Leon Bridges, Of Monsters and Men, Old Crow Medicine Show and more set for Hinterland Fest

Iowans will be rockin’ like a wagon wheel at the sixth annual Hinterland Music Festival, Friday, July 31 to Sunday, Aug. 2. On Tuesday, Fest organizers announced 24 artists on their 2020 lineup, including classic country stars, alt-rock bands and everything in between.

Topping the bill is Of Monsters and Men, an Icelandic folk/pop group best known for mega-singles “Little Talks,” “Mountain Sound” and “Dirty Paws” off their 2012 album My Head is an Animal; Leon Bridges, a Texan singer-songwriter who captures a nostalgic ’60s soul/R&B sound in hits like “Coming Home” and “River” (the latter featured prominently in the Big Little Lies season one soundtrack); and Tyler Childers, whose distinctly Kentucky blend of country, folk and bluegrass (and lyrical commentary on coal mining and poverty) earned him a Grammy nod in 2019.

Old Crow Medicine Show — best known for the ubiquitous country track “Wagon Wheel,” co-written with Bob Dylan — will also grace the Avenue of the Saints Amphitheater stage. The Nashville-based group has been pickin’ since 1998, opening for the likes of Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton at the Grand Ole Opry and earning a Grammy for Best Folk Album (Remedy) in 2015. Pink-haired country legend Tanya Tucker also anchors the lineup. Tucker had her first hit at the age of 13 with “Delta Dawn” (1972) and kept a steady stream of hits flowing through the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and ’00s, maintaining her outlaw sensibilities all the while.

Fire-walking British country crooner and Highwoman Yola will return to Iowa for Hinterland. Cedar Falls band Hex Girls will represent their home state at the fest, which always features one up-and-coming Iowa act. (Last year’s local talent was Elizabeth Moen, who performed with her band and fellow Iowa City singer-songwriter Penny Peach Jr.)

Hinterland Music Festival is an outdoor Americana music showcase held in St. Charles, Iowa, southwest of Des Moines. Arts and crafts vendors, family activities, local food stands and more are available on the festival grounds, which are surrounded by camping sites. Festival and tent/RV camping passes may be purchased on the Hinterland website. Three-day festival passes range from $145 (general admission) to $749 (Saints VIP pass).

Here is the current schedule for Hinterland 2020:

Friday, July 31

Of Monsters and Men
Old Crow Medicine Show
Wallows
Orville Peck
Yola
Shura
Hex Girls

Saturday, Aug. 1

Tyler Childers
KALEO
Tanya Tucker
The Devil Makes Three
Shooter Jennings
Paul Cauthen
The Dip
Kelsey Waldon
Lillie Mae

Sunday, Aug. 2

Leon Bridges
Khruangbin
Mt. Joy
Weyes Blood
Hamilton Leithauser
Charley Crockett
Bendigo Fletcher
Vincent Neil Emerson