Iowa
My first time at 80/35 was the festival’s last time in Western Gateway Park
For anyone who doesn’t know, 80/35 is an annual, mostly-free music festival in Western Gateway Park that just celebrated its 14th year on July 7 and 8. This was my first time at the festival. Put on by the nonprofit organization Des Moines Music Coalition, this year’s fest featured four stages, three of which were free and open to the public. And yes, there was a lot of weed for sale. One of the free stages was even sponsored by Bud & Mary’s, a family-owned cannabis company working to educate the public about the science behind weed. Despensary and Climbing Kites were also vendors.
“It was important to us to have cannabis because we think this festival should be for everyone,” said Festival Director Mickey Davis. “If medical marijuana allows you to be able to best enjoy an outdoor festival, we were all for facilitating that process.”
80/35 is for everyone
Listen, though. I wasn’t joking when I said 80/35 feels like a magical wonderland. I’ve been to concerts all over the country. Before moving to Iowa in October 2022, I spent the last six years as a music journalist in Seattle, where they throw all kinds of cultural festivals. And I have never seen a festival as inclusive, caring, communicative, or well-thought-out as 80/35.
Key takeaways:
- Acts to add to your concert bucket list: Sudan Archives, Gustaf, Kiss the Tiger, Thumpasaurus and Ancient Posse.
- This was 80/35’s last year in Western Gateway Park. Next year, the fest moves to Waterworks Park.
- Best Iowa acts: Penny Peach, The Crust Band and Teller Bank$.
Here are some examples of the experience: The festival provided attendees with the ability to create their own custom festival merch, printed on the spot by The F2 Co. The food options were numerous, from Caribbean to Mediterranean to a cereal bar, and there were easily-accessible vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Primary Healthcare was giving out free lube and condoms. I bought a shirt that says “Free Sexuality” from Rachel the Maker at the vintage and craft market.
The whole fest was wheelchair-accessible, and, for the first time this year, there were two sensory tents provided by autism-action company Fi & Friends that severely dampened noise and light for anyone experiencing sensory overload.
“When [our daughter, Fiona] was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder a little over the age of two, we realized there’s awareness, there’s acceptance, but there really isn’t a ton of action,” said CJ Cullinan, co-founder of Fi & Friends along with his wife, Dijana Cullinan. “What we wanted to do was create spaces that are safe, accessible, and something that should just be for those affected by sensory processing struggles.”
What about the music tho?
Flutes were one of the biggest musical trends of the fest. Gustaf, a manic punk band from NYC that someone in the audience described to me as “crepuscular,” whipped out a flute several times, along with whistles, rubber chickens, and a Kum & Go pillow someone handed to them. (Yes, you do want to see them live.) Main stage act Cautious Clay did a flute cover of Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You.” I’m pretty sure I saw at least two other flutes somewhere.
This was one of the most diverse lineups I’ve ever seen at a festival, and my favorite acts were the artists who interacted with their audiences and focused on spreading love. I started my festival experience on Friday with Elizabeth Moen’s performance on the main stage, and her backup singer Danielle Strautmanis gave me life. She looked so purely happy to be there. Her energy reminded me of a young Aretha – so natural, just singing the dang song. She made me happy to be there, too.
Later that day, one-woman hip-hop violinist Sudan Archives filled up the main stage all by herself. When I walked into her set, she was teaching the crowd to chant “I’m not average” along to one of her songs. Her whole vibe was so inviting and accepting. Dancers from SEEDS, a local nonprofit aimed at teaching youth creative expression, joined Sudan Archives onstage, and she had them come back out for a bow while she told the crowd how grateful she was to have had dancers with her for the first time.
On the main stage Saturday Ancient Posse, a pop-soul band bred in Des Moines and based in Brooklyn, was equally as loving and engaging. Frontwoman Kamillah Jonaé sang a song about not letting people shush you and then looked at the audience and said, “We’re here to open our throats!” Damn right, Kamillah.
On the Kum & Go stage, Kiss the Tiger frontwoman Meghan Kreidler pulled the audience in like a magnet. I was feeling both under- and over-stimulated when I walked over to the stage midday on Saturday, and Kreidler’s voice cut through all the noise and made me feel human again. She was equal parts Orville Peck and Sandy from the remake of Grease I now need to see made starring Kreidler. She sang songs about loving herself and other people, and I left the set with my heart full. You can see Kiss The Tiger Nov. 10 at xBk.
