What? Music and Arts Festival announces mind-bending two-day lineup

For the first time, What? Music and Arts Festival will take place at Steelton Yards —it’s largest venue yet. The space will be filled with visual artists, live muralists, art galleries, interactive installations and projection mapping on two music stages. 

The event, which features electronic music, takes place over two days from Aug. 6-7. Doors open at 2 p.m. each day. 

Ryan McKee, event director and What? Productions co-founder, said the event creates a community around art, involving people locally and nationally. 

“The festival is curated to inspire all attendees, providing an inclusive and supportive space for self-expression,” he said. 

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This year’s festival is more than doubling its footprint with floor-to-ceiling visuals and multiple music stages for an epic two-day event.

John Mally, dot connector at Steelton Yards/The Fort, said they’ve been building up a community of small businesses in Steelton and around the Fort for the past four years. 

“It has long been our dream to bring that mix of music and visual art to this side of town and

what better group to partner with than the What? Music and Arts Festival team?” Mally said. 

Music artists will include CharlestheFirst, Mersiv, Yheti, Of the Trees, TSURUDA, Toadface, Tripp St., Black Carl!, Veil, NotLö, Daily Bread, Late Night Radio, Artifakts Derlee, The Quasi Kings, Barefuzz, Electric Orange Peel, Faye, Fear and Lowe, School of Rock, Friends with Elephants, Easy Tiger, Pinwheel, Dewmba, and Samson. 

Guests will also be able to participate in wellness programs, silent disco, and peruse food and cultural vendors. Partial proceeds from the event will be donated to the Gladden Community House, a resource for the Franklinton community in downtown Columbus. 

For tickets and to see lineup of performing artists, visit whatmaaf.com/tickets. 

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