By statistical means, Iowa shouldn’t be a major stop for musical artists, as Iowa ranks 32nd in population among US states and territories. It’s easy to assume that big artists would skip over Iowa and go to larger cities like Chicago or Los Angeles, but that assumption is consistently proven wrong.
This summer alone disproves this theory, with popular upcoming performances being Luke Bryan on July 19th at the Iowa Events Center, Tyler Childers on July 15th at the Iowa Events Center, and Post Malone and Jelly Roll on July 17th at Jack Trice Stadium.
Venues that Put Iowa on the Map
So what’s changed? Part of that could be the opening of Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee in 2023. After being opened for only a couple of years, there are still many notable performances such as: Pierce the Veil (first sold-out show), Cage the Elephant, NEEDTOBREATHE (opening show), and T-Pain.
For local fans, this shift means fewer long drives and more access. For artists, it means experiencing a dedicated and often underestimated crowd.
Another event that brings in larger artists is Hinterland. Hinterland is a music festival that takes place at the Avenue of the Saints Amphitheater in St. Charles from Thursday, July 30th, to Sunday, August 2nd. The festival attracts large crowds from across the country, which features numerous artists over the course of four days.
This summer’s headliners include KATSEYE, Lorde, Mumford & Sons, and Kali Uchis, reflecting a diverse range of music; a tactic that’s used to bring in larger crowds. Hinterland is also a chance for smaller artists to draw some crowds to their Campfire Stage. Some smaller artists this year are Ninajirachi, Doss, SOFIA ISELLA, Wisp, Jane Remover, and Nourished by Time.
Julia Logue is going to Hinterland this summer on the first day to see the headliner KATSEYE. “It’s beautiful for me being in Iowa, because we’re such a small state and I feel like it’s really important that all these huge artists that travel all around the world are coming here to us. I feel like that’s so crazy and kinda weird,” Logue said.
Iowa’s Weird Music History
Iowa’s music history includes not only extravagant festivals and new venues, but also some unusual occurrences.
The biggest example of this is Ozzy Osbourne’s famous 1982 performance at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Des Moines. During this performance, a fan threw a bat on stage and Osbourn, thinking it was fake, bit its head off.
This moment has become one of rock’s most famous legends, tying Iowa to a global music infamy, which is a strange honor, but it shows that even decades ago, Iowa was on the map for major tours.
More than Just a Flyover
The narrative that Iowa is too small, too rural, or too quiet for major music events doesn’t quite make sense anymore. If anything, Iowa’s size helps create high-energy shows with very loyal fans.
Big artists aren’t just passing through Iowa. They’re showing up because it’s worth it.
And when the crowds keep coming, they’ll keep coming back.
