For the third consecutive year, we’re planning a trip to the Iowa countryside for Hinterland Music Festival. The festival returns to Roaming Hills in St. Charles, Iowa, July 30 through August 1, 2027, with a lineup led by Slayyyter, Phoebe Bridgers, and Billy Strings. Other highlights include Zach Top, Remi Wolf, Ashe, Malcolm Todd, Caroline Polachek, and The Backseat Lovers.
Now entering its 12th edition, Hinterland returns to a three-day format after expanding to four days in 2026. The lineup continues to bring together indie rock, alternative pop, Americana, country, and emerging artists, offering a little something for music fans with widely different tastes. While there is still some hyperpop in the mix, this year’s lineup feels a bit more traditional Hinterland, featuring more rock and roots influences.
After covering Hinterland in both 2025 and 2026, we’ve developed a real appreciation for this festival and its setting. We’ve experienced everything from Tyler, the Creator’s spectacular 2025 headlining performance to the rain-soaked sets and musical discoveries that filled our 2026 Friday recap. Each year has brought something different, and we’re looking forward to seeing what 2027 has in store.
About Hinterland Music Festival
First held in 2015, Hinterland has grown into one of the Midwest’s most recognizable independent music festivals. Located approximately 30 minutes south of Des Moines, the festival brings nationally touring artists and emerging talent to the rolling hills of rural Iowa.
One of Hinterland’s defining features is its single-main-stage format. With no overlapping performances on the main lineup, attendees can catch every artist without making difficult scheduling decisions. The natural amphitheater offers hillside seating, while the area closer to the stage provides a more traditional concert experience.
Beyond the music, Hinterland features art installations, craft vendors at the HinterMarket, family-friendly activities at Miniland, and trails throughout the property.
Camping is also a major part of the weekend. After the main stage closes, late-night performances continue at the Campfire Stage, an area that has become one of our favorite parts of the festival. From Rebecca Black’s DJ set in 2025 to Ninajirachi’s rain-soaked performance in 2026, we’ve found plenty of reasons to stay up long after the headliners finish.
Hinterland 2027: Artists We’re Excited to See
The 2027 lineup includes several familiar favorites, returning Hinterland performers, and artists we’re looking forward to discovering. Here are a few who have already caught our attention.
Ashe — Friday, July 30
Ashe is one of the artists we’re particularly excited to see at Hinterland. We last caught her in March, when she headlined the Girls Write Nashville benefit at 3rd & Lindsley. That performance featured a stripped-down set, with Ashe moving between solo piano arrangements and songs accompanied by Emma Harvey on guitar and harmonies.
The smaller setting provided an opportunity to appreciate her vocals and songwriting, particularly during performances of “Angry Woman” and “Moral of the Story.”
With the October release of her fourth studio album, The Girl of Your Dreams, we’re looking forward to hearing the new material live. After experiencing Ashe in such a small venue earlier this year, catching her on Hinterland’s main stage should provide an exciting contrast.
Remi Wolf — Friday, July 30
Remi Wolf returns to Hinterland after delivering one of the most entertaining performances of our first visit in 2025. Her combination of funk, pop, soul, and rock makes for a lively show, and she has the vocal ability and stage presence to match.
When we caught Wolf at Hinterland in 2025, she delivered a lively set that included jumping behind the drum kit for a solo during “Kangaroo.” Her performance also featured a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” and plenty of material from her album Big Ideas.
We’re happy to see her returning for another round.
Phoebe Bridgers — Saturday, July 31
Phoebe Bridgers returns to Hinterland for the first time since headlining in 2022. The singer-songwriter has become one of indie rock’s most recognizable voices, earning widespread acclaim for her solo work and her collaborations with Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus in boygenius.
Her music combines deeply personal songwriting with arrangements that range from quiet acoustic passages to expansive, guitar-driven performances. Songs like “Motion Sickness,” “Kyoto,” and “I Know the End” have become staples of her catalog, and her return gives longtime Hinterland fans another opportunity to see one of the festival’s previous headliners.
Malcolm Todd — Saturday, July 31
Malcolm Todd is among the younger artists bringing a different sound to Saturday’s lineup. The singer, songwriter, and producer has built a growing audience through his blend of alternative R&B, indie pop, and guitar-driven production.
