News

Des Moines festival promotes local music scene

The Josh Davis Band performs at DG’s TapHouse at 125 Mainstreet in Ames on Friday, June 19, 2009. Photo: Laurel Scott/Iowa State Daily

David Wise —
July 1, 2009

Des Moines will play host to a two-day festival this weekend, with some of the hottest bands today, in hopes of helping the music scene in Central Iowa grow.

The 80/35 Festival is a music event at Western Gateway Park in Des Moines on Friday and Saturday. The festival is hosted by The Greater Des Moines Music Coalition and is in its second year running.

Amedeo Rossi, project manager for the Greater Des Moines Music Coalition, said 80/35 is not only going to be the highest level of entertainment, but it’s supporting a brighter music scene in Des Moines.

“We’re just a group of area people concerned with growing the music industry in Central Iowa, and it’s just kind of the biggest manifestation that we could think of by bringing a lot of big acts that don’t normally stop here,” Rossi said. “The best thing is it’s a great weekend that focuses almost completely on music.”

On top of supporting the music scene here in Iowa, 80/35 will also host 40 national, regional and local musical acts. Some of the most popular acts to hit the stage this weekend are Public Enemy, Ben Harper and Relentless7, Broken Social Scene, G. Love & Special Sauce and Matisyahu.

Regional and local acts include House of Large Sizes, The Josh Davis Band, Beati Paoli, and The Autumn Project.

Josh Davis, lead singer for The Josh Davis Band, said he is looking forward to playing this weekend.

“The thing I’m looking most forward to, playing this show, is getting my foot in the door, and it’s a festival that’s gonna be a pretty cool deal. Any chance I get to watch somebody that’s a step or two, three, four or five ahead of me, I’m always ready to take something away from it and learn something. It’s cool for me, and that’s what I want to do is play music,” Davis said.

80/35 will host three stages. The Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Main Stage requires admission to see the larger acts, but the Mediacom Stage and Meredith Stage offer free entertainment to the public.

Rossi said The Flaming Lips and The Roots brought a total attendance of 30,000 to the festival last year.

Sam Hackerson, junior in marketing, said she enjoyed the festival last year and is looking forward to this year’s concerts.

“I really liked the way the festival was set up,” she said. “Everybody there was just there to have a good time. It was a really good atmosphere. I think it’s a really good way to support the music scene, and it’s a good way to spend the Fourth of July. Plus, I was really impressed when I found out they were bringing in Broken Social Scene.”

In addition to the long list of musical acts to perform, food and beverage vendors will be available.

This year, Olde Main will be serving beer for $5 or 5 for $20. There will also be a variety of food stands, along with some street performers and some artistic elements too.

80/35 starts Friday with concerts beginning at 3 p.m. and Saturday at noon. For ticket information, go to http://80-35.com or call 515-277-3727.

Friday

Gates open at 3 p.m.

Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Main Stage

4 p.m. | Tilly and The Wall

5:45 p.m. | Matisyahu

7:30 p.m. | Stephen Malkmus

and The Jicks

9:30 p.m. | Public Enemy

Mediacom East Stage

4 p.m. | Buster and the Punks

4:45 p.m. | William Fitzsimmons