
Fever Fest looks to the future of Indy festivals
Why it matters: The people throwing the party tell Axios it wasn't just a one-time thing. It was the first edition of the Circle City's next big festival franchise.
Driving the news: Despite a midday downpour and the looming threat of show-canceling conditions, fans stormed White River State Park for the event produced by Kevin Hart's Hartbeat Media Group in collaboration with Pacers Sports & Entertainment.
Stand-up headliners like Cedric The Entertainer and Leslie Jones handled the funny — with some help from the Fever's Sydney Colson — while hip-hop hitmakers BIA and G-Eazy took care of the tunes.
What they're saying:"I consider Indianapolis to be the best major event host city in the country, and I think this event is going to only continue to elevate that," said Joey Graziano, PS&E's EVP of strategy and new business ventures. "With our partnership with Hartbeat as the official culture curators of the Pacers and the Fever, we created something new. Probably earlier than we would have otherwise. But we wanted to make sure that this event had a signature inaugural moment."
"For the rest of Fever Fest's existence — and we believe it's got a long, long runway ahead — people are always going to say the first one was at WNBA All-Star."
Between the lines: The partnership between PS&E and Hartbeat was announced earlier this year with the promise of festivals, halftime performances, scripted content and bespoke merchandise collaborations.
Hartbeat EVP and head of marketing Janina Lundy told Axios the aim is to make Fever Fest and everything else born from the multi-year partnership feel distinctly Indianapolis.
She added that the "inaugural" prefix the event carried in its branding was intentional, so expect the name to stick around even as the time, venue and list of performers change.
"The idea isn't that we're just coming into the market when this big event is happening. We're really a partner … and we're just kind of trying to enhance what already exists," she said. "Fever Fest itself will continue to grow both with local entertainment and entertainers coming from around the world."
For Graziano, the ultimate goal is one day turning Fever Fest into a citywide takeover.
"We know we've got to start small. We've got to earn credibility and trust in each step. But we are looking at and saying that our city lines up so well with what we believe is the future of music and comedy festivals," he said.
Zoom out: Fever Fest's future is being considered as Indy-area concertgoers enjoy a growing selection of new or expanding single and multi-day festivals of all sizes.
After making its debut in May 2024, GANGGANG's I Made Rock 'N' Roll Festival will return in May 2026.
Thursday marks the start of Post. Festival 2025, a three-day showcase of global post-genre bands hitting HI-FI and HI-FI Annex.
The Chreece hip-hop festival returns on Aug. 23, packing performances from more than 50 acts across seven stages into a single day.
Indy Jazz Fest runs from Sept. 9-20 with a loaded lineup for local and international talent.
The 10th anniversary of the traveling Outlaw Music Festival Tour comes to Ruoff on Sept. 18 with legends like Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan and Sheryl Crow.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Boston Globe
4 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Five things to do around Boston, July 28 - Aug. 10
July 31 Latest Buzz Learn how to make your own café-quality espresso at George Howell Coffee's Home Espresso workshop. Baristas will share tips for setting up your home coffee bar — and show you how to use it to make delicious shots of espresso. From 1 to 2 p.m. at George Howell's Lovestruck Books location in Cambridge. Free. Sign up at Advertisement August 2 - 3 Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Blast From the Past Travel back to the American Revolution at Redcoats and Rebels. Hundreds of actors dressed in 18th-century Army regalia will gather at Old Sturbridge Village for New England's largest military reenactment. Step into a rebel camp, listen to drum and fife music, and watch live cannon and musket shows as you learn about our nation's history. From 9:30 a.m. each day. Reserve tickets, $32 for adult admission, at August 2 Boston Bash Indulge in the city's finest with Boston Globe Media's B-Side newsletter team at its Best Day Ever festival. This afternoon celebration, held at Artists for Humanity in Boston from 2 to 6 p.m., features all of B-Side's local favorites — from chefs to musicians. Browse a curated vintage market, sample foods from vendors such as Levain Bakery and Anna's Taqueria, enjoy live performances, participate in interactive art-making activities, and more. Get tickets — $15 VIP entry for B-Side members, $40 general admission — at Advertisement August 7 Skawesome Welcome to ska season! Celebrate the genre at Summer of Ska, an evening festival starting at 8 p.m. at The Rockwell in Somerville (doors open at 7). The night features live performances by four New England ska bands. Dance to their beats or just sit back and enjoy the show. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. $15 to $20. Share your event news. Send information on Boston-area happenings at least three weeks in advance to week@ Editor's note: This edition of Your Week Ahead covers two weeks. Look for the next Globe Magazine on August 10. Adelaide Parker can be reached at


