Music Forecast April 5-11

Middle of the Map Fest

More than 80 acts perform on 10 Westport stages this weekend, when Middle of the Map Fest returns for its second year. Below, see some suggestions for your itinerary.

Thursday, April 5

The dream of the ’90s is alive as the fest kicks off with a slew of reunion shows from former scene heroes at RecordBar. The acts tilt heavy: Cher UK (7:45 p.m.), the Esoteric (8:45 p.m.), Season to Risk (9:45 p.m.) and Molly McGuire (11 p.m.).
RecordBar (1020 Westport Road, 816-753-5207)

Elsewhere, Brooklyn’s the Loom brings its upbeat, rustic, occasionally French-horn-augmented folk to the Union (10:45 p.m.). Fellow NYC act Hooray for Earth, whose hooky synth-pop situates it in the vicinity of the first MGMT album, headlines the Riot Room (11:30 p.m.). 
The Union of Westport (421 Westport Road)
The Riot Room (4048 Broadway, 816-442-8179)

Friday, April 6

Begin the evening with sprawling, percussive punk jams from Ad Astra Arkestra at the Beaumont Club (7 p.m.). Stick around for indie rock from AAA’s Record Machine labelmates Capybara (7:45 p.m.) and Cowboy Indian Bear (8:45 p.m.).
The Beaumont Club (4050 Pennsylvania, 816-561-2560)

Golden Sound Records is showcasing its roster at Westport Coffee House throughout the evening. One of the more compelling acts affiliated with the local label is Fullbloods (9:15 p.m.), a tight quartet that mixes surf-rock and pop influences.
Westport Coffee House (4010 Pennsylvania, 816-756-3222)

Perhaps the most impressive “get” by Middle of the Map is the back-from-the-dead Boston post-punk band Mission of Burma, which headlines at RecordBar (11:30 p.m.).
RecordBar (1020 Westport Road, 816-753-5207)

Austin’s White Denim is equal parts Phish, Black Keys and knotty indie rock. The band plays at the Riot Room at midnight.
The Riot Room (4048 Broadway, 816-442-8179)

Close out the night at the Union with electronic shoegaze soundscapes from Detroit’s Deastro (1:30 a.m.).
The Union of Westport (421 Westport Road)

Saturday, April 7

A sampling of locals holds it down in the afternoon at RecordBar. See smooth pop from Minden (1 p.m.), gauzy lady-emo from La Guerre (2 p.m.), and indie pop from Sam Billen and the Billions (3:45 p.m.). The moody chamber-folk act Olympic Size (7 p.m.) has been on hiatus on account of member Billy Smith’s recent move to New York but reunites for the fest. Stick around RecordBar until midnight to check out El Ten Eleven‘s lush, instrumental indie rock.
RecordBar (1020 Westport Road, 816-753-5207)

If there’s an act that best embodies the tastes of Middle of the Map curator the Record Machine, it’s probably hazy, synth-driven Neon Indian, whose bleeps and bloops fill the Beaumont Club starting at 9:30 p.m. Following Neon Indian at the Beaumont is Fun (10:30 p.m.), whose super-cheesy rock anthem “We Are Young” spent much of March atop the Billboard Hot 100. Be prepared for some young’uns at that one.
The Beaumont Club (4050 Pennsylvania, 816-561-2560)

One of the best-received LPs of 2011 was Fucked Up‘s heavy, melodic, Zen Arcade-like concept album David Comes to Life. The Toronto punks’ 11:45 p.m. show at the Riot Room is a good bet for being the highlight of the fest.
The Riot Room (4048 Broadway, 816-442-8179)

If you haven’t already taken enough drugs to be hallucinating, stop in at the Union on your way out of Westport. Alternately manic and slow-burning, the music of Japanese psych-drone outfit Acid Mothers Temple (1:30 a.m.) delivers on its name.
The Union of Westport (421 Westport Road)