By the time LA alt-funk group Thumpasaurus’s set rolled around at 9 p.m. on Saturday, my feet hurt, my back hurt, and I desperately wanted a real toilet. But their set was just so dang happy I found myself inching closer and closer to the stage. They did funky, synthesized tracks with goofy titles like “Space Barn” and “I’m Pissed.” The latter had me jumping with lyrics like “I’m pissed / Leave me alone / Let me work it out / Through dance.”
There’s a lot more festival I wish I had time to tell you about, but, short of that, here are a few other items of note: HOLS played their first festival set in 10 years and were announced as an inductee into the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Crust Band is an up-and-coming hard rock group of young musicians that switch instruments during their sets that I desperately want to hear cover “Cult of Personality.” Penny Peach is becoming an Iowa fixture with her sparkling soundscape of dirty garage rock. After his set on the Kum & Go stage rapper McKinley Dixon hopped over to the IPR stage for a show with Teller Bank$ that was filled with brotherly love. I also learned about the California Raisins at the craft market and went down a Google rabbit hole – apparently they have an Emmy?!
Get ready for Waterworks
This was 80/35’s last year in Western Gateway Park. In 2024, the fest will take place at Waterworks Park, just a little southwest of Downtown Des Moines. Festival Director Mickey Davis said the construction in Western Gateway Park is the main reason the festival will be moving, but the new location should save the festival upwards of $20,000 in fencing and security costs, which will allow 80/35 to reinvest more in talent and keep ticket prices affordable.
“In the long term we know this will allow us to invest in the artists and the people who make the festival happen in a way that’s more in line with the mission of the DMMC,” said Davis.
My first and last 80/35 in Western Gateway Park was – sorry for the cliche, but it’s true – an experience I’ll never forget. I’m so excited for what the festival organizers have in store for their new location, and I hope you’ll join me there so you, too, can experience the magic.
To keep up with 80/35, follow the festival on IG or visit their website.
Have a question or comment for Dan? Follow her on IG or send her an email at heyimdanray@gmail.com.
Des Moines Register’s Top 10 Iowa high school football players in 2024
Here’s a look at The Register’s Top 10 Iowa high school football players in 2024.
(This story was updated to add new information)
It’s Week 7 of the Iowa high school football season. Check out our list of IHSAA scores from Friday night’s action.
Stream Iowa HS football on the NFHS Network
Scores are listed in alphabetical order by winning team
IHSAA scores from Week 7 of Iowa high school football season
Friday’s games:
- Ankeny Centennial 45, Des Moines Roosevelt 3
- Bedford 77, Lamoni 0
- Benton 38, Grinnell 7
- Bettendorf 48, Davenport Central 0
- Cedar Falls 38, Dubuque Senior 0
- Cedar Rapids Kennedy 45, Dubuque Hempstead 14
- Cedar Rapids Prairie 56, Cedar Rapids Jefferson 7
- Cedar Rapids Xavier 35, Oskaloosa 0
- Central City 64, Lone Tree 8
- Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 23, Western Christian 7
- Clarinda 47, Chariton 7
- Columbus 48, Van Buren County 7
- Creston 70, Knoxville 0
- Crestwood 28, New Hampton 27
- Davenport Assumption 34, Washington 6
- Decorah 57, Marion 14
- Dike-New Hartford 42, Aplington-Parkersburg 0
- Don Bosco 62, Turkey Valley 0
- Dowling Catholic 49, Urbandale 28
- Dyersville Beckman 28, Iowa City Regina 15
- East Mills 50, Exira-EHK 44
- East Union 64, Murray 36
- Easton Valley 61, Midland 21
- Edgewood-Colesburg 84, Calamus-Wheatland 31
- Emmetsburg 64, Eagle Grove 0
- Fremont-Mills 40, CAM 28
- Fort Dodge 55, Storm Lake 26
- Fort Dodge St. Edmond 43, Colo-Nesco 6
- Glenwood 20, Dallas Center-Grimes 17
- Glidden-Ralston 48, Coon Rapids-Bayard 6
