The Record Machine makes music happen. The label has been releasing music since 2003 from their home base of Kansas City. Their first annual Middle of the Map Fest brought thousands of people to hear sets from the likes of Daniel Johnston and 50 other bands.

The label also makes culture happen. For the second annual fest this year, they included an art, tech and culture forum that brought even more people together. The mayors of Kansas City, Missouri AND Kansas City, Kansas came out to speak with other thought leaders.

Nathan Reusch from the Record Machine explained, “I have always been a big fan of creating interesting artifacts for people. We knew it was going to be the kind of event where people would be inspired, and we wanted to give them a place to write down their thoughts.”

John Raux designed the cover of the Scout Books, and they went out to all attendees of the Forum. Reusch said, “I love that we can create places physical and yet unknown that might be where people reflect.”