Des Moines's 80/35 fest to feature Decemberists, Nas, Wolf Parade, Lotus

The July 8-9 downtown festival happens the same weekend as the Basilica Block Party (and sometimes shares bands).

By Chris Riemenschneider Star Tribune

April 6, 2016 — 10:45am

Twin Cities modern rock fans not impressed with yesterday's Rock the Garden lineup or next week's Basilica Block Party announcement might find something they like down in Des Moines. The Iowa capital's great little-music-fest-that-could, the 80/35 Festival, has confirmed another impressive lineup for 2016 with top-tier rap legend Nas headlining July 8 and folky favorites the Decemberists on July 9, plus an eclectic two-day mix that also includes Lotus, Wolf Parade, the Black Lips, Craig Finn, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down, Lizzo, the Jeff Austin Band, Colleen Green, Holy White Hounds and more.

Named after the city's intersecting interstates highways, 80/35 draws about 15,000 fans a day to downtown Des Moines, about a four-hour drive from the Twin Cities. Passes start at a modest $65 for two days or $42 for one day and are on sale now via midwestix.com.

Last year, the 80/35 lineup proved to a bellwether for the Basilica Block Party lineup, as Wilco and Weezer essentially swapped nights headlining each of the festivals on the same weekend. However, we highly doubt the Basilica will be booking Nas (their loss!), and we were guessing that another dorm-room-centric band from the Great Northwest would play the Basilica based on its tour routing. The Basilica's July 8-9 lineup will be announced April 14.

Des Moines also has a rising electronic dance/hip-hop music festival comparable to Summer Set, the 515 Alive fest, which this year will feature Zeds Dead, Machine Gun Kelly, A$AP Ferg and many more July 22-23.

Here's the daily lineup for 80/35.

Friday, July 8