\nPhotos by Meanz Chan | meanzchan.com | @meanzchan | freelance@meanzchan.com<\/em><\/p>\n
Hinterland \u2013 St.Charles, IA<\/b><\/p>\n
A Hinterlander is a child blowing bubbles under the hot Iowa sun, a woman hula hooping, a man dressed like an American Flag and a couple dancing with their arms wrapped around each other. <\/span>And come Aug 4, you can find out what a Hinterlander is for yourself, when Hinterland Music Festival comes to life in St. Charles, Iowa.<\/span><\/p>\n Sam Summers, founder of Hinterland, started the music festival in 2015 because he saw a void that needed to be filled.\u00a0<\/span>\u201cAt a lot of festivals, there is multi-stage, so you are running around from festival stage to festival stage,\u201d Summers said. \u201cWe have a single stage during the day so everyone is keyed in on that same performance.\u201d <\/span>At Hinterland, there is a chance to hear every artist at the festival because no performance overlaps, and that\u2019s part of what keeps Hinterlanders coming back each year.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIn order to separate myself from other festivals, it was about curating a festival that people would enjoy from start to finish,\u201d Summers said.\u00a0<\/span>Acts in the past have included Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Willie Nelson, and Old Crow Medicine Show.<\/p>\n This year, the lineup includes music performances from Grammy-winners Dwight Yoakam and Gary Clark, Jr.; Grammy-nominated <\/span>artists Ryan Adams and Alt J; The Head and The Heart; Shakey Graves; Foxygen; Nikki Lane; JD McPherson; The Cactus Blossoms; Max Jury; and Annalibera. <\/span><\/p>\n Nella Thomas has been to the festival two years in a row and has already bought her tickets for this year\u2019s festival.\u00a0<\/span>\u201cThe bands that Hinterland brings to Iowa are totally my cup of tea,\u201d Thomas said. \u201cI love that both years I have seen bands that I know and love, but also left having learned about a bunch of new bands too.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>Between each act is a 30-minute break that allows Hinterlanders to catch up and explore the array of vendors the festival offers. <\/span><\/p>\n Walk away from the amphitheater, and you discover a whole new world of refreshing craft beers and creatively curated cuisine. You can sink your teeth into a corn dog \u00a0as you continue your walk to the marketplace where local artists sell everything under the sun, including little surprises for baby Hinterlanders. <\/span>\u201cWhat I love about Hinterland is how accessible it is to everyone,\u201d Thomas said. \u201cAll ages are welcome, and all ages feel comfortable there. Last year, they even had a Hinterland coloring book made for the kids.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Hinterland doesn\u2019t end when the musical curtain comes down. Campers head back to their handmade homesteads to continue the night under the moonlight.\u00a0<\/span>Camping at the festival has its perks, with a late night party at the Campfire Stage, early morning breakfast and closer-proximity to the amphitheater.<\/span><\/p>\n The 200-acres of Iowa farm land that houses Hinterland is not only speckled with tents, visitors and vendors, but also hundreds of oak trees. Most importantly, the Hinter-Tree. <\/span>According to Summers, the Hinterland Tree, or Hinter-Tree, is a coveted spot for visitors as it is a central place between the amphitheater and the other aspects of the festival. It\u2019s also a good resting place.\u00a0<\/span>\u201cIf you are looking to dance, there\u2019s always a crowd right in front of the stage,\u201d Thomas said. \u201cIf you\u2019re looking to relax, there\u2019s always someone napping under the Hinterland Tree.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>Whether you want to dance your socks off until the break of dawn, or lay under the sun to the sound of live music, Hinterland strikes a chord in the heart of every music lover.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t![\"\"](\"http:\/\/urban-plains.com\/2016\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/hinterland_graphic-1-1124x1124.jpg\")
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