The 10th annual Hinterland Music Festival wrapped up on Sunday, August 3 to a resounding success. The 10th edition of the festival, held just 30 minutes south of Des Moines, IA featured headliners Tyler, The Creator, Kacey Musgraves, and Lana Del Ray and garnered praise from local attendees as well as fans who came from across the country to enjoy top-tier entertainment in the peaceful Iowa countryside. The bands also made note of the atmosphere and sang praises throughout the weekend.
photo credit: Gaby Deimeke
Beyond the music, 2025 marked a year of innovation and impact for the festival. A standout new addition was Hinterland Uncharted, a mobile game and immersive experience that premiered to great excitement. The interactive experience added a new digital layer to the festival’s atmosphere.
Festivalgoers and performers alike praised the laid-back yet energized atmosphere, with several artists calling out the unique charm of Hinterland during their sets. As Hinterland celebrated its 10th anniversary, it proved once again why it remains a beloved Midwest staple.
Community engagement also took center stage throughout the weekend. The B. Well Foundation’s Creative Coaches, an initiative connecting more than 33,000 Des Moines Public School students with local mentors, hosted on-site activations and raised over $3,000 and the Iowa Alliance for Arts Education hosted a silent auction, reporting their most successful Hinterland fundraising effort to date with over $3,500 raised for arts advocacy and education programs.
Wander & Co.,”a social cause shop” and one of the vendors featured at Hinterland 2025 planted 325 trees and donated 450 meals to area food banks through proceeds from their festival sales.
photo credit: Zach Sinclair
ABOUT HINTERLAND MUSIC FESTIVAL:
Hinterland [hin-ter-land]: The land behind a river. The rural area near a city. A backwater.
Hinterland Music Festival, is three days of music curated for people who love both music and the outdoors. True to its name, Hinterland is held in Saint Charles, a beautiful rural escape just outside Des Moines, IA. The annual festival features a blend of music, camping, art, craft vendors, family engagement, and more.
The inaugural Hinterland, held in 2015, established a fresh and unique music festival getaway that thousands look forward to every summer. Past lineups have included Chappell Roan, Zach Bryan, Leon Bridges, Sturgill Simpson, Kacey Musgraves, Bon Iver, Brandi Carlile, Willie Nelson, alt-J, Lake Street Dive, Hozier, Noah Kahan, Band of Horses, Grace Potter, Ray LaMontagne, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, and more.