- GMG 52, Meskwaki Settlement 0
- Greene County 10, Southeast Valley 7
- Harlan 24, Nevada 21
- Highland 41, Louisa-Muscatine 6
- Hinton 19, OABCIG 13
- Humboldt 21, Algona 20
- IKM-Manning 13, Southwest Valley 6
- Iowa City Liberty 28, Ankeny 20
- Jesup 35, Iowa Falls-Alden 6
- Johnston 56, Council Bluffs Lincoln 7
- Lenox 55, Southeast Warren 8
- Lewis Central 28, Winterset 24
- Linn-Mar 55, Davenport West 6
- Logan-Magnolia 14, Council Bluffs St. Albert 10
- Maquoketa Valley 35, North Linn 16
- Marshalltown 26, Ames 21
- Mediapolis 49, Davis County 20
- MMCRU 41, Westwood 18
- MOC-Floyd Valley 35, Sioux Center 14
- Mount Vernon 56, Fort Madison 7
- North Butler 22, Nashua-Plainfield 0
- North Fayette Valley won by forfeit over Oelwein
- North Iowa 46, Harris-Lake Park 40
- North Polk 22, Indianola 21
- Okoboji 49, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 21
- Osage 42, Waukon 6
- Pekin 57, Wapello 0
- Pleasant Valley 42, Muscatine 7
- Remsen St. Mary’s 46, Woodbine 30
- Riceville 57, Waterloo Christian 0
- Ridge View 22, West Sioux 7
- Riverside 41, Earlham 6
- Roland-Story 28, Des Moines Christian 21
- Saint Ansgar 53, West Fork 0
- Sergeant Bluff-Luton 21, Carroll 0
- Sibley-Ocheyedan 48, HMS 14
- Sidney 62, Stanton-Essex 20
- Sigourney-Keota 62, Colfax-Mingo 26
- South Central Calhoun 41, Panorama 12
- South Hardin 34, Hudson 21
- Southeast Polk 31, Waukee 28
- Spencer 41, Sioux City West 0
- Spirit Lake 49, Garner-Hayfield-Ventura 6
- Sumner-Fredericksburg 54, Central Springs 12
- Treynor 36, Shenandoah 6
- Tri-Center 34, Woodbury Central 8
- Underwood 41, Missouri Valley 6
- Van Meter 54, Centerville 0
- Wapsie Valley 46, BCLUW 0
- Wayne 30, Central Decatur 6
- Webster City 42, Charles City 21
- West Hancock 60, Lake Mills 6
- West Lyon 50, Sheldon 0
- Wilton 39, West Branch 20
- Winfield-Mt. Union 68, Mormon Trail 8
Thursday’s games:
- Le Mars 44, Fort Dodge 37
- Pella 42, D.M. Hoover 10
- S.C North 37, D.M. East 0
The Iowa Hawkeyes are coming off of a 35-7 thumping at the hands of the Ohio State Buckeyes, and while a loss to Ohio State was expected, it was how Iowa lost that has Hawkeyes fans livid.
Iowa’s offense was absolutely lifeless, Cade McNamara looked lost and head coach Kirk Ferentz did not seem to have any answers.
Not only that, but Ferentz doubled down on McNamara remaining the starter after the game, saying that the quarterback actually showed improvement.
That’s why Ferentz’s reputation may actually be on the line when the Hawkeyes face the Washington Huskies this Saturday.
Iowa is just 3-2 on the season, as it also lost to the Iowa State Cyclones back in Week 2. A loss to Washington would drop the Hawkeyes to .500, and it would add more fuel to the “fire Ferentz” discussion that has been smoldering.
The Huskies are a new addition to the Big Ten and just beat the Michigan Wolverines, and while Michigan has not been as good as expected, Washington is no joke.
However, make no mistake: Iowa needs to beat these guys.
Here is the thing: barring a catastrophic remainder of the 2024 campaign at Iowa City, the Hawkeyes aren’t canning Ferentz. The man is under contract through 2029 on a hefty salary. It isn’t happening.
But Ferentz’s reputation is a different story.
The 69-year-old has been at the helm for Iowa since 1999 and is highly respected by the fans, but patience is running thin.
Last year, the Hawkeyes played three ranked opponents and lost by a total score of 92-0. They also just got destroyed by Ohio State. The Iowa fan base is tired with being second-best, and at this point, that is all Ferentz has offered them.
Sure, Iowa does not have the cachet or prestige of schools like Ohio State, Michigan or Alabama. It typically won’t land the very best recruits as a result. But the Hawkeyes’ inability to even put together respectable offenses over the years does reflect poorly on Ferentz, who is the longest-tenured coach in the country.
And Iowa fans are sick of it.
