Event right off I-35 (Hinterland Music Festival)

[cycloneshort]

Did the whole festival without camping.

Friday stunk from an entry/exit standpoint, and water access. Saturday and Sunday were miles better. Got to the grounds around 230 each day with zero parking lot complaints. The lines to get beer/food were managablebtoo. I thought they did a great job in recognizing deficiencies and improving on short turnaround.

 

[Drew0311]

To bad this concert happens mid summer in Iowa with our weather. If this happened mid september it would be much better show in my opinion.

 

[NoCreativity]

80/35 is still going, I dont know what gave anyone the impression it isn't.

Here's a fun fact, Hinterland was originally suppose to be at Waterworks Park back in 2015, but due to flooding it got moved to St. Charles. Everything worked out so well that first year they decided to stick to that venue instead of Des Moines which would have had a larger capacity.

 

[AirWalke]

80/35 is still going, I dont know what gave anyone the impression it isn't.

Here's a fun fact, Hinterland was originally suppose to be at Waterworks Park back in 2015, but due to flooding it got moved to St. Charles. Everything worked out so well that first year they decided to stick to that venue instead of Des Moines which would have had a larger capacity.

That was my fault… yes it’s still going on but the move to Water Works (plus the sub-par lineup) made it feel DoA.

Kinda feel like both Hinterlands and 80/35 need a wide open space like Water Works to really feel their potential, but having the former held in St. Charles and the latter held in the middle of Downtown gives both festivals a way better identity.

 

[Cyclonsin]

My personal bitterness is more about how Hinterland transitioned from music festival into "place to be seen" for the social media generation. That's the reason attendance #s have exploded which is just f*cking everything else up, and it'll continue to be f*cked up until they stop trying to manage a 20-25k festival as if it were a 8-10k festival. Not being able to see the stage from basically anywhere because there's an ocean of Gen-Zers passing in front of you at all times who have no appreciation or interest in the actual music and are instead just looking for a spot to get that perfect selfie, sucks.

And yes, I do know I'm getting old.

You're right, but that's basically the case for any concert/festival that has any coolness to the youths. I'm sure you know this, but it's not just limited to Hinterland.

Taylor Swift tickets that are in the nosebleeds and literally BEHIND THE STAGE sell for $2,500+. The music/show is a distant second to bragging about being there on social media.



And with how much money is being thrown around, I don't think we'll be going back to the good ole days anytime soon.

 

[CychiatricWard]

Yes. Yes. Yes. Legit complaints are fine. The promoter is a decent dude. Quit whining.

And they are legit complaints, so what’s your problem again? And I’ve talked to a lot of people who know him who, while he might be a “decent” dude, he is upsetting a customer base and im not the only one who thinks this. So quit whining back.

 

[Drew0311]

You're right, but that's basically the case for any concert/festival that has any coolness to the youths. I'm sure you know this, but it's not just limited to Hinterland.

Taylor Swift tickets that are in the nosebleeds and literally BEHIND THE STAGE sell for $2,500+. The music/show is a distant second to bragging about being there on social media.

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And with how much money is being thrown around, I don't think we'll be going back to the good ole days anytime soon.

Honestly the best thing about Metal festivals compared to other festivals is nobody is there is to be seen. They are their for the bands. It reflects in the ticket sales also. If they book good bands, the people show up. IF they don't it's a dud. I used to like them a lot more before they became a place to be seen instead of being there for the music. I was never big in Hinterland because that is not really my style of music. It was still a good central Iowa thing though and people really used to love it.

 

[NoCreativity]

That was my fault… yes it’s still going on but the move to Water Works (plus the sub-par lineup) made it feel DoA.

Kinda feel like both Hinterlands and 80/35 need a wide open space like Water Works to really feel their potential, but having the former held in St. Charles and the latter held in the middle of Downtown gives both festivals a way better identity.

Agreed, I know a couple that went to 80/35 at Waterworks and they said it doesn't have quite the same charm as being downtown. They said attendance was way down too and people were alot more spread out. I wouldn't be surprised if it goes under within 5 years.

 

[Gunnerclone]

To bad this concert happens mid summer in Iowa with our weather. If this happened mid september it would be much better show in my opinion.

The likelihood of getting acts that are at their peak like Chapel Roan, Hozier, and Noah Kahan goes way down if this festival isn’t where it is on the calendar.

I don’t care for these acts but they are the top level of the social media festival totem pole right now.

 

[Turn2]

The likelihood of getting acts that are at their peak like Chapel Roan, Hozier, and Noah Kahan goes way down if this festival isn’t where it is on the calendar.

I don’t care for these acts but they are the top level of the social media festival totem pole right now.

As in worldwide County Fair tour season?

