With summer fast approaching so does the number of awesome festivals happening not just nationally but regionally. Here at MNunderground, we've got our annual trip to The Summer Set Music Festival already lined up. However this year we are branching out & packing our freshest gear and heading down to St. Charles, Iowa (outside of Des Moines) for the second annual, Hinterland Music Festival. Hinterland takes place on August 5th & 6th for 2 full days of great music. This festival screamed our name not just because of the amazing line up but because it’s a festival for people who love music and the outdoors. Don't get us wrong, the line-up definitely caught our attention when we first caught wind of this festival. With acts from all over the country, you get the perfect blend of artists to please even your pickiest friends. With acts like: Hayes Carll, The Turnpike Troubadours, Houndmouth, Cold War Kids, Grace Potter, Ray LaMontagne & the great Willie Nelson. 

Courtesy of Four Eyes Foto

Definition of Hinterland: The land behind a river. The rural area near a city. A backwater. This could not be more telling of what to expect at this event.  This festival is a tents only campground, NO RVs or campers. No "glamping" here. Unless, you decide to take some of the neighboring hotels up on their reduced rates offered for Hinterland weekend and take the free shuttle to the festivities.  Unlike some festivals Hinterland makes is approved for all ages.. There is a family friendly environment, this will be an event you can take the whole family to (Children 12 & under have free admission with adult admission). The kiddos even have their own “Kinderland." The kid friendly corner of the festival made just for them. There is even a Family/Quiet Camping area available with quiet period from 10pm - 8am so you can get a good night’s rest before seeing your favorite acts. The General Store is also available for any staples you might have forgotten. Not to mention the countless vendors for crafts, food and more that will be available over the two days. 

Courtesy of Jeremy Kim Photography So why not, wind down your summer with your buddies and road trip to Iowa to experience this unique and one of a kind festival.

Courtesy of Jeremy Kim Photography For more information please visit www.hinterlandiowa.com

Good weather once again blessed the pristine valley of Somerset WI this past weekend. Summer Set Music festival is one of the highlights of the entire year not just the summer, and it has failed to disappoint in any of it's three iterations. Lorin aka Bassnectar said it best " When festivals give the opportunity to play without noise interference it opens up so many magical doors of possibilities".  The magic of a festival tucked away in the woods, devoid of the hustle of the city is something you simply need to experience.


Somerset Amphitheater is the setting for the Summer Set Music Festival which promised many upgrades from last year and delivered on many fronts. The Grove Stage was the biggest improvement of all. No more breathing in dust and melting from the heat of 10,000 human beings crammed into a giant tent. Rather, it was nearly impossible not to enjoy the music and scenery on a permanent stage down in a secluded valley. Home to the greatest after parties imaginable, it didn't disappoint. With ample water stations at your disposal (a historically significant problem) it was a massive upgrade.


With a lineup full of big name acts and only an hour from the twin cities this is something you can't pass up. This being our third time at the festival we knew what to expect and what are agenda was. Making our way to the main stage watching the people filling in is always fun. The people watching may be as entertaining as the music itself, there is no lack of unique spirits wandering the festival grounds. We were there for the music, but much of the fun is just hanging out with like-minded people and taking the opportunity to see how people express themselves when unencumbered by their daily life.


Break Science was the first "can't miss" act on our agenda and they blew everything we expected out of the water. After they threw down we made our way to the Grove Stage for The Disco Biscuits, another highly anticipated performance we mid-westerners don't get often enough. Kaskade closed out Friday night on the main stage with a massive set. The fireworks were a huge surprise and definitely put a cap on the evening. Summerset's after parties are possibly the musical highlight of the entire festival.  Collaborations and performances with a variety of "special guests" are what make them so special.  With the world premiere of ManicScience, a collaboration between Break Science and ManicFocus and a full set by Gramatik, if you had anything left in the tank at 2:30 in the morning, you are a better man than I am.

