Time to think about your plans for 4th of July weekend. Of course, you'll be in Western Gateway Park at 80/35, Saturday and Sunday, July 3 & 4. But did you know that the fest features two full days of music this year? And by full we mean noon to night. Seriously. If we could bend time and squeeze 49 hours of music into the two-day fest, we would.

Well yesterday was about as good as it gets!  I showed up at the festival grounds around 10 am since the Poison Control Center, were going to be playing at noon, and already the amount of Volunteers and workers there amazed me.. A group of 10 dudes unloaded our van for us and brought it all up on the stage!  All while this was going on my wife and friend Sammi were running into  Stephen Malkmas and the Jicks at the farmers market down town.. THose LUCKY BUTTS! 

Vendors surround 80-35’s main stage on Locust and 13th street, some of which are artists.  Jon Palestini is a Des Moines apparel artist who recently launched a Zombie line of clothing including my favorite “ZILF” design.  The only beer to be found in the festival was from Ames Iowa’s Olde Main brewery.  I enjoy their Clone pale ale so I had a couple while walking around today.  Ben Harper spoke with me about an hour before closing down this year’s music festival.  After the fireworks just about everyone cleared out except Amedeo Rossi the man who organized this festival two years in a row.  He was interrupted by work as our interview was wrapping up proving he never stops taking care of the countless details of 80-35.

I’m covering @8035 for Iowa Public Radio and in the press room alcohol is forbidden (DM Pub Lib rules) A 12 Second Video http://tiny12.tv/T02DC

Evidently this year’s festival isn’t sheltered with blue skies, fluffy white clouds and a sun beaming gold light on thousands of 80-35 concert goers downtown Des Moines and that doesn’t seem to be a problem. Oh sure some of the photographers have complained that their socks are getting wet from the rain and their feet feel like oversized marshmallows bathed in olive oil but when they shoot pictures of Iowans spreading their warm appreciation for the hot music on the three stages all physical discomfort is forgotten.