INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana's first exclusively queer music festival is set to be in the heart of Fountain Square on Saturday, Sept. 7.
The all-day affair is not just LGBTQ inclusive but is solely comprised of queer artists.
Carrie Keel, the creator of Fountain Square's popular queer dance-party, known as 'Low Pone,' is the entrepreneur behind BUZZ/cut.
Keel says the motivation behind BUZZ/cut is much like the motivation behind Low Pone — needing a place of representation.
"Low Pone was started on a wig and a prayer," Keel said. "I live in Fountain Square, and it was important for me to have a spot that I can be represented. It started on just needing one night a month because so many of our establishments are closing."
BUZZ/cut Queer Music Festival is slated for Saturday, Sept. 7 from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. behind Fountain Square cocktail bar, Pioneer. The same venue as Low Pone's often sold-out dance party.
"Our move to Pioneer provided the perfect spot for Low Pone," Keel said. "Pioneer is a bit more conducive to all sorts of crowds."
A lineup comprised of 15 acts that includes headliners like 'CupcaKke,' 'Sateen,' and 'Shamir,' Keel is set to provide an all-day affair.
Festival-goers can expect two stages, a big video wall, art installations and a series of vendors. Low Pone's community partners, the Damien Center, Queer Indy and Step Up, will also have booths at the festival.
"Pride is so awesome, and we would like to think of the festival as an extension of that," Keel said. "This is beyond just community engagement, and it's just doing something different."
The genuine momentum behind the BUZZ/cut Indy Music Festival, Keel says, is Low Pone's Minor Sweat.
Minor Sweat is a safe space for Indy's queer, underage youth to perform and be apart of a community. In an effort to allow queer youth to be around queer adults, Low Pone has created a festival to broadcast that expression.
BUZZ/cut Indy is open to all ages. Tickets can be found and bought on buzzcutindy.com for $20.
