Grind City Music Festival
Grassroots and Gritty
Our good friends at Barbian Management approached us with a unique opportunity: to define the visual identity for Grind City, an independent music festival set to orbit Memphis, TN. With a lineup spanning traditional country to psychedelic rock, we aimed to craft a dynamic visual identity that bridged musical genres while celebrating Memphis’ distinctive culture and spirit.
See The Story
The Client
- Grind City Music Festical
- Memphis, TN
What We Delivered
- Apparel Design
- Copywriting
- Environmental Branding
- Illustration
- Printed Collateral
- Signage Design
- Story and Copywriting
- Visual Identity
- Web Design
A music festival where every detail screams character
Grind City marked a bold new direction for Barbian Management. Traditional country artists like Charlie Crockett and gritty country rockers shared the stage with new acts that blended country with psychedelia. This unique lineup allowed us to develop a brand identity that celebrated both creativity and traditional roots.
Infusing Memphis energy into every aspect of the visual identity
Bold, playful branding captured Memphis’ spirit
Following Barbian Management’s bold yet hands-off creative direction, our designs featured cowboy armadillos, outlaws, UFOs and Memphis tigers with Willie Nelson braids, embracing the city’s quirky and gritty charm. These graphic elements captured the eclectic nature of the music and the festival-goers, reflecting the vibrant and irreverent spirit of Memphis.
Custom illustrations like an armadillo cowboy abducting the Great American Pyramid and a color palette inspired by festival performers and the crowd sought to mirror the festival’s excitement. A Retro Grit texture provided a rugged, worn-in look that complemented the boot-kicking atmosphere of the event. This cohesive visual identity was showcased across merchandise and promotional materials, with the event poster becoming a standout feature.
