Hinterland Music Festival at the Avenue of the Saints Amphitheater in St. Charles, Iowa on August 3, 2024. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)
Hinterland Music Festival is Iowa's largest music festival. Launched in 2015 as a two-day event, it now takes place annually at the Avenue of the Saints Amphitheater in St. Charles, Iowa. The festival expanded to three days in 2019, but was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns. It grew to a four-day event in 2022 before scaling back to three days in 2023. In its inaugural year, Hinterland attracted around 7,000 attendees per day, and by 2023, daily attendance had risen to 15,000.
This year marked Vampire Weekend's first appearance as the Saturday headliner, while Friday and Sunday were headlined by Hozier and Noah Kahan, both of whom had performed at the festival before (Hozier in 2019 and Kahan in 2023).
Other returning acts include Old Crow Medicine Show (2015 and 2019), Brandi Carlile (2015 and 2019), Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats (2018 and 2022), Hippo Campus (2019 and 2024), Maggie Rogers (2019 and 2023), Tyler Childers (2018 and 2021), Zach Bryan (2021 and 2023), Charley Crockett (2021 and 2024), and Mt. Joy (2021 and 2024). Notable artists who have also graced the Hinterland stage include Willie Nelson (2016), Shakey Graves (2017), Chvrches (2018), Kacey Musgraves (2019), Phoebe Bridgers (2022), Glass Animals (2022), Bon Iver (2023), and Chappell Roan (2024).
This small, rural festival has garnered significant appeal for several reasons. First, the cost: three-day passes start at just $250 before fees, making it more affordable than other festivals like Austin City Limits ($380 for three days), Governors Ball ($359 for three days), or Lollapalooza ($409 for four days).
Additionally, Hinterland consistently features an impressive lineup of popular indie, folk, country, and pop artists, with several performers from this year's lineup ranking among Spotify's top 100 artists, including Hozier (#39), Chappell Roan (#103), and Noah Kahan (#134). Lastly, festival-goers appreciate the unique experience of traveling through endless cornfields to find an indie music oasis tucked away in the heart of Iowa.
However, some attendees criticized the overcrowded and under-prepared atmosphere on the first day, compounded by a heatwave with temperatures reaching 97 degrees on Sunday. Eager fans faced long lines, with some waiting up to two hours just to enter. Hippo Campus had to pause their set multiple times to provide medical assistance to fans suffering from heat exhaustion. Lines for food, water, restrooms, and merchandise were reported to be excessively long. With only two exits and limited shuttles, leaving the festival was a time-consuming process, with shuttle lines stretching over a mile.
Despite these challenges, conditions improved over the next two days. Shade tents were added, attendees were allowed to bring in their own water to prevent dehydration, and the entry and exit processes were streamlined, significantly reducing wait times.
Fan reviews:
The best music festival ever!
This is an annual pilgrimage of amazing music for me. It’s a well run festival and I look forward to it every year.
Great music, great energy! Fantastic time!
Been going to Hinterland since first year, love all the mixture of bands each year. Many I've never heard of but become instant fans.
Hinterland year in and year out is by far the best festival I have been to. I go to festivals all over the US and this one always gives me goosebumps. Was it a little more packed this year then in past.
Love the music and the camping at Hinterland, the campfire stage is great after the main acts keeps the party going . Such a good time I’ll be back again and again.
Hinterland is a highlight of summer in Iowa! Stellar music, solid vibes and good feels all around. The acts are top notch and the food is delish. Camping makes it extra special and strangers become friends over corn dogs and campfires. One of those weekends where moments are captured and memories are made.
We had the best time! Sure lines were long, and we had to walk about 1/2 mile to the entrance, but isn’t that how all concerts and music festivals are? The lineup was great, and we were able to find some great spots to sit and enjoy the show! The food was so good. Drinks were pricey, but that’s to be expected! Hoping to come back next year!
Amazing venue, even better lineup. Will be back next year!
Excellent event! If you are one who only be happy in a situation where everything is perfectly executed and convenient then maybe the experience isn’t for you. If you are a laid back person who appreciates the opportunity to hear a lot of great artists around a lot of other laid back people, you will love Hinterland!
Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend performing at the Hinterland Music Festival at the Avenue of the Saints Amphitheater in St. Charles, Iowa on August 3, 2024. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)Vampire Weekend emerged in the late 2000s as a groundbreaking force in indie pop, blending intellectual lyricism with infectious African rhythms. Formed at Columbia University, the band’s self-titled debut catapulted them to stardom, despite sparking controversy over cultural appropriation. Their signature sound—a fusion of pop hooks, quirky wit, and soukous influences—proved irresistible. Follow-up albums Contra and Modern Vampires of the City solidified their status, with the latter marking the departure of founding member Rostam Batmanglij. The band's evolution continued with Father of the Bride, a more experimental effort featuring a diverse range of collaborators and a departure from their traditional sound. Vampire Weekend's impact on contemporary music is undeniable, as they redefined the boundaries of indie rock by incorporating global influences and pushing creative boundaries.