Saturday had a huge lineup with most people vowing not to miss to Cherub at six. As you can imagine, the early part of the day was less busy as people recovered from the night before. We stopped by Wu-Tang Clan, which had a large crowd and good energy. The crowd was bumping to the beats they were throwing down. Our musical tastes lie in a different direction, so we headed for Flux Pavilion at the Grove stage. He exceeded everyone's expectations as well, epic laser show and heavy beats made for one hell of a show. Our most anticipated show of the entire weekend was the three time Summer Set veterans Big Gigantic. They closed out the main stage on Saturday night and were the group we were looking forward to most. Big G always brings their "A" game when they come to the Midwest and this time was no different. We tend not to be front and center in the thick of the crowd, rather we hang back and take in the surroundings as a whole. Big G had Cherub on stage for their single "The Night is Young" which was a welcome surprise. Next Flux Pavilion took the stage with them and threw down an epic jam. The show took on a whole new aspect after that, Big G ramped it up. Another epic fireworks display made for an unforgettable experience.


Saturday night's after-party may have been the most anticipated 2 hours of the weekend. We meandered down the wood chip trail pumped for Savoy, but it was the Emancipator Ensemble that was a genuine surprise. We have heard of them before but was never able to partake in the enchantment that is their live performance. Big ups to those four, it was perfect to start the after party.  Savoy

Coming up this Saturday Night is the 10,000 Sounds Music Festival in the heart of downtown Minneapolis.  The second iteration of the annual festival featuring Poliça, Sylvan Esso, Allan Kingdom, Carroll, Frankie Teardrop, Tree Blood and hosted by Barb Abney of the Current!

The single stage event welcomes several genres of music, local food options from both restaurants and food trucks (the O'Cheese truck will be there, one of our favorites), as well as beverages of all kinds.  Running from 4:00 to 10:00, you'll have plenty of other entertainment options available once the festival ends, being just one block south of the Orpheum Theater.


Buy Tickets until noon on Saturday for $25, or at the door for $30

Don't want to pay for tickets?  Enter to win a pair over on our Facebook Page.

After much anticipation, the folks over at Summer Set Music and Camping Festival have released the schedule for the weekend. There are a few choices that leave us scratching our heads. What are your thoughts?


Feel free to sound off on what you think. Anything bugging you about what you see?

As we draw closer and closer to August 9th, I find myself YouTubing random artists off of the list of performers from this years Summerset Music Festival. Some I know and love, others are new to me, either way you can't help but find something you'll dig. Here is a taste of what's in-store...

Big Gigantic


Girl Talk


Passion Pit


Sound Tribe Sector 9 (STS9)


Diplo


Beats Antique


Zedd



Plus several great local acts like...

Polica


The 4 on the Floor


Pert Near Sandstone


Dessa


Doomtree

After an incredibly good time last year, the Summer Set Music and Camping Festival returns again this year with an equally awesome line-up...  Mark your calendars for August 9th - 11th.  We'll be there!

Well, a little over week ago, me and a buddy of mine were pulling into the festival grounds in Summerset Wisconsin for a 3 day music festival that promised to rock our socks off. I was incredibly excited for the line-up they had in store and to just be able to hang with a few friends in the sun.  After some jumping through hoops, we had media credentials in hand (OK, they were wristbands actually, but you know what I mean) and we were headed off to the sea of tents to stake our claim on a spot.  

We missed a few of the opening acts but rolled up to the main stage just as Yelawolf was getting started.  This guy is like a tattooed version of Slim Shady, but with better rhymes.  I was thoroughly impressed by everything he had to offer; killer beats, great lyrics and a stage presence unlike most of the acts that followed him.  As he played through the sunset, our night was just getting under way...

Yelawolf looked to be enjoying himself as he got his show started.

For those of you not familiar with Big Gigantic, let me take a minute to enlighten you. A blend of electronic, jazz and jam band, they are a quintesential festival show.  With Dominic Lalli adding vocals and saxophone and Jeremy Salken on the drums, they drop some of the most inventive tracks around.  Now throw in a ridiculous light show and sound pounding so hard your eyes rattle in your skull and you have all the ingredients for an epic show... and that is exactly what we got.

photo provided by our buddy Troy Manley Photography

photo provided by Troy Manley Photography

Troy had the opportunity to sit down with Jeremy and Dominic for a couple of minutes.  Here's what they had to say...