The Hawkeyes absolutely need to beat the Huskies this Saturday. Iowa should be better than Washington, and at some point, the Hawkeyes are going to have to display that they can consistently beat good teams.
Is all of the Ferentz criticism deserved? No, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that all of it is completely unfounded.
Ferentz can provide some nice pushback to all of the naysayers with a Week 7 win over Washington. Or, he can give fans more reason to complain with a loss.
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
Here’s who all 71 Iowa high school football teams ranked in this week’s Gazette poll face in Week 7 games Friday night.
Class 3A gets the spotlight this week as its top two teams face top-seven opponents. No. 1 Algona visits No. 7 Humboldt, while second-ranked Williamsburg hosts a Solon team eager to bounce back from last week’s loss to Benton Community that dropped it from the top spot.
There is intrigue in the 8-Player top five as well, where three of the top five teams face fellow unbeaten foes. That includes No. 1 Remsen St. Mary’s taking on No. 10 Woodbine and No. 2 Algona Garrigan hosting Ruthven GTRA.
Class 5A
No. 1 West Des Moines Valley (5-1) vs. Waterloo West (5-1)
No. 2 West Des Moines Dowling (5-1) at Urbandale (3-3)
No. 3 Bettendorf (6-0) at Davenport Central (2-4)
No. 4 Pleasant Valley (5-1) vs. Muscatine (2-4)
No. 5 Ankeny Centennial (4-2) vs. Des Moines Roosevelt (1-5)
No. 6 Linn-Mar (5-1) vs. Davenport West (0-6)
No. 7 Johnston (4-2) vs. Council Bluffs Lincoln (4-2)
No. 8 Iowa City Liberty (5-1) vs. Ankeny (3-3)
No. 9 Waukee (4-2) at Southeast Polk (3-3)
No. 10 Sioux City East (4-2) vs. Des Moines Lincoln (1-5)
Class 4A
No. 1 Lewis Central (6-0) at Winterset (4-2)
No. 2 Pella (6-0) at Des Moines Hoover (0-6), Thursday
No. 3 North Polk (6-0) at No. 10 Indianola (4-2)
No. 4 Gilbert (6-0) vs. Bondurant-Farrar (1-5)
No. 5 Decorah (6-0) at Marion (2-4)
No. 6 Adel ADM (5-1) at Ballard (3-3)
No. 7 Cedar Rapids Xavier (4-2) at Oskaloosa (1-5)
No. 8 North Scott (4-2) at Clear Creek Amana (4-2)
No. 9 Newton (4-2) vs. Carlisle (0-6)
No. 10 Indianola (4-2) vs. No. 3 North Polk (6-0)
No. 10 Western Dubuque (4-2) at Waterloo East (2-4)
Class 3A
No. 1 Algona (6-0) at No. 7 Humboldt (5-1)
No. 2 Williamsburg (5-1) vs. No. 5 Solon (5-1)
No. 3 Dubuque Wahlert (6-0) at West Delaware (4-2)
No. 4 Sergeant Bluff-Luton (6-0) vs. Carroll (4-2)
No. 5 Mount Vernon (5-1) vs. Fort Madison (0-6)
No. 5 Solon (5-1) at No. 2 Williamsburg (5-1)
No. 7 Humboldt (5-1) vs. No. 1 Algona (6-0)
No. 8 Sioux City Heelan (4-2) at Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley (1-5)
No. 9 Independence (4-2) at Maquoketa (1-5)
No. 10 Nevada (5-1) at Harlan (3-3)
Class 2A
No. 1 West Lyon (6-0) at Sheldon (2-4)
No. 2 Monroe PCM (6-0) at West Marshall (5-1)
No. 3 Spirit Lake (5-1) at Garner GHV (1-5)
No. 4 Van Meter (5-1) vs. Centerville (4-2)
No. 5 Carroll Kuemper (5-1) vs. Saydel (1-5)
No. 6 North Fayette Valley (5-1) vs. Oelwein (0-6) — canceled, Oelwein to forfeit
No. 7 Northeast (6-0) at Tipton (2-4)
No. 8 Central Lyon/George-Little Rock (4-2) vs. No. 10 Western Christian (4-2)
No. 9 Roland-Story (4-2) vs. Des Moines Christian (4-2)
No. 10 Western Christian (4-2) at No. 8 Central Lyon/George-Little Rock (4-2)
Class 1A
No. 1 Grundy Center (6-0) at Alburnett (4-2)
No. 2 Wilton (6-0) at West Branch (2-4)
No. 3 Dike-New Hartford (5-1) vs. Aplington-Parkersburg (2-4)
