A couple weekends ago, Vola Guitars returned to Romanus Fest VII at Black Circle in Indianapolis, Indiana. The free, all-ages event took place Saturday, August 15, and was hosted by Romanus Records and 40fi Creations. Black Circle has become closely associated with heavy metal, punk, and DIY culture in Indianapolis, making it the setting for another year of Romanus Fest. Vola has been part of the festival for two years running, returning for Romanus Records’ eighth year of hosting the event. Throughout the day, hundreds of attendees moved through the venue, with plenty of them stopping at the Vola booth. The festival brought together local Indianapolis acts, bands from neighboring states, and a few artists traveling from farther away.

Vola’s booth featured a selection of guitars spanning several different models, finishes, and configurations. On display were the JZ FRO in Olympic White, along with a JZ FRO in Black Gloss with a Mint Pickguard and Knurled Metal Dome Knobs, highlighting the new Style Pack Vola is offering. The booth also featured an OZ RV TNC in Tiger Eye Gloss, an OZ MRM Left Handed, a Vasti PDM J2, an OZ MC in Firemist Gloss, and an OZ 7 QGM J3. Maciann Hayes’ personal Vasti 7 PDM J1 in OGD finish also made an appearance at the booth. Vola also displayed the new Studio Pack, which includes a custom woven Vola Sakura Strap, Premium Strap Locks, Vola Picks and collectible Pick Tin, and a Vola Fretwrap. Attendees had the opportunity to see and play the guitars throughout the day, with comments focused on the neck comfort, build quality, and cool finishes.

The Vasti 7 PDM J1 in OGD quickly became one of the more talked-about guitars at the booth. The range of models also gave visitors a chance to compare different Vola designs, including six- and seven-string guitars, left-handed options, and different finishes. For a festival built around independent music and DIY culture, the booth provided a place for musicians and attendees to spend some time with the instruments rather than simply passing by. That interaction continued throughout the day as people stopped in between performances. The festival’s free admission and all-ages format brought a broad mix of attendees through Black Circle Indy. It also put the guitars in front of people coming to the venue for a wide range of music.

Several Vola artists were also performing throughout the festival. Joshua Powell and Josh Townsend played for Powell’s namesake project on the indoor stage, performing their new track “Spring Break ’99,” “Spirit of the Trailer Park,” and a cover of mewithoutyou’s “Paper Hanger.” Joshua played his Vasti 7 PDM J1 seven-string and Vasti MC in Butterscotch Blonde during the set. Townsend used his Vasti 5 STM Bass throughout the performance. Immediately afterward, the outdoor stage shifted to Normandy, with Vola artist Maciann Hayes joining the band for the entire set. Maciann performed with her OZ MRM, including the band’s newest single, “Corrupt My Code,” which carries elements of early 2000s nu-metal alongside Normandy’s own sound.

The rest of the Romanus Fest lineup covered a wide range of styles, with Babe Haven, Doom Gong, Brother O’ Brother, Mr Clit and the Pink Cigarettes, Cairo Jag, The Moon Goons, Mycota, and Global Plague also performing throughout the day. The music moved between death metal, punk, hardcore, psychedelic rock, pop, and other genres. A good chunk of the bands were based in Indianapolis, while others traveled from neighboring states or farther away for the festival. That mix of artists is part of what made the day feel connected to the broader independent music community surrounding Romanus Records. With performances taking place on both the indoor and outdoor stages, attendees moved between sets while the Vola booth remained active throughout the afternoon. The whole event gave us another opportunity to meet musicians and music lovers in Indianapolis while supporting a festival built around the same independent music culture that has defined Romanus Records from the beginning.