HI-FI Annex kicks off its final outdoor season. Again.
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Matt Hansen rocking the HI-FI Annex stage as the season opener in 2025. Photo: Courtesy of HI-FI & MOKB Presents
After what was supposed to be a farewell tour in 2025, HI-FI Annex is bringing the noise to Fountain Square with an encore outdoor season featuring more than 70 shows.
Why it matters: What started as a pandemic-era solution for local live music has blossomed into one of Indy's most beloved music venues over the past six years.
Driving the news: The final outdoor season at HI-FI Annex kicked off over the weekend with a Friday night performance from indie garage rock band The Nude Party, and a sold-out Saturday night set starring Hoosier ska band Johnny Socko.
- As of Monday, more than 40 shows have been announced for this season, and officials say more than 75 total are in the works.
Zoom in: Among the highlights are performances from Marc Broussard on May 10, Built to Spill on May 16, The Beths on June 12, Fruit Bats on June 18, the three-day POST. Festival July 23-25, and Hulvey on Sept. 23.
💠Justin's thought bubble: You'll probably spot me in the crowd when alt-pop singer Julia Wolf takes the Annex stage on Oct. 13.
- NYT named her an Artist to Watch for 2026, but I've been a fan since she dropped her mid-tempo basketball-adjacent banger "Hoops" in 2020.
Flashback: The Annex started as an idea co-owner Josh Baker sketched on a napkin in June 2020 when it became clear that COVID-19 was going to have a lasting impact on the live music industry.
- The original concept used shipping containers to create an outdoor music experience that allowed HI-FI to host shows.
- Less than a month later, on July 17, the Annex hosted its first show, with Indianapolis acts Saint Aubin and Brother O' Brother.
What they're saying: "Like many pop-up stages and businesses that emerged during the COVID-19 era, HI-FI Annex operated under temporary regulatory exemptions that are no longer in place," owners said in a statement released Friday. "The continued challenges and expenses around zoning, permits and civic support have made continued outdoor operation increasingly difficult."
- "HI-FI is currently exploring options to shift the Annex operation indoors and provide year-round programming."
The latest: Before announcing the encore season, the plan was for HI-FI Annex to occupy a new 1,200-capacity venue at the former Granada Theatre in early 2026.
- "The plan to relocate the Annex indoors and renovate the former site of the Grenada Theatre is underway," Baker told Axios Friday. "At the moment, we don't have any timelines to share. The process is moving along, just a little slower than we had hoped for."
What's next: Lots of live shows. Click here to see the full encore season lineup.
Pro tip: If you haven't been to a show since last season, don't bring any cash.
- In February, all HI-FI venues — which includes HI-FI and LO-FI Lounge — went fully cashless.
- That includes concessions, bar service, box office and coat check.