ZAOstock
A community-built outdoor music festival in Ellsworth, Maine. Independent artists. One stage. All day.
Free to attend. Saturday Oct 3, Ellsworth Maine.
- Date
- Oct 03 2026
- Venue
- Franklin St Parklet
- Time
- 12 PM - 6 PM
- Lineup
- Independent Artists
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Independent artists. One stage.
A full day of independent artists with DJs between every act. The full lineup drops August 2026 once final commitments are locked.
- Lineup drops
- August 2026
- Stage
- One stage, all day
- Format
- Live sets with DJs between
Every car heading to Acadia passes through. Free to listen from the sidewalk.
ZAOstock is The ZAO's flagship IRL music festival. A full-day outdoor showcase at the Franklin Street Parklet in downtown Ellsworth, Maine. Independent artists perform with DJs between.
Part of the 9th Annual Art of Ellsworth during Maine Craft Weekend, ZAOstock brings the decentralized music community together in the Crossroads of Downeast.
- Location
- Franklin St Parklet, Ellsworth ME
- Series
- 9th Annual Art of Ellsworth
- Weekend
- Maine Craft Weekend
Built by 27 teammates, the local Ellsworth crew, and the artists who want this to exist.
27
Teammates building this
100+
ZAO community members
2
Prior festivals (NYC + Miami)
501(c)(3)
Funding via New Media Commons / Fractured Atlas
Pick a door.
Made music nobody's paying you to make?
Submit for the lineup. 25-minute set, real stage, full recording.
See the door ->For ArtistsBuild the visual identity people remember.
Posters, signage, installations, motion. Named credit on every surface.
See the door ->For OrganizersBuilt a community? Run your own ZAO.
Next chapter could be yours - in your city, under the ZAO Festivals umbrella.
See the door ->Crossroads of Downeast Maine - gateway to Acadia.
Ellsworth sits at the gateway to Acadia National Park. Four million people drove through in 2025. Downtown just received National Historic Register designation.
The Heart of Ellsworth ran 28 events in 2025 with 50+ sponsors. The infrastructure is here; we are plugging into it.
- Visitors / yr
- 4M+
- Status
- Historic Register
- Host series
- Art of Ellsworth
- Year
- 9th annual
Ellsworth · Maine
Franklin St Parklet
Where every car heading to Acadia National Park passes through.
Built by these people.
Zaal
Ops / Lead
Thy Revolution
livestream / Lead
DCoop
Music / 2nd
Maceo
Ops / Member
Shawn
Music / Member
FailOften
Ops / Member
Ohnahji B
Ops / Member
Iman Afrikah
Ops / Member
Tom Fellenz
Ops / advisory
Eve
Ops / Member
Bacon
Ops / Member
Eduard
Ops / Member
Cheeka
Ops / Member
zee3
Ops / Member
Tony
Ops / Member
Tap any name for full bio + links
Partners give time and skill. No cash.
Partners give time, venue, and infrastructure - not money. Each one has a confirmed agreement and a dedicated point of contact on the ZAO team. Sponsorship tracks below.
Heart of Ellsworth
Local promotion + Maine Craft Weekend coordination
Town of Ellsworth
Parklet venue
New Media Commons (via Fractured Atlas)
Fiscal sponsorship infrastructure for eligible initiatives
ENTERACT
Production + operational support
Web3Metal
Partnership integration + community surface
Free to attend. The first round of crowdfunding starts now.
ZAOstock is free for anyone who wants to show up. The first round of crowdfunding starts now - we are asking 20 people for $50 each, the next $1,000 toward making ZAOstock happen. Everyone who chips in gets a Pro Ticket. Funds go straight into artist pay and production.
- ->$50 supports the festival - artist fees, materials, production costs.
- ->A 1:1 with someone on the ZAO team before the event.
- ->We help you find a real way to get involved - the door that fits.
- ->Pro Ticket holders are credited as supporters on the festival page.
Pro Ticket
20 spots only
$50
Round 1 goal: 20 people, $1,000. Send $50 to thezao.eth or via PayPal.
Get the Pro TicketSend $50 to thezao.eth or paypal.com/paypalme/zaalpanthaki.
After payment, email info@thezao.com so we can schedule your 1:1.
Build the festival or get on the list.
Volunteer
1
Signed up
Setup, check-in, stage crew, content, teardown - or anything in between. Volunteers get crew shirts and meals on-site.
Sign up to volunteerRSVP
1
On the list
RSVP on Luma to lock your spot and stay in the loop on the lineup. Free to attend.
RSVP on Luma ->Or just get notified by email
Three sponsorship tracks. Same level of recognition. Pick by what fits your goals.
No Gold / Silver / Bronze. Sponsors fund the festival in exchange for named credit and on-site presence. Custom packages available for local Ellsworth businesses, digital creator brands, and ecosystem brands. Two funding paths: a public path for tax-deductible support administered through New Media Commons (a fiscally sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, 501(c)(3)), or a commercial path direct through ENTERACT for sponsors who do not need a tax receipt. Pick the one that fits.
Main Stage Sponsor
01- 01Named credit on stage banner and signage
- 02Booth or table space on-site
- 03Welcome bag inclusion
- 04Live verbal credit during the event
- 05Co-presented in all printed materials
Broadcast Sponsor
02- 01Named credit on festival website with backlink
- 02Livestream overlay credit
- 03Sponsored segment plus interview feature
- 04Social campaign across Farcaster, X, and Bluesky
- 05Newsletter credit (400+ editions)
Year-Round Sponsor
03- 01Post-event thank-you feature and recap
- 02Advisory seat for Year 2 planning
- 03Priority placement in 2027
- 04Eligible support administered through New Media Commons, a fiscally sponsored project of Fractured Atlas
What came before. What's next.
ZAO-PALOOZA
Community meet-up during NFT NYC. 12 artists. Volunteer-organized in six weeks. Broke even.
ZAO-CHELLA
Showcase in Wynwood during Art Basel. 16+ musicians, 100+ visual artists, 50+ music communities. ZAO HOUSE artist residency. Live WaveWarZ battle, cipher recorded on-site.
ZAOville
DMV chapter co-hosted with DCoop (founder of The VEC; performed at ZAO-CHELLA Miami 2024, returning for ZAOstock). Cross-promotion across the ZAO Festivals series. Lineup includes PROF!T, ELYVN, and more.