Credit: Lizzy McAlpine pictured via @hinterlandiowa on Instagram
Chaos Ensues on Day Two of Hinterland
In comparison to Friday and Sunday, day two of Hinterland was rather anticlimactic. Whereas Friday contained high hopes and a stacked lineup of Hippo Campus, Orville Peck and Hozier, Saturday evoked much less enthusiasm throughout the crowd. However, this has nothing to do with the artists themselves. It had everything to do with the organization—or lack thereof, from the festival.
With a handful of water stations meant to satiate tens of thousands of festival-goers, plus record-breaking Iowa heat, attendees were left battling the symptoms of heat exhaustion on Day Two. The aforementioned rumors that the festival was dramatically oversold became validated when fans were left with little to no room to sit and enjoy the show. And it didn’t help that shuttle times stretched over five hours. Some festival-goers didn’t return to Des Moines until sunrise on Saturday. This left everyone exhausted, moody and disappointed by the time Hans Williams took to the stage.
Day Two: Hans Williams, Blondshell, Lizzy McAlpine and More
As for the music, Hinterland outdid themselves yet again on Saturday. You know it’s going to be a good day when an artist as talented as Hans Williams is slated as the opening act. Williams has such a distinct voice that I immediately recognized him despite not noticing him on the lineup upon first glance. And more than one person around me asked who was on stage before immediately following him on streaming platforms. Well deserved for Hans, if you ask me. Notable songs include “Body On My Shoulders” and his most-known, “All Is Well.”
Hans Williams was followed by a string of incredible acts. From Blondshell to Madison Cunningham to Lizzy McAlpine, Saturday kept the energy high despite the lack of morale in the crowd. Given the demographics of those in attendance, Vampire Weekend didn’t hold as much excitement as Noah Kahan and Hozier. However, they still put on quite the performance. Especially with their more recognizable tracks like “A-Punk” and “Campus.” If I were to give out the best performance of the night award to anyone, it would have to go to Lizzy McAlpine. From her rise to fame to seeing her in person, it was an honor to see her brilliance live.
All in all, Saturday placed third in the ranking for Hinterland 2024. Perhaps with more attention to detail and consideration for its attendees, it would have ranked much higher. Music-wise, Hinterland is a ten across the board. Yet it was difficult to truly appreciate the music when you’re focused on staying hydrated and conscious in the crowd. Take notes, Hinterland.
