This was the eleventh year for the 80/35 Music Festival, Friday & Saturday, July 12th & 13th. It was originally a small music festival in a quiet Midwest town. Now Des Moines is a thriving city and 80/35 has grown right along with it. Over 40 bands performed and energized downtown Des Moines. There were bands you may have never heard of, and other bands that you may have heard their songs, but didn’t know the artist.
In keeping with expanding, a second stage was added to the ticketed area, also encompassing the main stage area. The festival is over two days and people need those days to see all the vendor tents and sample the great food. You can catch some culture too, like when Portugal. The Man brought on stage a local Native American Meskwaki tribal member to perform a dance for the audience.
80/35 this year was bigger the ten previous years. When 80/35 is going on, no one can call Des Moines a sleepy Midwest town.
-words & photos: Lance Shuey