No. 4 Emmetsburg (6-0) vs. Eagle Grove (0-6)
No. 5 Iowa City Regina (6-0) at Dyersville Beckman (4-2)
No. 6 Ida Grove OABCIG (5-1) vs. No. 10 Hinton (5-1)
No. 7 South Hardin (5-1) at Hudson (5-1)
No. 8 Treynor (5-1) vs. Shenandoah (3-3)
No. 9 Sigourney-Keota (5-1) at Colfax-Mingo (1-5)
No. 10 Hinton (5-1) at No. 6 Ida Grove OABCIG (5-1)
Class A
No. 1 West Hancock (6-0) at Lake Mills (4-2)
No. 2 Guthrie Center ACGC (6-0) vs. Mount Ayr (5-1)
No. 3 Saint Ansgar (5-1) at West Fork (1-5)
No. 4 Lisbon (6-0) vs. Danville (4-2)
No. 5 Earlham (5-1) at Oakland Riverside (4-2)
No. 6 Tri-Center (5-1) vs. No. 8 Woodbury Central (5-1)
No. 7 Le Mars Gehlen (5-1) at South O’Brien (0-6)
No. 8 Woodbury Central (5-1) at No. 6 Tri-Center (5-1)
No. 9 North Linn (6-0) vs. Maquoketa Valley (5-1)
No. 10 Madrid (4-2) at North Mahaska (3-3)
8-Player
No. 1 Remsen St. Mary’s (6-0) vs. No. 10 Woodbine (6-0)
No. 2 Algona Garrigan (6-0) vs. Ruthven GTRA (6-0)
No. 3 Don Bosco (6-0) vs. Turkey Valley (3-3)
No. 4 Audubon (6-0) vs. Collins-Maxwell (4-2)
No. 5 Lenox (6-0) vs. Southeast Warren (6-0)
No. 6 Iowa Valley (6-0) vs. HLV (1-6)
No. 7 Gladbrook-Reinbeck (5-1) at Clarksville (5-2)
No. 8 Anita CAM (5-1) at Fremont-Mills (5-1)
No. 9 Bedford (5-1) vs. Lamoni (4-2)
No. 10 Woodbine (6-0) at No. 1 Remsen St. Mary’s (6-0)
Comments: nathan.ford@thegazette.com
Jigra Movie Review – Gulte
The Diabetic Food Bible – The Complete Low-GI Nutrition Guide: What You Really Need to Know to Balance Blood Sugar, Manage Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes, Keeping the Food you Love
Bomb survivors use Nobel Peace Prize win to share their anti-nuke message with younger generations
How Eric Adams Could Leave Office, and Who Hopes to Succeed Him
Week 7’s top 10 college football games: Ohio State-Oregon, Ole Miss-LSU, Red River and more
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
At least 2 dead as tornadoes hit Alabama, damage homes across Southeast
Trump campaign seeks increased security as election draws near, including military aircraft amid Iran threats
US Justice Department sues Virginia for purging voters before election
The Justice Department says Virginia is illegally striking voters off of voter rolls
Mayorkas grabs high-end sushi from DC Nobu directly after quick stop in Hurricane Helene-hit North Carolina
Zelenskyy meets Scholz in Berlin despite NATO meeting cancellation
-
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25439572/VRG_TEC_Textless.jpg "Charter will offer Peacock for free with some cable subscriptions next year")
Technology1 week agoCharter will offer Peacock for free with some cable subscriptions next year
-
World1 week agoUkrainian stronghold Vuhledar falls to Russian offensive after two years of bombardment
-
World1 week agoWikiLeaks’ Julian Assange says he pleaded ‘guilty to journalism’ in order to be freed
-
Technology1 week agoBeware of fraudsters posing as government officials trying to steal your cash
-
Health7 days agoHealth, happiness and helping others are vital parts of free and responsible society, Founding Fathers taught
-
Sports1 week agoFreddie Freeman says his ankle sprain is worst injury he's ever tried to play through
-
News7 days agoLebanon says 50 medics killed in past three days as Israel extends its bombardment
-
Entertainment2 days agoHold my beer can: Museum says a worker thought unique art installation was trash