We’re saving a piece of cake for you! Oh, and also we’re saving you cash on tickets. But only for a few more hours. (Did we say hours? Yes, yes we did.) When you buy your 80/35 tickets before midnight Tuesday, May 15, you’ll save $15 on a two-day pass and $10 on a one-day pass. Suh-weet!

Head to midwestix.com today and we’ll see you at the big birthday bash, Friday and Saturday, July 6 & 7, downtown Des Moines.

What do you get the music lover that has everything? 

Atmosphere
Useful Jenkins
Pieta Brown
Dead Larry
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Jaill
Night Moves
Christopher the Conquered & His Black Gold Brass Band
Mantis Pincers
Dustin Smith & The Sunday Silos
Derek Lambert and the Prairie Fires
Delta Rae
Now, Now
The Sun Company
Bright Giant
Dumptruck Butterlips
Tajh
Brad Goldman
Jesse Jamz
Jade Reed

Our mindboggling stack of birthday surprises just continues to grow! Each of these prettily packaged presents have been added to a pile of perfection that already includes Death Cab For Cutie, The Avett Brothers, Dinosaur Jr., Leftover Salmon, F****d Up, Freddie Gibbs, Dan Deacon and more! Get the full lineup and get to know all the bands at 80-35.com/lineup/2012.

Get your tickets now! We know, we know. You keep telling yourself that you’ll wait just a little bit longer. But after Tuesday, May 15, ticket prices are going to bend their tickety legs and hop right on up the pricing scale. 2-day tickets will climb from $49 to $65 while 1-day tickets go up from $29 to $39. So be smart and save yourself some money. Go to Midwestix.com today to get your tickets to the party now!

Two-day tickets are now also available for purchase at the following retail outlets with no service fees: Zzz Records (2200 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines), Eden (418 East 6th Street, Des Moines), and Burgertime Speedy Taco (13435 University Ave., Clive). You can also sign up for a chance to get a free upgrade to VIP status at these special hot spots!

Who do you want to see at 80/35? Vote for your favorite band at the Wellmark 80/35 Play-In presented by IPR’s Studio One. Some confetti-filled acts have already performed and more are yet to come! Three fan-favorite acts will be added to the lineup and you get to choose. Watch past performances, cast your vote and view the upcoming schedule of bands at iowapublicradio.org/events/play-in.html.

Tune in to IPR’s Night Music to hear all eight semi-final performances LIVE from IPR’s Studio One at 7:30 p.m. Listeners are also invited to the studio to be part of the live audience. Studio One is located on the 3rd floor of the Communication Arts Center on the University of Northern Iowa campus in Cedar Falls.

Good luck to all the semi-finalists!

IPR’s Night Music Performance Schedule:
Monday, April 30 — Ladysoal
Tuesday, May 1 — Emperors Club
Wednesday, May 2 — The White Elephant
Thursday, May 3 — The Beat Strings
Monday, May 7 — Seedlings
Tuesday, May 8 — The Wire Frames
Wednesday, May 9 — Holy White Hounds
Thursday, May 10 — Love Songs for Lonely Monsters

*All audio, video and voting links will be posted by noon the day following the performance.

The Play In committee will select eight finalists to perform live on IPR’s Night Music from April 30 – May 10. Listeners will then rate each performance online and the top three highest average rankings will be guaranteed a slot on the 2012 80/35 lineup. Those three acts will then perform in front of a live audience in Des Moines on June 21. The final round of voting will take place to determine the top act that will play on the Wellmark Main Stage, and the second and third place winners will each play a set on the free stages. Get all the details.

Stay tuned! We’ll announce the eight semi-finalists on April 23 at 7:35 p.m. on IPR’s Studio One.

Just what we always wanted!

Happy Birthday to us, music fans!
The party kicks off Friday with a dazzling array of amazing musical acts, our gift to you. In addition to indie folk rock favorites The Avett Brothers, you’ll be entranced by the dangerous distortion of ’90s alt-rock veterans Dinosaur Jr. Then, witness the raucous stage show of hardcore punk rockers F****d Up, and lose yourself in the fiery lyrics of hip-hop sensation Freddie Gibbs.

Saturday the celebration continues with jam band legends Leftover Salmon. Then delight in the musical genius of Dan Deacon or chill to the folksy melodies of Greensky Bluegrass. Along with the multitude of national acts including Death Cab for Cutie, music fans will gorge themselves on sweet local talent including; Leslie and the Ly’s, The Sundogs, Maxilla Blue, and Mumford’s.

Have your cake and eat it, too!
Of the nearly forty bands in this brightly wrapped pile of packages, we’ve already opened a dozen! Now it’s time for you to don your party hat and pick up your party passes. Seriously, put on the hat.

Get your party passes now.
One Day Pass- $29
Two Day Pass- $49
VIP- Sold out!
Visit midwestix.com to get yours today.

Calling all Volunteers!
Help us celebrate our 5th birthday and volunteer at the party! We’re looking for fun, energetic music fans who would be willing to donate a few hours of their time at 80/35. Organized and managed by the Des Moines Music Coalition, a non-profit organization, 80/35 requires hundreds of dedicated, responsible people to pull it all together. Find out more about volunteering (and the perks) at 80-35.com/volunteer.

Start Celebrating!
80/35 is going to be a sonically sweet celebration! Get the party started today by listening to the 80/35 2012 Spotify Playlist and follow our uber-fabulous Pinterest for things like delicious cake, festival fashion and memorable moments.

Stay tuned for the next 80/35 2012 lineup announcement coming in May. In the meantime, frolic in the balloons and streamers and get band details at 80-35.com/lineup/2012/.