Hamilton Spectator
10 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Where celebrities eat in Toronto: 12 restaurants visited by stars from Blackpink to Coldplay
From fine dining to street food, Toronto's diverse culinary scene has made it a top destination for food lovers. But where do celebrities eat when they're in town? Here's a look at where musicians, actors and celebrity chefs have dined during recent visits to Toronto. A post shared by 달동네 Daldongnae BBQ (@daldongnae) Following the second Blackpink show at Rogers Stadium, at least one member of the K-pop girl group — Jennie — dropped by Daldongnae, a popular Korean BBQ spot in North York. 'BLACKPINK in our area… again!' the restaurant wrote in an Instagram post, which noted that this was the second time Jennie has visited one of the restaurant's locations. 'We're honoured and so thankful.' On social media, fans also say that two members of Blackpink were spotted leaving Huh Ga Ne, a 24-hour Korean eatery in North York. The Star was unable to confirm with the restaurant, but fans circulated videos and photos of two women who they believe were singers Rosé and Lisa, leaving the location on Finch Ave. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin performs at Toronto's new Rogers Stadium. Midway through their four-night residency at the recently inaugurated Rogers Stadium this July, three of the four members of Coldplay dined at the Michelin-starred Osteria Giulia in Yorkville , as first reported by Star contributing columnist Shinan Govani. Frontman Chris Martin, guitarist Jonny Buckland and drummer Will Champion — who has dined at Giulia in the past — were among the party of 10 that stayed late and closed the restaurant down on July 9, owner David Minicucci told the Star. 'They were wonderful and exemplary guests,' Minicucci said, adding that the group ordered pasta, grilled fish and seafood. 'They kept it very clean and light.' 'They ordered well and were great to have in the room,' he added. 'And Chris Martin was very engaging with our team.' A post shared by Daniele Corona | Chef ⭐️ (@danielecoronareal) While the rest of his band was at Osteria Giulia, Coldplay bassist Guy Berryman zipped over to DaNico , an Italian fine-dining spot on College Street that has earned a Michelin star for its refined tasting menus. 'I came to your show yesterday and it was absolutely incredible,' chef Daniele Corona wrote on Instagram . 'And today I found you at DaNico ... honoured by your presence.' American actor and director Jesse Eisenberg, whose 2024 film ' A Real Pain ' was nominated for best original screenplay at the 97th Academy Awards, stopped by Curryish Tavern earlier this month with his wife, daughter and a friend who lives in Toronto. Miheer Shete, who owns the Queen West Indian restaurant, told BlogTO that he received a call from the concierge at the Eisenberg's hotel, and was told that the actor and his group was in the mood for 'an Indian feast.' Shete told the Star while Curryish has hosted actors and comedians in the past, Eisenberg is the most famous celebrity to dine at his restaurant. He said the actor's party ordered samosa, asparagus salad, coconut stuffed branzino, green tomato butter chicken, stuffed paneer with roasted pepper korma and more. A post shared by Zezafoun Syrian Cuisine (@zezafounsyriancuisine) Elyanna — the Palestinian-Chilean pop singer who opened for Coldplay during their stint at Rogers Stadium — brought her band and a group of friends to Zezafoun Syrian Cuisine, a cosy, family-run restaurant in Davisville Village. 'Your sweet spirit lit up the place, and we truly loved having you,' the restaurant posted on Instagram. A post shared by Jeff Regular (@paitoronto) This spring, legendary hip hop drummer, producer and DJ Questlove dropped by Kiin , a high-end Thai restaurant in the entertainment district, after his band The Roots played at Rebel. According to Jeff Regular, who owns Kiin alongside his wife, Nuit Regular , told the Star that Questlove ordered the restaurant's latest tasting menu, and that he liked the wagyu and lamb courses in particular. 'That was huge,' Regular said. 'Sadly, I was in Japan at the time, but I was freaking out.' A post shared by Harlem Restaurant (@harlemrestaurant) Known for its Afro-Caribbean and soul food — it helped popularize fried chicken and waffles in Toronto, Star food reporter Karon Liu recently noted — and for hosting live music, Harlem Restaurant on Queen West re-opened its doors this spring after a closure that lasted nearly six years. Within days of reopening in May, the restaurant hosted a birthday party for Toronto hip hop mogul Kardinall Offishall, which was attended by American stand-up comic and actor Dave Chappelle. A post shared by Jeff Regular (@paitoronto) Forget potatoes , the Hobbits are into Thai food, now! Dom Monaghan (the actor who plays Merry Brandybuck in the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy) has long declared PAI — a northern Thai food fixture with locations in downtown and uptown — as his favourite restaurant in the city. So when his buddy Elijah Wood (the actor who plays Frodo Baggins) was in town in May, he urged him to check it out. Woods was 'very gracious,' said owner Jeff Regular. The actor ordered extensively off the menu, but his favourite dish was miang kung : a platter of fresh