, we've highlighted one representative Missouri artist — though all deserve your time and ear.

Friday: Missouri Country Fest at The Blue Note

Travis Feutz
Travis Feutz

"Ain't trying to be some big star / Just trying to get back home," Travis Feutz sings and the line resonates. With his band The Stardust Cowboys, the mid-Missouri singer-songwriter tackles the great, world-weary themes of country music: time on the road, free living that comes at a cost, hangovers and waking up unmoored from yourself. Feutz and Co. do so in a humble, personal way that gives each song staying power.

Also playing: Matt Jordan (St. Louis), Forrest McCurren (mid-Missouri), Todd Day Wait (Missouri native)

Time and tickets: 8 p.m.; $10-$20.

Friday: Missouri Punk Fest at Rose Music Hall

Locals New Hues travel a spectrum of lo-fi sound, imbuing everything they do with a punk ethos. The band's early output ranges from guitar-driven murmurs to maelstroms that mingle the forces of punk, metal and early 1990s alt-rock. Whatever nuances emerge, the sound connects on a wholly visceral level.

Also playing: Central Nervous System, Miracle Whip (St. Louis), Total Sham (Kansas City)

Time and tickets: 8 p.m.; $8-$10.

Saturday: Missouri Bluegrass Fest at The Blue Note

Moonshroom
Moonshroom

Tethering old-school string-band principles to a more modern and romantic hippie vibe, Moonshroom, the Kansas City-area duo of Lily B Moonflower and Jake Keegan, make each note feel vital. Moonflower's voice holds a golden quality and Keegan and other collaborators rise to the challenge, creating worthy tones around her.

Also playing: Ironweed (Columbia), The Matchsellers (Kansas City), One Way Traffic (St. Louis)

Time and tickets: 8 p.m.; $10-$20.

Saturday: Missouri Hip-Hop Fest at Rose

Local rapper DIMPL — which stands for Dreams Inspire Moments of Positive Light, per the artist's Instagram — seamlessly melds the soulful approach of great '90s acts with a cool, unhurried delivery that's all his own. Prolific and committed to his mood-driven music, DIMPL offers an ever-deepening soundtrack.

Also playing: Damoe Donjuan (Columbia), Zeph France (Columbia), Kong and Nic @ Nite (St. Louis)

Time and tickets: 8 p.m.; $8-$10.

A MO Fest pass can be purchased for $50. For more on these shows, visit https://thebluenote.com/ and/or https://rosemusichall.com/. And look for Week Two lineups in next Thursday's After Hours.

Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at adanielsen@columbiatribune.com or by calling 573-815-1731. He's on Twitter/X @aarikdanielsen.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: MO Fest highlights artists from across Missouri in genre showcases