80/35 Music Festival announces new location for 2024 – Des Moines Register
Water Works Park in Des Moines will welcome the 80/35 Music Festival for the first time next year.
The music festival had previously teased it would be moving to a new location in time with its 15th anniversary next year and announced the new location via social media late Friday as this year’s festival began.
The festival has been held at Western Gateway Park since its start in 2008.
“With 1,500 acres of natural space, the park will provide more access to nature, space to expand the festival, and opportunities to highlight issues important to us including environmental consciousness and preservation,” said a post on the 80/35 festival’s Facebook page.
Festival director Mickey Davis told the Des Moines Register in May that the festival would be moving both because of construction planned in the Western Gateway Park next summer and “unsustainable” production costs.
In a news release, also in May, the Des Moines Music Coalition, organizer of the festival, said the new location will maintain its commitment to “an urban experience accessible by multiple modes of transportation.” It said the festival also remains committed to its values of showcasing diverse artists while paying them living wages and keeping the festival accessible with affordable ticket prices.
Davis told the Register on Saturday that 80/35 will use the park’s Lauridsen Amphitheater for the festival and will place another stage near it to provide two main stages. Additional free stages will be located throughout the park, though the exact locations have not been determined, he said.
Davis acknowledged ongoing concerns among Water Works neighbors about noise, and past attempts to place stricter limits on it. But he said he is not concerned because the permit for use of sound and amplifying equipment on Fridays and Saturdays at the park goes until 11 p.m., the same time concerts generally end at 80/35.
The Raccoon River, which runs through the park, also presents a possible flooding challenge. Last June, bike trails and streets near the park were temporarily closed due to high water.
“That’s always an issue and as an outdoor festival. We’re constantly aware that there are many things out of our control, including weather,” Davis said. “We’re working on a backup plan in the event of flooding, and we will work closely with the park to ensure that we have a plan for any obstacles we might run into next year.”
Davis added that there is a “lot of park to work with.”
To address parking and traffic challenges, 80/35 organizers next year will encourage festivalgoers to use alternate forms of transportation, Davis said, and will host free bike valet parking and possibly arrange for shuttles to transport people from downtown, with its abundant parking garages, to the park.
He said organizers also will adopt best practices from upcoming concerts at Water Works Park, including the free Lynyrd Skynyrd concert to be staged at Lauridsen for the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa on July 26.
The War on Drugs headlined the festival Friday after performances from Sudan Archives, Deerhoof and Elizabeth Moen on the main stage. Big Boi of Outkast is set to take the stage Saturday night.
Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Des Moines Register. Reach her at pbarraza@registermedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza
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