full recap.
Hinterland 2024 was a whirlwind of music, friends, and a whole lot of heat. I went with two friends this year—one who came with me last year and one who was experiencing the festival for the first time. We went all out with VIP wristbands, but I stuck with general admission parking instead of VIP. Having been before when the festival wasn’t sold out, we had some idea of what to expect and planned ahead, especially since this year’s tickets sold out.
getting to the fest.
Since we knew a bit about what to expect, we planned out our parking strategy well in advance. But even with some insider knowledge, we were in for a surprise. Lines to get inside were long, stretching out even before the first act hit the stage. It was a far cry from the easy entry we experienced last year, where we could pretty much come and go as we pleased. But hey, the music was calling, so we just went with the flow.
friday: day one
I was most hyped for Friday, so I headed straight for the front of the stage early in the day. I was not about to miss the acts I was looking forward to: Debbii Dawson, Josiah and the Bonnevilles, The Last Dinner Party, Orville Peck, and Hozier. We managed to snag a spot behind the barricade and stayed there for most of the day, which let me grab some amazing pictures.
One of the best surprises was Debbii Dawson and Orville Peck performing a set together. Their voices meshed so perfectly—it was one of those magical, unexpected festival moments that left everyone in awe. But honestly, one of my favorite sets of the entire weekend was The Last Dinner Party. The energy they brought to the stage was unreal. Being right up close, I could feel every note and every beat. It’s moments like these that make the festival chaos totally worth it.
To avoid the madness of navigating through the crowds, we made sure to get food and drinks early in the day. Our game plan was to stock up enough to last us through the afternoon and evening, so we wouldn’t have to leave our spots during peak crowd times. That was definitely a smart move since, by midday, the lines at the food area were out of control.
saturday: day two
Saturday had a pretty solid lineup, but I was especially excited for the headliner, Vampire Weekend. I’d seen them headline Kilby Block Party earlier this year, so I already knew they were going to put on an incredible set. It’s hard to top the energy they bring to a festival stage. They didn’t disappoint, and the crowd was all in for it. It was the perfect way to close out the second day, and it gave us the motivation to power through the final day despite the heat.
surviving the heat
For the rest of the weekend, we found ourselves camped out in the VIP section on the hill, always on the lookout for shade. It was hot—like, seriously uncomfortable—but we made it work. Staying hydrated, finding pockets of shade, and just pacing ourselves were key. From our hilltop view, we had a perfect vantage point for Sunday’s sets, which I was especially excited about: Chappell Roan, Noah Kahan, and flipturn.
sunday: day three, packed
By Sunday, we knew it would be the busiest day of the festival. With Chappell Roan on the lineup, people were ready to flood in early, and we didn’t want to miss our chance to snag a good spot. We made a quick pit stop at my car and grabbed towels, knowing we’d need something to sit on in the grass while we waited out the day’s heat.
Armed with our towels, we got to the festival grounds prepared to secure our area before the crowds hit full force. We made a beeline for the VIP hill, staking our claim under the shade as best we could. That extra bit of planning paid off, giving us some space to relax while we enjoyed the day’s performances. With the towels in place, we didn’t have to worry about sitting directly on the hot ground, and it made all the difference as the temperature climbed.
From our spot, we had a perfect view of Chappell Roan’s set, which was absolutely worth the prep and planning. Her energy was infectious, and the crowd was completely into it. Noah Kahan followed up with an equally amazing set, rounding out a day that felt like the festival’s peak moment.
the crowds: the good, the bad, & the oversold
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the crowd. There were a lot of complaints this year, and honestly, I get it. The festival felt way more packed compared to last year. Merch lines took hours, and by the final day, the line for general admission was ridiculously long. Last year, we breezed in and out with no issues, so we were pretty stunned on day one when we walked up and saw that massive line.
To the festival’s credit, they did try to make things more bearable as the weekend went on. They added some adjustments to help people cool off, but it still didn’t change the fact that it was oversold. Some people just weren’t ready for the Iowa heat or the sheer number of attendees, and I can see both sides. There were moments when I found some relief, but I know not everyone had that luxury.
final thoughts.
Despite the overcrowding and the heat, there were some unforgettable moments that made it all worthwhile. Was it the same as last year? No, but that’s the beauty of live music—every experience has its highs and lows. From that unexpected set with Debbii Dawson and Orville Peck to The Last Dinner Party’s electric energy, and of course, Vampire Weekend absolutely delivering as expected, there were highlights that’ll stick with me for a while.
Hinterland 2024 definitely had its challenges, but those front-row moments, feeling the music pulse through the crowd, reminded me why I keep coming back. Here’s hoping next year finds a better balance between crowd size and comfort because this festival still has the potential to be one of the best, even in the blazing Iowa sun. lt has the potential to be one of the best, even in the blazing Iowa sun.
images.
