Since 2006, Otherfest has held the stage for over 100 indie-label and unsigned bands from around the U.S. ranging in genres from blues to blue grass, from hip-hop to rock, and every sub-genre in between. This year, on October 5th and 6th, Otherfest grows into its teenage years with big plans and big headliners.
The 13th annual Otherfest, sponsored by Keep Cleveland Boring and Budweiser, will feature 16 music acts over two days for only $25. In addition to live original music, the festival boasts two days of free camping, food trucks, and art and beverage vending in a two day, all ages music festival on October 5th and 6th, just north of
Cleveland, Mississippi, on Highway 61.
Originally a one day festival, Otherfest grew to a two day festival in 2017: “After such great success last year with having the festival over a two full days instead of cramming everything into one single day, we decided two things: The first, two days of music is way better than one day of music. The second, with all of Cleveland on a music high with the recent addition of the Grammy Museum and the obvious increase in interest of Cleveland locals, it’s time for bigger named acts that everyone can enjoy while still staying true to our indie roots,” said festival organizer William “Weejy” Rogers.
This years line up includes headliners, Futurebirds, whose “music is a patchwork amalgam of influences, including: twangy Southern rock (they’ve opened for the Drive-By Truckers), reverb-soaked psychedelia reminiscent of early My Morning Jacket or fellow Athens residents Phosphorescent, soaring guitar solos à la Neil Young & Crazy Horse, rhythmic jangle from that other Athens band, REM, multi-part vocal harmonies, and, weaving through it all, lyrical slide guitar.” -vox.com.
Another notable act is Cleveland DMI product, Schaefer Llana, who comes off the heels of her recently released full length, 49 Ceiling Tiles, which has received rave reviews nation wide. Many other acts from Mississippi include And The Echo, a two-piece synth pop band out of Oxford; Blackwater Trio, a three-piece gone full band with screaming violin and a whirlwind of vocal harmonies; A Scarlet Empire, whose 2010 Otherfest performance literally caused a plague of crickets and brought on strong, unexplained winds. All told, 16 bands will grace the stage at this year’s Otherfest.
Gates open at 5 pm on Friday, and admission for the festival will be $25 at the gate. Food vending for Otherfest will include area food trucks. Beverage vending will be
sponsored by Mitchell Distributing. Small coolers are permitted inside the festival grounds. Car-pooling as well as camping are strongly encouraged for the festival.
An Adopt-A-Band campaign has been set up to give regional businesses and private donors sponsorship opportunities for the festival, all of which are tax deductible through Keep Cleveland Boring’s 501(c)(3) status.
For more information including full line up, artist and food vending info, and sponsorship info, please visit www.keepclevelandboring.com or email info@keepclevelandboring.com. 
