Des Moines has always struggled to attract a wide array of artists. For big-name acts that had outgrown bar gigs but couldn’t sell out stadiums, Iowa just wasn’t on their touring radar. But a development in the mid-2000s started to change that: festivals!
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“Dead” Moines: How We Got Here
Des Moines isn’t your typical Midwest music scene. Sure, it’s right on the crosshairs of Interstates 80 and 35, connecting culture hubs like Chicago or Minneapolis with modest scenes like Omaha and Kansas City. But despite it’s prime location, live music in Des Moines has historically been behind the curve.
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Home on the Plains with Grant – Episode 17
During the pandemic, Urban Plains staff members are participating in “Home on the Plains,” a series in which we reflect on our experiences regarding quarantine from wherever each of us may be. […]
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Lives Upended – Holly
This series illustrates COVID-19’s effect on Midwesterners — one person at a time. “I started working in the music industry in 2015, and the majority of my job is going on the […]