Community music festival · Ellsworth, Maine
ZAOstock
A free, one-day, artist-built music festival on Franklin Street, downtown Ellsworth, Maine.
Independent artists. One stage. Music from noon.
- Date
- Sat 3 Oct 2026
- Place
- Franklin St Parklet
- Music from
- Noon
- Cost
- Free
Rain or shine, under tent cover.
The day
Outside, then in.
One venue at a time. At six the whole street walks next door.
- Noon - 4 PM
- Franklin Street ParkletIndependent artists on the parklet stage, with our MC and our partners between sets.
- 4 - 6 PM
- Franklin Street ParkletWaveWarZ. Two artists go head to head; the audience decides, in the street and online.
- 6 - 8 PM
- Black Moon Public House, next doorDJ set as the street walks in.
- 8 - 10 PM
- Black Moon Public HouseLive set, hosted by Black Moon.
The lineup
Independent artists. One stage.
Lyons Den is confirmed. The full lineup is announced on 1 September.
- Confirmed so far
- Lyons Den
- WaveWarZ
- Stilo, Jango, Lui, Quan. Hurricane on the mic
- Between sets
- Our MC and our partners
Why Ellsworth
Every car heading to Acadia passes through.
Over four million people drove through in 2025. Downtown newly on the National Historic Register. Part of the 9th Annual Art of Ellsworth during Maine Craft Weekend.
How to plug in
Pick a door.
For musicians
Made music nobody is paying you to make?
Submit for the lineup. A real stage, a real crowd, a full recording of your set.
See the doorFor visual artists
Build the visual identity people remember.
Posters, motion, signage. Named credit on every surface it appears on.
See the doorFor volunteers
Build the day with us.
Setup, check-in, stage crew, content, teardown. On-site gear and a meal.
See the doorPartners
Partners give time, venue and infrastructure.
Each has a confirmed agreement and a named point of contact on the ZAO team.
Town of Ellsworth
Parklet venue
Black Moon Public House
The evening, and the official after-party
Star 97.7
Local radio promotion
Wallace Events
Event equipment and tenting
WaveWarZ
Live music-battle format on the ZAOstock stage
COC Concertz
ENTERACT
Production and operational support
Web3Metal
Partnership integration and community surface
Bomb Squad
Crew, content and merch
Where it comes from
What came before.
ZAOstock is the first in Maine.
2024
ZAO-PALOOZA
New York City, during NFT NYC
Twelve artists. Volunteer-organised in six weeks. Broke even.
December 2024
ZAO-CHELLA
Miami, Wynwood, during Art Basel
The first live WaveWarZ battle.
July 2026
ZAOville
Laurel, Maryland
Co-hosted with Dcoop.