Middle of the Map Fest is a big festival. This year saw more than 100 bands scattered across several stages in Westport, and only a handful of those bands were from Lawrence. While large bands like Murder By Death, Peter Hook & The Light, and OK Go impressed with lively performances, Lawrence bands had a little something up their sleeves as well.

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Bonzo Madrid was one of the first local bands to play, and he hit the recordBar stage solo on Friday night. CJ Calhoun’s songwriting prowess is really starting to take a definitive form. Seeing Bonzo Madrid songs performed live is nothing short of astonishing. Calhoun has mastered a labyrinth of pedals and loops to create spacious sounds on his guitar and reverb-saturated vocals that could lift you off the ground if you close your eyes and concentrate hard enough.

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Spirit is the Spirit hit the big outdoor stage on Saturday. Watching these majestic musicians perform is heavenly. Their soothing songs feel like a gentle, warm hug. The frontman’s long and golden locks flow gently in the wind while the bright lights of the big stage shine through, making him look a little bit like an angel. Yes, watching Spirit is the Spirit is a very spiritual experience. They’re technically a psychedelic band, but they can also feel a little folky and comforting.

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On the other end of the spectrum, Arc Flash got really weird at the Riot Room. They played perhaps their best show yet, nailing that exciting, thrilling space-punk sound over a solid driving beat. They also wore their “Sunday best,” jumped into the crowd, and rocked the heck out… all while maintaining that fashionable chip on their shoulder. Arc Flash is very quickly shooting to the top of the local scene, and should be watched in dark corners of downtown as often as possible.

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Something and the Whatevers continued serving their new robot overlord, a trend they started at SXSW. The giant talking iPod now dictates what goes on during most of their set. The band has been steadily playing songs from their last album for more than a year, but at their Middle of the Map Fest set, they knocked out a lot of new tunes. This could be a sign of another album on the horizon, should their robot master allow it.

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The Sluts have gotten so popular in Kansas City that it took no time at all to fill the Riot Room. In fact, we saw fans leave other shows and sprint down just to catch their performance. The all-too-short set left everyone hungry, and the crotch-rock duo will be feeding that appetite this summer with a series of big, iconic performances in both Lawrence and Kansas City. Stay tuned.

— Fally Afani is a freelance writer and editor of I Heart Local Music. She enjoys long walks, photography and rock and roll. She does not like cats, but makes exceptions for the ones at Love Garden. For more local music coverage, visit iheartlocalmusic.com.