Since April 19, more and more bands have been progressively released as acts to perform at this summer’s third annual 80/35 Music Festival in downtown Des Moines.
The festival, named after the intersection of interstates 80 and 35, has drawn more than 30,000 attendees over the Fourth of July weekend for two days of live music in Western Gateway Park. The festival is organized by the volunteers of the Greater Des Moines Music Coalition (DMMC), a nonprofit movement committed to building a stronger and more diverse live music economy.
The big-name headliners that will play include Spoon and Slightly Stoopid on July 3, and Modest Mouse and Railroad Earth on July 4. Other acts include The Walkmen, Avi Buffalo, Earl Greyhound, Cashes Rivers, The Heavy and Dar Williams. All of the acts will be announced by 80/35 by mid-May.
Tickets are available through midwestix. com and cost $60 for a two-day pass, and $35 for a one-day pass. Tickets are also sold the day of the concerts for $40. VIP tickets are on sale for $175 and include a two-day festival ticket, free and discounted food and beverages, a preferred viewing area near the main stage, access to separate restrooms and select free merchandise.
Spoon is an indie-rock band from Austin, Texas, that was formed in 1994. Since then, they’ve had three albums debut in the Billboard 200. In 2009, Metacritic ranked Spoon as the Top Overall Artist of the Decade, based on the band’s success between 2000 and 2009.
Slightly Stoopid hails from Ocean Beach, Calif., and boasts music that’s a blend of reggae, punk and ska. The band was discovered by Sublime front man Bradley Nowell in 1995 and has released six studio records, crisscrossing the country on an almost-constant tour schedule.
You won’t want to miss these bands performing at 80/35 music festival:
- MODEST MOUSE Indie rock band, was nominated for a Grammy in 2004. Will perform July 4.
- SPOON From Austin, Texas They have released seven albums and were featured in “500 Days of Summer”
- THE WALKMEN Indie rock group, incorporates piano beats and vintage instruments.
