IndieCraft 2022 to take stage

If you've been to IndieCraft before, you're probably already excited for a weekend full of live music and good beer. If you haven't been, what are you waiting for?

"What makes Springfield so awesome is people coming together, sharing community and cultures," says John Kelly, the Greater Springfield Partnership's downtown events programmer. "It's the culmination of all sorts of people coming together to enjoy themselves and taking time to enjoy life. We want more poitive reasons to be together, so IndieCraft is kind of the kickoff to everything else going on for the summer."

IndieCraft 2022, presented by the Greater Springfield Partnership and Benjamin Steel, kicks off three days of free live music at 4 p.m. Friday, May 13, at COhatch - The Market in Downtown Springfield. 

Performances Friday at COhatch include A Band Called Dreamland, Heather Redman, and XL-427. 

The weekend's only ticketed performance - nationally touring Guided by Voices - starts at Mother Stewart's Brewing Company at 9 p.m. and is already sold out. If you missed out on tickets, not to worry. A large simulcast screen will be set up just outside the brewery where people will still be able to hear the concert while watching the band on the screen.

The Saturday, May 14, shows also start at COhatch, with performances kicking off at 2 p.m. You can catch New Moons, Great Serpent Mound of Ohio, and In the Pines at COhatch. 

Mother Stewart's opens for Saturday concerts and Beerfest - featuring 12 local craft breweries - at 5 p.m.

Performances include Hello Luna, M Ross Perkins, Texas King, and Motherfolk.

Come enjoy Mother's own selection of brews or sample favorites from Crooked Handle Brewing Co., Hairless Hare Brewery, The Dayton Beer Company, Devil Wind Brewing, Bock Family Brewing, Warped Wing Brewing Company, Nine Giant Brewing, Branch & Bone Artisan Ales, The Wandering Griffin, Fifth Street Brewpub, Yellow Springs Brewery, and HighGrain Brewing Co.. 

You can purchase a minimum of $10 in tickets to sample a variety of beers from any or all of the breweries.

This year, the festival added not only a second location but also a third day. The shows on Sunday, May 15, will all be at Mother Stewart's, with doors opening at noon and shows starting at 1 p.m. from Anna Marie Music, followed by Thaddeus Williams and Kate Tucker.

Come hungry because a mix of food trucks will also be ready to serve throughout the weekend. Food trucks on site during IndieCraft will include: Tortilla Street Food, Red Top Smoke Shack, Diamond Dogs, Christian Brother's Meat Company, Schmidt's Sausage Truck, Kore 4 Soul Kitchen, Garden of Vida, Griddles & Cheese, Freakin Rican's Food Truck, Mom Andrasik's Hungarian, EAT, and DG Coffee Roasters.

The event was able to grow this year in no small part because of the committed investments on the part of many local businesses and organizations, Kelly says. 

"This was our first year selling sponsorships for IndieCraft," he says. "We've had a very positive response from all the businesses we reached out to. We have proven the community is receptive to IndieCraft as an event, and there's now a demand for it in our community and from the artists who want to perform here." 

Kelly says events like IndieCraft breed positive expectations and response from not only business supporters, but also the local community and out-of-town visitors. 

"There's been a perspective shift of our community, and people really look forward to coming to these events and enjoying our downtown," he says.

Find all the details you need before and during IndieCraft at www.IndieCraftOH.com or the IndieCraft Facebook page.