ingredients (shrimp, ginger, shallots, roasted coconut, etc.) that customers wrap in fresh betel leaf. A post shared by @pearlyorkville Iconic businesswoman and lifestyle personality Martha Stewart was in town in February to film a television series, when she dropped by Pearl, an authentic Chinese restaurant in Yorkville that serves traditional Cantonese food and dim sum. According to BlogTO , Stewart ordered Peking duck, stir-fried long beans with black bean sauce, pan-fried hockey pucks, spinach and shrimp dumplings, and soup dumplings. A post shared by José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) Spanish-American celebrity chef and restaurateur José Andrés was also in town in February to shoot a television series, and among the spots he dined was Fisherman Lobster Club, the Scarborough seafood restaurant known for its gigantic platters of lobster and crab. The Jonas Brothers pose for a picture with Adrak Yorkville co-founder Ambica Jain. Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas made an unexpected visit to Adrak — a Michelin-recommended restaurant in Yorkville serving modern Indian cuisine — last January. 'All of the brothers said the food was amazing and that they really liked the Chai biscuit dessert a lot,' a representative for the restaurant told the Star. 'They were extremely friendly, kind and appreciative. No star-power attitude, and very humble.' Other high-profile stars who have dined at Adrak since it opened include Jessica Alba, Oscar Issac, Daniel Boulud and Karan Aujla. Chubby's, the vibrant Jamaican spot on Portland, has long been a magnet for celebrities (Sean Paul, Anthony Mackie) and athletes (Scottie Barnes, Penny Oleksiak, Brandon Ingram). Last November, Jamaican dancehall legend Buju Banton dropped by for a meal, and snapped a photo with general manager Daniela Chinchilla.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Stephen Curry Says He's ‘Nowhere Close' To Retirement, But Offseasons Are The True Test
Stephen Curry Says He's 'Nowhere Close' To Retirement, But Offseasons Are The True Test originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Stephen Curry is still playing at an elite level heading into his 17th NBA season, but even he's beginning to think about how, and when, his legendary career might end. In a recent appearance on the '360 With Speedy' show, the four-time champion spoke candidly about retirement, longevity, and what it really takes to stay motivated at this stage of his journey. While Curry emphasized that he's 'nowhere close' to walking away, he admitted he's started to take things in two-year increments to stay focused and grounded. 'I'm kind of taking it in two-year chunks," said Curry in a chat with Speedy Morman. "Just to know, you have to give yourself something and some motivation to kind of go after it. I talked to all the guys who got into this situation where they've extended their prime, and there are more ungraceful endings than there are 'I tip the cap' type of thing." Curry, 37, has already accomplished more in his career than most players can dream of. As a 4x champion, 2x MVP, 2x scoring leader, and 11x All-Star, the Warriors legend has nothing left to prove in the NBA. As he approaches his inevitable retirement, the true test of his stamina will be how he endures the offseason. "The offseason, for me, is the hardest because once you get into the 82 games, it's repetition, you know what you need to do in practice in the off days," Curry said. "You love playing, and the games are most fun… like, you get lost in the game, that's the easy part. So if I can get through the offseasons, I feel like that's a good marker for how long I can push it." Curry's love and passion for the game have never been in doubt. Since he entered the league in 2009, the NBA sharpshooter has played with a relentless drive to not only succeed with the Warriors but also get the absolute most out of whatever time he has left in the NBA. "I just want to be in a position where I can say I've done everything I can to get everything out of this game," said Curry. "Hopefully, I have my health and the choice to say 'I'm hanging it up and I'm good.' But I'm nowhere close to that, though.' Even after 16 years, and plenty of bumps along the way, the Warriors remain committed to building a contender around Curry. With averages of 24.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game last season, he proved he can still deliver at a high level, and now it's up to GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. to fill out the roster with enough firepower. While the Warriors have not made any notable moves this summer, they still have Steph, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler ready to help lead their team to prosperity in the West. In the 2024-25 campaign, they finished 7th in the West (48-34), but the jury is still out on where they'll fit in next season. For Curry, the finish line isn't in sight just yet, but he's pacing himself. By breaking his journey into manageable chapters, he's staying motivated, focused, and realistic about the path ahead. As long as his body holds up and the passion stays lit, Steph will keep chasing moments, not just milestones. And whenever that final buzzer does sound, it won't catch him off guard—it'll be on his story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 24, 2025, where it first appeared.