Hinterland’s Five Year Anniversary
I know and I agree that I should be writing about things shortly after they take place. I have been instead living in the moment these last few months, something that the people of Hinterland would be proud of.
Hinterland, an experience I have referenced before, does have a wonderful online presence in the Midwest and a growing population each year. However, one of the themes that I highlight often on here is that the majority of people are not really trying TOO hard and that keeps Des Moines charming.
In April, images of identically dressed girls in festival looks and tanned boys floooooooood the internet corners from Coachella. A far cry from Palm Springs is St. Charles, Iowa and lets keep it that way, shall we?
We all know that outdoor music festivals are supposed to reflect the OG Woodstock days, but I think most of these types of events are another backdrop to prep, pose, and post immediate social media content.
Something that stands out to me at Hinterland is that most of the people don’t really act like this. From what I observed over the newly enlarged three day festival is that Iowa folks truly want to be outside and just have a mindless few hours or days in the heat of the summer. Despite Hinterland’s attempts to beef it up each year, the people of Iowa will yes, welcome some more food trucks, buy the new merch, sleep in trendy canvas teepees this year, and some might even get up and run the half marathon through town. But, there doesn’t need to be a lot of sparkle and step and repeats. Just a nice patch of grass to spread out their blankets and set their beers down.
Last summer, Zach and I put a pause on cycling for a weekend and joined our friends. We juggled water bottles, beers, and film cameras. And I am glad that we did! Some of these moments came out just remarkably. Zach shot Porta 400 and Potsdam through our Nikon and Canon point & shoots. And I just pranced around happily while he did. All film credit to him! Check out his insta if you like whatchya see.
Camping at Hinterland
This was Zach and I’s first year camping at Hinterland. There are different categories of housing options available on site - RV sites (that fill up with the max giant-sized-air-conditioned RV’s as well as VW buses), glamping style canvas tents, and big ole grass lots that you get to throw your tent up in. These fill up way fast and hammocking trees are the only commodity that people yearn for. Otherwise, the general population is fine with being one foot away from their camping neighbors on either side.
Now now, there is no reason to fret about having the perfect camping set up. I saw multiple boys dragging their college student priced carry on suitcases across the grassy potholes, trying to Marco Polo their friends while looking back to make sure their 24 - pack hadn’t fallen off. I caught glimpses of girls in the dark after the Friday night show carrying their yoga mat under their arm and throwing it down on the grass at someone’s campfire.
There is also no reason to bring your biggest resort sized dopp kit - you’ll be in good company with those that got ready in their sweaty tent or only had a quick little shower before heading out to sweat under the sun for the day.
It’s really a come as you are kind of place.
The People of Hinterland
THE PEOPLE MAKE THE WEEKEND. Obviously.
There is such a warmth that I experienced for myself and also witnessed happening around me all weekend. I mean, get a little alcohol and 98 degree sunshine on people, and there is bound to be all the warmth.
But, more than that, Midwesterners love to bump into people!
Zach saw friends from neighboring small towns from his high school years, we saw employees from our favorite shops, we bumped into office mates in halter tops and said hello to my old yoga instructor from four years ago.
Even better is meeting new people from far away or strangely only separated by three degrees.
The Unspoken-Of People of Hinterland are the St. Charles residents.
We spent part of Saturday trying to avoid the heat a bit before heading into the dust bowl, so we walked from our campsite through the town and chatted with a few folks along the way.
One woman lived close enough to be planning an evening listening party with her friends in her front yard. A few of the local ladies were gossiping and drinking coffee in the Main Street pharmacy when we popped it. And the gossip was about what kind of wild outfits they had seen girls wearing the night before. Someone’s son in law owned a huge farm and barn neighboring the venue so that was a topic of discussion on what to do with the cows that night in case any young-ins got it in them to try the age old cow tipping riot of fun.
Overall, anyone we met was Iowa nice first and foremost and secondarily gushed about how great Hinterland is for their community each year! They applauded the festival planners on the incredibly clean state of everything when they roll out of town. And they have pride in the festival growing bigger and bigger each year.
The Bands of Hinterland
Like any good festival, the expansion to three days this year only provided opportunity to include a more diverse range of artists. When we arrived with the after work crowed on Friday, we saw Kacey Musgraves in a teeny outfit and Nashville eyelashes putting on a great show that ended in confetti canons!
We sat hillside and watched Hozier and his incredible ten piece band perform well into the night and I had no idea I liked them as much as I did in those moments. His ability to write a “score” (I really think this level of intricacy can be considered a score) was unparalleled that weekend.
Since we were staying over this weekend, we bid adew to our friends that night and placed them on a bus back to the city and wandered down to the After Show Stage. Local artists on a tiny puppet looking stage performing with the brightest of lights that illuminated the woods. This evening was The Envy Corps and Some Friends that lullaby’d us to sleep.
Saturday had band after band in various genres (of course all within this crowd’s desire for easy-listening). And then Saint Paul & The Broken Bones danced out on stage and shocked everyone. Well maybe just me because I did not know what to expect. He put on just the most bizarre and exciting vocal performance donning a sequins cape.
Big switch over to Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - to me this closer for the evening felt like a classssssic outdoor concert feel - raging vocals, heartfelt stories, and a lot of strings.
Sunday could NOT come soon enough!!! A killer of a weekend closer was Dawes, Maggie Rogers, and Brandi Carlile.
Dawes- soooooo classic and so good and so stylish.
But if we need to talk about fashion, lets scoot to Maggie. She wore a true show stopper tassled cowboy get up decked with black leather boots, and the most natural long flowing hair and perhaps zero makeup - she lets the clothes do the talking.
Personally, I was there for Maggie all weekend. She put on SUCH a fun dance show and her mellow beats were amped up during her time on stage. I don’t have a ton of girl crushes, but yes, to Maggie always.
Brandi Carlile is a well deserved weekend closer. She came back to Iowa and let her insane vocal chords rip through the silence of the dark sky. I mean, I am not well versed in Brandi, but shared a blanket with friends who are, and just. She’s incredibly talented and so fierce. And has bald brother twins that do three part harmonies with her. And she hails from Seattle where Zach and I had just returned from!
ANNDDDD lucky you!! Tickets for 2020 Hinterland go on sale today!! Do it! Go get them!! Be a part of the most come-as-you-are-summer-outdoor-music festival there is.
Even people like Zach who can appreciate a good folk tune, but by no means is going to have a personal revival to one even comes along with me.
Being outdoors, bumping into your fellow Midwest pals in a town much like your hometown has a way of pulling at your heart strings. So much love to you all on Valentine’s Day today. This is my gift to you.
-Emily
