Hinterland Festival 2025: Day One

A festival set in Saint Charles, Iowa is probably not at the top of many people’s festival bucket lists, but after experiencing Hinterland Music Festival a few weeks ago, I’m here to tell you — it should be.
This three-day event was the perfect summer escape from reality. From August 1st through 3rd, the small town amphitheater transformed into a musical haven for Hinterland’s approximate 25,000 attendees. With only one stage, set at the bottom of a wide-spanning, 4% grade hill, this music festival curated a sense of togetherness and intimacy for festival-goers. Each day, thousands of people lined the grass with blankets, inflatable couches, and legless chairs, staking out their spot to watch that day’s stacked lineup of bands.

And stacked the days were!

To hit off the weekend, California based hardcore-rock band Scowl hit the stage, bringing immediate energy Friday afternoon. From there, electricity continued with acts like INJI, Good Neighbours, Rebecca Black, Royel Otis, and Remi Wolf. Turkish born INJI brought brat summer vibes and poppy house rhythms, while childhood-star-turned-queer-icon Rebecca Black brought backup dancers and a setlist fit for the club — including a crowd-pleasing, mash-up remix of “Friday” (fitting, considering the day). Good Neighbours and Royel Otis brought indie pop feel-good anthems that felt like sunshine and blue skies, while later, Remi Wolf caused upbeat chaos with joy and a side of storytelling. She and her band were so obviously there to have a good time, breathing life and laughter into the crowd.

From there, we all received a bit of an energy change-up from lo-fi singer-songwriter Clairo. I sincerely believe she and her accompanying musicians were put on this earth to gently force listeners to slow down. The crowd witnessed a deep breath of a set… it was as if we all collectively sighed with relief after experiencing the energy of the day. Perhaps Clairo was purposefully billed as the penultimate spot of the night, to slow us all down before the rush of Tyler, the Creator.

And Tyler’s show was — literally — fire.

I will never forget the zap of adrenaline I felt (and the following smoke I inhaled) being in the photo pit as those flame projectors went off for the first time! Tyler, The Creator instantly went into new song “Big Poe” with a stage setup including his signature Chromokopia shipping container box (although, this time, minutes before showtime, a banner that read “DON’T TAP THE GLASS” rolled down the front of it, pointing to the new album Tyler had just released only one week prior to the performance).

Though it was only him up there for the entirety of the set, the rapper/singer came with sparks, fire, and dramatic lighting. He didn’t need anyone else on stage with him; he’s that good, that performative and charismatic. Both Tyler, the Creator and the crowd were writhing, erratically dancing, smiling, and laughing together as the mood swing of a setlist continued into the night, spanning his entire discography. Tyler was the perfect headliner to start the weekend off right, complete with flames and high spirits.

Photography by Elizabeth O’Guin

Share this article

or