With energy high and lines long, the anticipation built for Chappell Roan’s Hinterland set. Although this energy had culminated on day three largely due to Chappell’s fan base, the electricity was consistent throughout the festival weekend, assembling all types of music and art fanatics. My friends and I experienced firsthand all the emotions upon hearing the music we had memorized and deeply connected to in the months and years preceding. Whether it was experiencing my very favorite artist Lizzy Mcalpine live for the first time or witnessing my best friend hear the Mt. Joy song most special to her, the weekend was chock full of core memories and stories my future children will get sick of hearing about.
Although this experience will go down as the climax of my summer, and possibly entire year, it did not come without its challenges. Chappell’s famous HOT-TO-GO lyrics might say it best because that weekend St. Charles, Iowa was “like 199 degrees.” Many people, myself included, suffered intense heat exhaustion and almost, or did, pass out. In addition to outside food and drinks being banned, a big controversy during day one was the long lines to refill water bottles, forcing many festival goers to opt for expensive river water instead. Attendees protested this and come Saturday, water was free, and outside drinks were permitted. These issues of unforeseen conflicts and overnight remedies seemed to be a pattern all weekend.
In addition to the requests that water be free, attendees believed that tickets were massively oversold this year. While the estimated turnout for day three was 20,000 people, the maximum capacity for the St. Charles venue sits at 15,000. This oversight made for massive crowds and discomfort for many attendees. While the Hinterland franchise should receive backlash for overselling, if that is what indeed happened, the main issue, coming from someone who attended, was the intense heat, which was out of anyone’s control. In regards to the future of the Hinterland Music Festival, there has been speculation of changing venues, but no explicit announcement. Many upcoming decisions hinge on the 2025 setlist and predicted demand for tickets.
Despite the issues of heat and possible ticket overselling, the 2024 Hinterland performers made those conditions an afterthought as the memories and experiences from these three August days fulfilled multiple bucket list items of mine. Almost two months after experiencing Hinterland, I look back on the three days and think not of the long lines, dehydration, and crowds but of the hours spent listening to my favorite music with some of my favorite people and the energy we created as fans.