Lizzy McAlpine
Lizzy McAlpine performing at the Hinterland Music Festival at the Avenue of the Saints Amphitheater in St. Charles, Iowa on August 3, 2024. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)Lizzy McAlpine's sophomore album, Five Seconds Flat, is a deeply personal exploration of heartbreak, accompanied by a poignant short film. A departure from her debut, Give Me A Minute, the album garnered critical acclaim, earning praise from industry peers like Finneas, Phoebe Bridgers, and Shawn Mendes. Since its release, McAlpine has rapidly ascended to stardom, selling out headline tours in North America and Europe, gracing the stages of The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and collaborating with renowned artists like Finneas, Jacob Collier, and John Mayer. With over 525 million streams, her music has captured the hearts of millions worldwide.
The Red Clay Strays
The Red Clay Strays performing at the Hinterland Music Festival at the Avenue of the Saints Amphitheater in St. Charles, Iowa on August 3, 2024. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)Hailing from Mobile, Alabama, the Red Clay Strays have rapidly risen to prominence with their high-energy blend of rock and roll. In just one year, the band has conquered stages from intimate venues to major festivals, sharing the spotlight with country music heavyweights like Kip Moore, Nikki Lane, and Eric Church. Their debut album, Moment of Truth, has solidified their place in the music scene, culminating in a coveted Grand Ole Opry performance. This fall, the Red Clay Strays embark on their first headline tour, the Way Too Long Tour, promising to ignite audiences nationwide with their electrifying live shows.
Madison Cunningham
Madison Cunningham performing at the Hinterland Music Festival at the Avenue of the Saints Amphitheater in St. Charles, Iowa on August 3, 2024. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)Madison Cunningham’s Revealer is a raw and honest exploration of the Los Angeles singer-songwriter’s inner world. Despite her Grammy nominations, the album reveals a young artist grappling with self-doubt and uncertainty. Cunningham fearlessly shares her vulnerabilities, transforming personal struggles into songs that are both intimate and captivating. The album is a poignant reflection on the complexities of self-disclosure, as she questions the balance between revealing one’s soul and preserving privacy. Ultimately, Revealer is a testament to Cunningham's artistic growth and her search for authenticity.
Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners
Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners performing at the Hinterland Music Festival at the Avenue of the Saints Amphitheater in St. Charles, Iowa on August 3, 2024. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners are a Bozeman, Montana-based folk-rock trio comprised of lifelong friends Mitch Cutts, Nic Haughn, and Jakob Ervin. The band, formed in high school in 2017, has independently released music and visual art under the RMCM moniker ever since.
Blondshell
Blondshell performing at the Hinterland Music Festival at the Avenue of the Saints Amphitheater in St. Charles, Iowa on August 3, 2024. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)Sabrina Teitelbaum’s journey to becoming the bold songwriter known as Blondshell has been rapid. Her debut album is a sonic excavation of personal struggles, transformed into anthemic tracks that balance raw emotion with striking clarity. It’s a journey of self-reckoning, ultimately culminating in a powerful statement of confidence.
Hans Williams
Hans Williams performing at the Hinterland Music Festival at the Avenue of the Saints Amphitheater in St. Charles, Iowa on August 3, 2024. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)Vermont native Hans Williams has been crafting songs since third grade, when he handed out homemade CDs to classmates. Music became his solace, and he quickly cultivated a loyal fanbase before graduating high school. After a sold-out headline show at New Orleans’ iconic Tipitina’s during his time at Tulane University, Williams is now a recent graduate ready to take the music world by storm. He's currently on his first summer tour and is gearing up to release his debut project early next year.
Pedal Steel Noah
Pedal Steel Noah performing at the Hinterland Music Festival at the Avenue of the Saints Amphitheater in St. Charles, Iowa on August 3, 2024. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)Sixteen-year-old Austin musician Noah Faulkner is turning heads with his unique take on classic rock. His daily Instagram videos, featuring pedal steel covers of '80s and '90s hits alongside his brother and their dog, have earned him a dedicated following. Texas Monthly recently spotlighted Faulkner as a rising star, praising his ability to bridge the gap between traditional country and modern tastes.
Hinterland Music Festival
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Photos by Ralph Arvesen
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