His music pairs relaxed vocals with rhythmic arrangements and melodic hooks, drawing from several influences without losing its identity. For those unfamiliar with his catalog, his Hinterland appearance offers an opportunity to catch an artist whose profile has grown considerably in recent years.
Billy Strings — Sunday, August 1
Billy Strings is another artist sitting near the top of our must-see list. We’ve seen him perform enough times to know that his live shows are something special.
The Grammy-winning guitarist has helped bring bluegrass to a new generation of listeners, combining traditional influences with extraordinary musicianship, extended improvisation, and the energy of a rock concert.
Whether he’s working through a familiar bluegrass standard or taking a song somewhere entirely unexpected, Strings and his band consistently deliver performances worth experiencing. His return to Hinterland, where he previously headlined in 2022, should be an outstanding way to close the weekend.
More Music to Discover
Of course, there’s considerably more to the Hinterland 2027 lineup.
Friday’s schedule includes headliner Slayyyter alongside Caroline Polachek, Tiffany Day, Florence Road, Violet Grohl, and judith. Saturday features The Backseat Lovers, underscores, Joshua Slone, Emma Ogier, Westside Cowboy, and Kinji.
Sunday shifts further toward country and Americana, with Zach Top, Stephen Wilson Jr., Avery Anna, Mon Rovîa, Medium Build, and Wade Forster joining Billy Strings. There’s also a special performance announced by Haywire in a cornfield, which certainly sounds Cornchella at it’s finest!
Part of the fun of Hinterland has always been discovering artists we hadn’t initially planned to see. Our 2026 Saturday recap is a good example of how much variety can fit into a single day, and we expect plenty more discoveries in 2027.
How to Attend Hinterland 2027
Hinterland Music Festival returns to Roaming Hills in St. Charles, Iowa, July 30 through August 1, 2027. Ticket presales begin Friday, November 13, at 11 a.m. Central, with a new presale process for 2027. Fans must register in advance to receive a presale code, which will be delivered by text message around 10 a.m. Friday. Tickets will be available through Front Gate Tickets, and camping and parking passes can also be purchased during the presale. Ticket prices are tiered, with lower-priced allotments available while supplies last.
Single-day and three-day passes are available across four admission tiers. General Admission provides access to the festival grounds and performances, while GA+ adds a shaded lounge with comfortable seating, misting fans, a private bar, and air-conditioned restrooms.
VIP offers additional amenities, including a dedicated viewing area beside the stage, exclusive food vendors, dedicated entrance and merchandise lines, and a commemorative festival T-shirt. VIP+ includes everything in the lower tiers, along with complimentary drinks at the VIP bar and a limited-edition festival poster. Children ages 10 and under receive free admission when accompanied by a ticketed adult.
For those staying the weekend, Hinterland offers car, tent, and RV camping options. With Hinterland continuing to make changes to its festival layout, we’ll be curious to see the 2027 camping map and how everything is arranged this year.
Attendees who prefer a hotel can take advantage of the Des Moines shuttle, which provides transportation between the city and festival grounds throughout the weekend. The exact pickup location has yet to be announced, but both single-day and three-day shuttle passes will be available. ADA-accessible buses will also be in rotation. For those driving themselves, general and premium parking options are available, with daylight re-entry permitted.
Hinterland is also bringing back its 90 Degree Guarantee, which allows ticket holders to request returns for festival admission on days when the forecast predicts temperatures of 90 degrees or higher. The policy includes specific eligibility requirements and deadlines, so attendees should consult the festival website for complete details.
For ticket information, camping options, shuttle passes, and festival updates, visit the official Hinterland Music Festival website.
Getting There: Making a Road Trip Out of Hinterland
For us, getting to Hinterland has become part of the adventure. Traveling from Nashville gives us plenty of opportunities to explore along the way, and we’ve made a habit of taking a different route each year. In 2025, we traveled through St. Louis, stopping at the National Museum of Transportation before heading north to the legendary Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, and the nearby memorial honoring Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. Richardson. In 2026, our route included the Illinois Railway Museum, Abraham Lincoln’s home in Springfield, and the Voyage Home Museum in Riverside, Iowa, better known to Star Trek fans as the future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk.
We’re not sure what the 2027 journey will bring, but after two years of excellent music and some wonderfully unexpected roadside discoveries, we’re looking forward to finding out.
We’ll see you in the hills!
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