Hundreds of unsigned artists from around the world have submitted thus far and the quality appears to be very high this year (from what I have heard). The festival is coming up Sept. 25-27 and, as previously announced, it will include, for the first time in its seven-year history, established, signed national acts. The festival is also expanding outside of the Main Street corridor in Over-the-Rhine to include "hubs" of venues in Newport and other areas of downtown Cincinnati.

Check both mpmf.com and blogs.citybeat.com/spill_it for MidPoint updates, including national act announcements, special local band invites and accepted submitters.

More Local Notes
· With fresh news that New Orleans relief efforts are running out of funds, the time couldn't be more right for next Wednesday's (May 21) Give Back to the Birthplace of Jazz benefit concert at the 20th Century Theater in Oakley. The show will raise money for Give Back Cincinnati's upcoming summer trip to New Orleans to build houses and features appropriately N'awlins-flavored Jazz for entertainment. Slated to perform are Lagniappe, Queen City Zapatistas, Erwin Stuckey and the Buffalo Ridge Band. Music starts at 7 p.m. The concert is the first of the planned CincyDiversity concert series, which will feature a monthly "cultural theme" and benefit an appropriate nonprofit.

· Want to really slash prices at the pump? Like, altogether? The MoBo Bicycle Co-op -- which strives to provide easy access to bikes and their upkeep -- is presenting its second annual fund-raiser this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The event -- which will raise money for the Co-op's operating costs this season -- takes place at Off the Avenue Studios (1545 Knowlton, Northside) and features music from Matt Shelton, The Lions Rampant, Chuck Cleaver and Lisa Walker from Wussy, DJ Brian Dilsizian and Peter Adams, whose new album, I Woke With Planets In My Face, is available now as a pay-what-you-want download at peteradamsmusic.com. (Adams and his band will host a CD release show for the album May 24 at Baba Budan's in Clifton For more on the Co-op (and the event's raffles and silent auction), go to mobobicyclecoop.org.

· Warmer weather means the annual LPK Acoustic Lunch music series at Piatt Park is on its way. The concerts, which feature a different local artist each week, run each Tuesday at 11:45 a.m. through September. The Country/Rock duo The Turkeys play this week's event and featured performers include IsWhat?! (May 27), Rumpke Mountain Boys (June 24), Tracy Walker (July 1), 46 Long (July 15), G. Burton and Chris Goins (Aug. 19), The Sheds (Sept. 9), Lines and Spaces (Sept. 16), Faux Frenchmen (Sept. 23) and Tanner Hill (Sept. 30).