Lawry, Ellery
July 9, 2015
The 80/35 Music Festival returns this weekend for its eighth year of music, food and fun in the heart of downtown Des Moines.
The festival is taking place this year one week later than its usual July 4 weekend. It will be July 10-11 at Western Gateway Park in downtown Des Moines.
The lineup this year includes big names like Weezer, Wilco, Run the Jewels and Jenny Lewis. There are also an array of local and regional bands playing on the two free stages outside the main venue.
“Over half of it is free of charge,” Amedeo Rossi, 80/35 project manager, said. With food and merchandise vendors, plus two free stages of music outside the venue, attendees can go to 80/35 without a ticket and still experience many of its attractions.
This year, there’s even a new stage. Named Generation Z, Rossi said it will feature bands made of “tweens and teens,” age 12-18.
For those who choose to pay for a ticket, the festival has some exciting headliners.
“There’s been a lot of buzz about the headliners,” Rossi said. “We’ve been asking about Weezer and Wilco for years. Run the Jewels is also a big name; they were just Pitchfork’s album of the year. St. Lucia has a Des Moines local, their bass player went to Lincoln High School.”
If you’re still not convinced 80/35 may be for you, Rossi may be able to change your mind.
“The bottom line is it’s just plain fun,” he said. People relax and get to discover new music. There’s an opportunity to see local acts. There’s just a special vibe created around music and its set down in a beautiful valley between some of the most prominent buildings downtown. Des Moines is a great selling city.”
Tickets for 80/35 are $44 for a one-day pass and $75 for a two-day pass and can be purchased at Midwestix.com. Prices will go up to $50 for a one-day pass and $90 for a two-day pass the day of the festival.
Rossi can be reached for interviews via Jill Haverkamp at jill@on-pitch.com or at 515-822-5082.
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