MidPoint Brings Music From Around the World

One of the finer aspects of MidPoint is that festival organizers bring in some of the hottest, up-and-coming talent from all over the world, although only nine of the two-hundred and seventy bands are from outside the United States. Other than the United States, MidPoint 2009 will be represented by bands from six other countries.

Making their way south from Toronto, Canada are the Ketch Harbour Wolves, The Free Press and God Made Me Funky.

Indie, folk-rock quintet, Ketch Harbour Wolves, have been dubbed one of the ten hottest bands in Canada, consistently giving explosive performances to wall-to-wall crowds. Musical comparisons have ranged from The National, to the Arcade Fire, to XTC.  Catch Ketch Harbour Wolves at MidPoint 2009, 10 pm at the Blue Wisp Jazz Club on Thursday, September 24.

The Free Press are an indie, pop-rock quintet with their sights set on changing the world through their music. They have exactly what it takes to do just that, by having an intense, entertaining live show and by developing personal connections with their audience. Catch The Free Press at MidPoint 2009, 9 pm at the Lodge Bar on Thursday, September 24.

Not typically what you would expect to come out of Canada, God Made Me Funky has been mixing up funk, hip-hop, soul, funk, jazz and R&B for thirteen years now. Although their debut album didn’t come until 2005, these tracks embody the pure energy of their live show. Catch God Made Me Funky at MidPoint 2009, midnight at the Blue Wisp Jazz Club on Saturday, September 26.

Currently based out of Melbourne, Australia is the German-born Damen Samuel. The acoustic folk-rock troubadour writes powerful, sad songs covered in beautiful melodies. Check him out if you’re into Nick Drake, Antony and the Johnsons or Josh Ritter. Catch Damen Samuel at MidPoint 2009, 8:45 pm at the Coffee Emporium on Thursday, September 24.

Although Extra Golden is now based out of Washington, D.C., they formed in Kenya. Read my profile of Extra Golden here.

Coming from three countries in Europe are Kathleen Haskard and Micachu and the Shapes, both residing in London, England, Toy Horses from Wales, and The Do, who list both France and Finland as home.

Kathleen Haskard is actually a native Californian who is based out of London, England. A culturally aware singer/songwriting poet, she believes in the healing power of music. Dark folk rock songs with an edge dangling between Lucinda Williams and Patti Smith. Catch Kathleen Haskard at MidPoint 2009, 8:15 pm at the Coffee Emporium on Saturday, September 26.

Micachu and the Shapes are an electronic-pop trio fronted by 21-year old Mica Levi. She’s a classically-trained multi-instrument, who often uses homemade instruments such the a modified guitar called a “chu”, a bowed instrument fashioned from a CD rack and a number of objects including broken bottles and a vacuum cleaner. And you thought Phish was the only band to play the vacuum! Interesting tidbits: Mica was asked to write a piece for the London Philharmonic Orchestra, which was performed at the Royal Festival Hall in 2008. One of her famous followers is Bjork, who was spotted at one of The Shapes earliest gigs. Catch Micachu and the Shapes at MidPoint 2009, 8 pm at Grammer’s on Saturday, September 26.

Toy Horses are a indie, baroque pop duo fuelled by the ukulele. They placed second in Billboard’s World Song contest and were dubbed “The Band to Watch at SXSW 2009.” Catch Toy Horses at MidPoint 2009, 10 pm at the Segway Room on Saturday, September 26.

Indie, folk-rock duo, The Do (pronounced “dough”), struck gold very quickly, when their debut album ended at number one on the French charts last year. Influences and sounds cover a lot of ground, ranging from soft melodies to racy guitar tracks to fun Euro-pop. Their songs have drawn diverse comparisons ranging from Bjork, to Gwen Stefani, to the Ting Tings and Duffy. Catch The Do at MidPoint 2009, 11:30 pm at the Contemporary Arts Center.