Last weekend (Nov. 1st and 2nd, 2024), we embarked on a wild adventure to Madison, IN for the MadHop Music Festival downtown. It was the 4th edition of this festival, with previous editions in 2019, 2022, and 2023. We stumbled upon this festival by accident this year, and boy, are we glad we did! The whole vibe of the weekend was chill, with some amazing tunes from artists I never knew existed! Being first-timers, we had no clue what to expect, but let me tell you, MadHop exceeded all expectations! My now hubby, Michael, and I absolutely vibed with the setup – it was a match made in music heaven! If you're looking for a good time, mark your calendars for MadHop – you won't regret it!
Things to Know:
*The venues are all so unique in their own ways, and you absolutely must make it a goal to visit every single one of them (if possible)!
*And let's talk about the drinks - what a deal! At just $6 each at the beer tent, they were definitely a steal. Plus, shoutout to Michelob for sponsoring the beer!
*Don't even get me started on the food trucks and downtown locations - they really know how to amp up the festival vibes. Just be aware that some places may switch to carry-out only during the event, so plan accordingly!
*When it comes to the smaller bars, timing is key. If they're hosting, snagging a table or ordering food might be a challenge unless you time it right or arrive super early.
*Remember, some venues have strict rules about drinks, so be sure to check their licensing before trying to carry in or out any beverages.
**Pro tip: book your hotel accommodations early - like over the summer or even earlier - if you want to stay close to the action without a long drive. And if you need a ride, there's always a taxi available to whisk you to and from the festival!
*At the outdoor stage, bringing your own chair is what some did since there might not be much seating available.
*Let's show some love to the amazing musicians and spread the word to your friends and family - let's make this event even bigger and better for the city of Madison!
The Venues
Below, is the schedule that was below for the festival:
There were multiple venues where artists performed throughout the day.
Here are a few that we particularly enjoyed at the festival:
The Grote Stage: The main outdoor stage had a beer tent, a small alley featuring other artists, and a merchandise booth. Many people set up their chairs here to enjoy the beautiful fall weather.
Thomas Family Winery: This lovely small venue was my husband's favorite of the night. It offered a variety of wines and a cozy stage for an intimate experience. The classic ambiance paired perfectly with the music by Sonya Moomaw w/ Roman Counterman and Anthony Ray Wright. We even took a bottle of wine home, opting for the Colonial Sack (17%) with its initial bitterness followed by notes of butterscotch and walnut.
Ohio Theatre: I always been a major fan of the Ohio Theatre due to its historical touch and to me it is a truly iconic spot in Madison with an amazing illuminating sign. It had a large stage with plenty of space for dancing, sitting, etc. The theatre has been a major restoration project for the city, and they have relied on donations for the improvement. Consider helping this wonderful theatre by going to: https://www.ohiotheatremadison.org/ and mail a check to:Friends of the Ohio TheatreP.O. Box 42, Madison, IN 47250 or sending funds to: Venmo:@Ohio Theatre OR
PayPal: friendsoftheohiotheatre@gmail.com. I would LOVE to see future events in this venue! We enjoyed seeing Rusty Bladen at this location- he had great energy and did a wonderful redention of Hey Jude!
4. Electric Lady: This was a great place to visit as it had a lower and upper deck for viewing the music. We decided to go upstairs, and it was a great view. This location seemed to be able to fit a generous amount of people in it as well with more seating than most of the other locations. As you walked in, they also had large tubs full of a variety of beers that made it easy to grab a drink and not have to wait. It was very convenient. The Chicago Farmers and The Fieldnotes were also fantastic. He told a story about discovering Nirvana and Hank Williams at the same time- and that really hit home!
5. Off Broadway Taproom: This was a good location, but was definitely small. We tried visiting a couple of times because they have Guinness on tap, and Michael is a sucker for that. It was really hard to have much room in here, but I believe it was because the food and drinks are enjoyable as well as the music. The staff were working really hard to get to everyone as well as deliver food and drinks for all. We got to see Danny Flanigan here, and really liked him!
The Musicians
The highlight of the entire festival was undoubtedly the music, which was the primary motivation for our attendance. Although I was unfamiliar with most of the artists on the lineup beforehand, I found myself becoming a fan of each one we experienced. While our initial draw to the festival was to see Sundy Best, as they were the performers of our wedding song, every artist exceeded our expectations and made the ticket price more than worthwhile. Below, you can find a video showcasing some of our favorite performances from the night, giving you a glimpse of the exceptional music at the festival!
Sundy Best- 10/10 all the time, every time! We love these Kentucky boys!
Cole Chaney (He wasn't supposed to be in the festival, but stepped in from the crowd because they needed someone! He was amazing, and I am looking for tickets to his shows!)
Arlo McKinley- Amazing voice and set! The crowd didn't want him to leave!
The Local Honeys- Loved their sounds and instruments! Great performers!
Chicago Farmer + The Fieldnotes- Full of energy! Loved this band and will have to look up more of their music! They had the Electric Lady hopping!
Anthony Ray Wright- AMAZING Texas Country voice!
Sonya Moomaw w/ Roman Counterman- Loved the instruments and their music!
The Grub
There are many options for food in downtown Madison. I know that I could go on and on about the amounts of food that Madison has, but I will highlight a few that we enjoyed and that we can definitely recommend if you are in town:
Bello’s Pizza: One of the best pizzas in the city of Carrollton, KY used to be Della Rosa. It was a weekly meal in my household and this pizza is the closest I have ever been able to find to it! It is soooo good and they put pepperonis and toppings on top of and below the cheese. I had the Stromboli as well and it was really good! Highly recommend for some good pizza!
Harry Stone’s Grill: This is one of my faves in Madison. They have a wide selection of foods from pastas to steaks to burgers, and it is always great! We also went during happy hour and a pitcher of Bud light was a whopping $7.50! Plus, the bread, potato skins, and everything was soooo good!
Central Tavern: I ordered this Door Dash our first night in Madison and the sliders and crinkle fries were great! The order was slightly wrong, but it wasn’t anything too bad. This would be a great late night option if you are in town!
The Red Pepperoni: Yes, we did have pizza twice that night but it was worth it on both occasions. This was my first time at The Red Pepperoni, and they had so many awesome selections as well from pizzas (create your own), pastas, breadsticks, etc. The beer selection was also very large as well. It was a great spot!
Hinkles: I did not visit this weekend, but this is one of my all time favorites. Their sliders, home fries, and milkshakes are absolutely to die for and if you go to Madison you must try it!
Food Trucks: The festival did have a few food trucks lined up that would be good quick options from BBQ, American cuisine, and tamales! I would assume this is something they would continue in the future!
The City of Madison
Hey there! Let me tell you about the charming city of Madison - it's like a shiny diamond even without the festival glitter! Picture this: you can shop till you drop, dine in cozy spots, all in a setting straight out of a romance novel. It's so gorgeous, it's like a real-life fairytale town! And guess what? They've got events galore all year round to lure in tourists from far and wide! So, why not plan a little escape there with your honey, gal pals, or the whole fam? There's so much to do, you'll be surprised!
For more juicy details, check out https://visitmadison.org for some inspiration!
Oh, and let me tell you, that festival we mentioned? It was the bomb dot com! We had a blast and can't wait to see what they cook up for next year! Save the date for the MadHop Music Festival in 2025 - we'll see you there!
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