When Naethan Apollo steps onto the MONfest stage, the indie and alternative hip‑hop artist will be performing for a crowd he once wished existed.
The Solon native, now touring nationally and internationally, said he remembers driving several hours to see live music. Being invited to headline the Middle of NOWhere Rural Art & Music Festival feels like a full‑circle moment.
“As a kid who grew up in the middle of nowhere Iowa, almost every single concert I ever went to was out of state,” Apollo told the Ames Tribune in an email. “So, now that I’m a touring musician myself, I love doing shows in Iowa to give other middle-of-nowhere kids, like me, a chance to have fun.”
The festival, known as MONfest, will return for its third year from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 11, at The Cellar Winery near Slater. Organizers expect the 2026 event to be the biggest yet, with expanded parking, returning shuttle carts and a new hands‑on theme called “Create With Me.”
Naethan Apollo is a headliner shaped by Iowa’s DIY scene
Apollo’s connection to MONfest founder Siriaco “Siricasso” Garcia goes back nearly a decade. Before Apollo built a massive following online and began selling out shows across the United States and Europe, he was performing at Garcia’s grassroots hip‑hop events in Ames.
“Nobody does it in Iowa quite like him,” Apollo said. “In the beginning, these shows took place in empty yards and warehouses. And I feel like I owe it to Siri because those DIY events gave me crucial performing experience.”
He said that when Garcia reached out about headlining MONfest, the answer was immediate.
“I think everyone should support it. So, when he hit me up asking me to headline, I had to say yes,” Apollo said.
Third-annual MONfest continues to grow and evolve
MONfest has expanded each year since its launch. Organizers are adding more parking along the gravel road to the venue and are considering a larger shuttle from Huxley to improve access.
The 2026 festival will also feature free art stations where guests can paint and draw alongside participating artists.
Another major addition is a mural maze that winds into the property’s corn maze before looping back into the main venue, blending rural landscape with contemporary art.
Last year, more than 120 artists and vendors applied to participate. This year, organizers plan to select about 65 to create a more open and accessible experience.
MONfest offers a shared mission to support rural creatives
Apollo believes MONfest fills a gap for artists who live outside Iowa’s college‑centered cultural hubs.
“If it wasn’t for the internet and social media, I would not be in the position I am today. Nobody in small-town Iowa wants to listen to the kind of music I’m making,” he said. “Events like MONfest provide an outlet for all creatives to come and do what they are best at.”
He describes his own music as “weird, indie/alternative hip‑hop” with fantasy storytelling woven through concept albums. He hopes festivalgoers will discover something new, whether from him or the dozens of artists who will fill the winery grounds.
“If you come out to MONfest this year, you won’t regret it,” he said.
Ronna Faaborg covers business and the arts for the Ames Tribune. Reach her at rfaaborg@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Who is headlining the 3rd annual Middle of NOWhere Festival?
Reporting by Ronna Faaborg, Ames Tribune / Ames Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Ronna Faaborg, Ames Tribune | USA TODAY Network