 

[DSMCy]

Does Sam Summers still own/run Hinterland or did he sell it?

If it’s still him, I’m a little surprised there were so many issues

 

[CychiatricWard]

Does Sam Summers still own/run Hinterland or did he sell it?

If it’s still him, I’m a little surprised there were so many issues

It is still him. Had the same logistical issues in 21 after the Covid cancelled year with overselling and hellacious lines, and then it seemed to be better the last two years. This year, Friday especially, was a nightmare for a lot of people.

 

[ForbinsAscynt]

Just read through the WHO article. Nothing shocks me but the water situation. First off, do the math for number filling stations. That should be a knowable number. Second, festival this size should let outside water be brought in, especially at those temps. Don’t put profits before safety.

 

[jmb]

And they are legit complaints, so what’s your problem again? And I’ve talked to a lot of people who know him who, while he might be a “decent” dude, he is upsetting a customer base and im not the only one who thinks this. So quit whining back.

Yet you keep going back. Lol.

 

[CychiatricWard]

Yet you keep going back. Lol.

This was my last year going after 21 and this year. I’ve loved it since the start it’s just changing so much. It got better after a down year for a couple years then it didn’t. Whats the point you’re trying to prove here? That you are a douche or what?

 

[Clonefan32]

I have yet to hear anyone complain about the heat, so to all you throwing around comments of the such are just wrong. Yes, it’s hot, it’s been hot before, but the problem is the horrible logistics of an event where it is hot and the first day didn’t let anyone in with a water bottle full, only to have lines an hour long to get water. That is the problem. Horrible management and Sam Summers is a *****. Been going for years and they continue to try and get more profit and it’s ended up being too crowded with too long of lines for most things.

I am really conflicted on it. On one hand, it's unrealistic to expect them to get the types of acts they do and then only sell 5,000 tickets. The big acts and all the logistics cost money. I think there's also undoubtedly more competition for the big acts, as the number of festivals has increased over the last 10 years. So I can understand it's either oversell or charge $700 a ticket and sell half as many tickets.

On the other hand, if you are going to sell that many tickets you have to have your logistics figured out. Friday was a disaster with the water situation. It was a disaster with the busing. Sunday was a disaster getting people through security and in. This is all stuff that should have been thought through when you know how many tickets you sold. Having one GA entrance with 2 lines for 20,000 people is just so poorly thought out.

At the end of the day, it had it's problems but I saw some great shows and I had a blast and I'll probably put myself through all of it again next year for a good lineup.

 

[Drew0311]

I am really conflicted on it. On one hand, it's unrealistic to expect them to get the types of acts they do and then only sell 5,000 tickets. The big acts and all the logistics cost money. I think there's also undoubtedly more competition for the big acts, as the number of festivals has increased over the last 10 years. So I can understand it's either oversell or charge $700 a ticket and sell half as many tickets.

On the other hand, if you are going to sell that many tickets you have to have your logistics figured out. Friday was a disaster with the water situation. It was a disaster with the busing. Sunday was a disaster getting people through security and in. This is all stuff that should have been thought through when you know how many tickets you sold. Having one GA entrance with 2 lines for 20,000 people is just so poorly thought out.

At the end of the day, it had it's problems but I saw some great shows and I had a blast and I'll probably put myself through all of it again next year for a good lineup.

Strange thing is it keep happening. Indianola Knotfest was so bad. Same weather, Same problems with the vendors, Same water line. The one thing Knotfest did was provide so many bathrooms it was crazy. No lines. They got that right. However, metal concerts equal black shirts, Black shirts on a hot day are bad. Then a two hour wait for a water or drink. Not good at all.

 

[Clonefan32]

To me the easiest fix is to cut into your camping sites a bit and have a second stage on top of the hill. Just gives people some choice and gives them more room to spread out. Put some of the lesser acts on a second stage and maybe fill in some local music as well. There's plenty of space for it, but they'd lose some camping.

 

[jmb]

This was my last year going after 21 and this year. I’ve loved it since the start it’s just changing so much. It got better after a down year for a couple years then it didn’t. Whats the point you’re trying to prove here? That you are a douche or what?

That you whine and talk **** but still support the people you talk **** about. Point made.

 

[jmb]

To me the easiest fix is to cut into your camping sites a bit and have a second stage on top of the hill. Just gives people some choice and gives them more room to spread out. Put some of the lesser acts on a second stage and maybe fill in some local music as well. There's plenty of space for it, but they'd lose some camping.

I think they would be smart to have shuttle service and limit parking. Make camping more abundant and parking less. The infrastructure for 18k bodies isn't there. They need to get innovative with the volume of people attending. If camping was mandates due to limited parking or if only going for a day required shuttling in the would be better off.