The fifth annual 80/35 music festival will take place on Friday and Saturday, July 6 and 7, 2012 at Western Gateway Park in downtown Des Moines. Interested in vending food or merchandise at the festival?  We’re looking for vendors offering great food and fun stuff to help make this year’s event unforgettable!  The deadline for submissions is March 15th, so get on it! Download all the information you need here.

Planning for the fifth annual 80/35 music festival is underway with the first meeting being held on Tuesday, September 27 at 6pm at the Mickle Center, 1620 Pleasant Street in Des Moines. Meetings are open to the public and will continue to be held the last Tuesday of every month. The 80/35 Planning Committee meetings are an opportunity to learn about ways to volunteer with the festival and for current organizers to get together to review all aspects of the festival.

Many of the efforts of 80/35 are lead by key volunteers and there are a number of ways for people interested in volunteering to get involved. The main categories of information reviewed in the 80/35 Planning Committee meetings include: booking, marketing, vending, sponsorship, finance and insurance, street use, VIP area, media partnerships, kid’s zone, green initiatives, art, YPC village, volunteer coordination, production, merchandise, hospitality, beer vending, and day of show materials.

All 80/35 Planning meetings are open to the public. If you have questions, please contact Amedeo Rossi at info@desmoinesmc.com.

80/35 is organized by the non-profit Greater Des Moines Music Coalition (DMMC). The mission of the organization is to aggressively advocate, sponsor, and develop an independent, progressive live music economy in greater Des Moines for the purpose of urban revitalization, regional economic development, and the retention of our region’s youth and future.

In addition to 80/35, the DMMC also produces two smaller music festivals, Gross Domestic Product and Little BIG Fest, and organizes Music University, a free music business education series. The non-profit assists in advocacy efforts for the music scene and serves as a resource for the community. Learn about additional volunteer opportunities.

While patrons of the festival were busy dancing, enjoy delicious food and beverage, and basking in the glow of great festival weather, there were many photographers, journalists, and press personnel buzzing around, getting the inside scoop on the music and people of 80/35. It finally feels as though the circus train is rolling out of town, but the memories of 80/35 are still ringing raucously in our ears. Relive every magical music moment of the wild, weird and wondrous weekend through enchanting photos, amazing articles, brilliant video and more.

“Official 80/35 Photos” – 80/35 Team

“80/35 bands play to ‘enthusiastic’ crowds” – Des Moines Register

“Day 2 crowd at 80/35 is ‘more chilled out’” – Des Moines Register

“80/35 Day 1 Catch All Blog” – Metromix

“80/35 Day 2 Catch All Blog” – Metromix

Photo Galleries: Girl Talk, of Montreal, Saturday 1, Saturday 2 , Sunday Bands, Sunday 2 – Metromix

Saturday and Sunday Instagram Photos – Metromix

“Video: 80/35 fans dance at the main stage” – Metromix

“80/35 Music Festival: Girl Talk” Video Interview – John Pemble

“80/35 Music Festival: Bitch” Video Interview – John Pemble

“80/35 Music Festival: The River Monks & Parlours” Video Interview – John Pemble

“80/35″ – WHO TV (Video)

“80/35 Day 1” – DSM Vibe

“80/35 Day 2” – DSM Vibe

“And the awards goes to…” – DSM Vibe

“80/35 Photo Gallery” – DSM Vibe

“80/35, Part Deux” – DSM Vibe

”Rally Around The Flag, Glory, Glory, Hallelujah” – DesNoise

”Photos – 80/35 Music Festival” – You Tell Concerts

80/35 Festival – Sun On The Sand

Bosman Handsomely Handles the Handsome Furs – Todd Razor

80/35 2011, A Review: Jeremy Does Des Moines – The Milk Carton

80/35 Music Festival Photo Gallery – Ames 247

“buzz @ 80/35 Music Fest Day 1″ – Buzz Magazine

“buzz @ 80/35 Music Fest Day 2” – Buzz Magazine

“Titus Andronicus at 80/35 Fest” – Buzz Magazine

”Photos From Dave Zollo at 80/35” – The Daily Iowan

”Photos From Girl Talk at 80/35” – The Daily Iowan

”Photos From The Uniphonics at 80/35” – The Daily Iowan

”Photos From The 80/35 Music Festival” – The Daily Iowan

”Des Moines 80/35 festival hosts local, national acts” – The Daily Iowan

The media was out in full force covering 80/35 yesterday. The festival was even featured on the front page of today’s Des Moines Register! That’s the first time we’ve gotten the cover since the year inaugural year! Be in the know by checking out all these reviews, photos, videos, and interviews from the press.

“80/35 bands play to ‘enthusiastic’ crowds” – Des Moines Register

“80/35 Day 1 Catch All Blog” – Metromix

“2011 80/35 Music Festival: Saturday” Photo Galleries – Metromix

“80/35 Music Festival: Girl Talk” Video Interview – John Pemble

“80/35 Photo Gallery” – DSM Vibe

“Video: 80/35 fans dance at the main stage” – Metromix

“80/35 Music Festival: Bitch” Video Interview – John Pemble

Day one has only just begun. Blessed with sunny skies, cool breezes, and overall perfect festival weather, the day has been spectacular, filled with dazzling headliners, exciting side stage acts, and mind-blowing local artists. On the Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Main Stage, Titus Andronicus jumped in the crowd with fans in the midst of stellar electronic beats. On the Independence Stage, Christopher the Conquered reminded us all what it means to be patriotic, first highlighting the soulful vocals of Tina Haase Findlay and then surprising fans with a variety of instrumentalists and performers hidden in the audience. The Kum and Go stage rocked out with the folk stylings of Cory Chisel and the indie sound of Generationals. In short, it has been an amazing afternoon full of astounding acts.

The best part, the day is only half over. Here are a few of our favorite photos. View more on Flickr.