Saturday brought another full day of music.  By the time I rolled my sorry backside out of my tent, got some food in me, and sat out the passing rain storm, I could hear music from the main stage.  From early in the day, great music options were plentiful.  Tea Leaf Green, Solid Gold, Excision, NAS, and Matt and Kim all filled slots on the main stage, with Umphrey's McGee killing the final set.  

NAS up close and personal

Live body painting... photo provided by Troy Manley Photography

This was my first Umphrey's show (I know, ridiculous right?) and man, they were something else all together.  It was a conglomeration of all my favorite genres at one time.  Love me some electric guitar and pounding bass, and they are masters at both.

Umphrey's McGee

Umphrey's McGee lighting up western Wisconsin.

The after parties were nuts too.  Take a standard hockey rink, melt off all the ice, cram the place full of people and crank up the volume.  Shows got started just after midnight and ran past 3:00 am, so if you are still ready to party, there is always one in the hockey arena.  We caught up with Midnight Conspiracy, who played the Saturday night after party.  They just seem to get it... 
Unfortuately, part of our crew had to skip out on the Sunday action.  Trust me, none of us wanted to leave, especially with Pretty Lights closing out the show.  Sunday's line-up was sick too...  Lotus, Black Star, Infected Mushroom, Big Wu, and DJ Abilities were all playing at one time or another.  Even casual electronic music fans know Pretty Lights.  With a blend of hip hop beats and funky soul, Derek Smith creates more than just music, he builds a mood.  He is like a musical puppet master, making 15,000 people dance with a little twist of his wrist.   

photo provided by Troy Manley Photography

photo provided by Troy Manley Photography

photo provided by Troy Manley Photography

Looking to close out your summer in musical style?  Well, we are about 10 days away from one of the most eclectic music festivals ever.  The Summerset Music Festival is descending upon Summerset Amphitheater August 24, 25 & 26th.  With everything from Jam Bands to DJs spinning dance music, there is sure to be something for everyone.   Having incredibly impressive acts closing out the 3 night event makes me very excited.  I am a HUGE fan of Big Gigantic and Umphrey's McGee, and Pretty Lights will be sure to draw an enormous crowd.

Summerset Music Festival Headliners

Looking for tickets or camping passes?  HERE is where you need to be.  Clubtix has it all...  Expect more coverage as we get a little closer to the show, knowing me I'll have plenty more to say before it's here.

Here is a quick promotional video they put together...  Kinda sums up the whole deal if you ask me...

It may be my inner hippy, or simply my love for being outside, but I love to throw around a Frisbee.  My accuracy may leave a little to be desired and finding space in my pack to bring one along on a back-country trip is often easier said than done.  I met a couple really cool guys at the Outdoor Retailer trade show that had a product that changed all that.  The Pocket Disc is a crocheted cotton disc that flies incredibly well and if your throw finds an unintended target, no worries, nothing is going to break.  Even better, it folds, rolls or stuffs into nearly any space.  Headed to a music festival?  Just stuff this in your pocket...


Available in dozens of colors and patterns, there is a design that is perfectly your style.  Made by Mayan artisans, these are not cranked out on some huge machine in a warehouse in china.  Every single Pocket Disc is hand made and a fair trade product helping enrich the lives of the artists that create them.

They are fun on so many levels... My daughter can't decide if she likes it better as a toy or a beret...

The crew at Pocket Disc are not done here either.  Check out their latest innovation, the LunaDisc.  They have incorporated pliable LED lights for nighttime fun.  Just because the sun called it quits for the day, doesn't mean you have to.  Check out their Kickstarter project for full details and how to get your hands on one.


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With one of the better line-ups to come to the BBP in a few years, we were quite excited to make our way over to Minneapolis and the grounds of the Basilica.  With Train, The Head and The Heart and Cake all playing Friday night only Mother Nature could put a damper on the festivities.  The skies opened up with about 30 minutes to go in the Train set, sending people running for their cars in a torrential downpour.




As one of the better Basilica Block Parties in recent memory, I was impressed.  From the way it was organized to the local food and beverages available.  Barrio had their truck there dishing out super yummy tacos and guacamole, just wish I could have gotten one of their famous tequilas to wash it down...