Somewhere Fest & Conference is an upcoming festival scheduled to take place in downtown Wichita, KS on June 13th to June 14th, 2025, and will host artists from a variety of music genres, as well as conversations and gatherings aimed at evolving the music industry as a whole. Amidst the performances from musicians like Suki Waterhouse, deadmau5, and Flying Lotus, there will be panel discussions and workshops led by industry professionals, providing hands-on opportunities to develop skills essential for working in the music industry. 

It started last year as “Elsewhere Fest” and is transforming this year into a not-for-profit, genre-agnostic festival aimed to connect live music, social change, and community. It is an evolution of a music festival—taking it one step further and connecting the genesis of an artist’s to the end result and thereafter. It is concerned with helping independent artists secure the resources they need for success, connecting current musicians with their audiences, and promoting the social changes that are needed within the industry. It is, perhaps, a new era of music festivals altogether.

Photo by Travis Heying

Words: Marquel Patton

Photography: Tim Larsen & Travis Heying