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Music News

Riverview Music Festival In Photos

Iowa Public Radio | By Lindsey Moon,

Madeleine King

Published September 8, 2021 at 2:47 PM CDT

The first Riverview Music Festival brought palpable energy to Des Moines' north side last weekend. The inaugural, limited-capacity Des Moines Music Coalition event brought BIPOC talent from around the country to Riverview Park's amphitheater, many playing their first shows in Iowa, as well as local acts on the xBk stage.

With a lineup of hip-hop, R&B, soul and rap, the festival felt like a refreshing and welcome direction for Iowa's growing music scene.

IPR's Studio One team interviewed Duckwrth, VanJess and Charlotte Blu (listen to hear those conversations on upcoming episodes of Studio One Tracks) and were out with cameras.

DK Imamu Akachi played the mainstage near the beginning of the day Saturday. He is based in Des Moines and is working on a new project with Andre Davis called "Sacred Assassins."

Members of the RunDSM Poetry group were named winners of the national Brave New Voices Poetry Slam in July. They performed between sets on the mainstage at Riverview Music Festival over Labor Day weekend in Des Moines. — Members of the RunDSM poetry group were named winners of the national Brave New Voices Poetry Slam in July. They performed between sets on the mainstage at Riverview Music Festival over Labor Day weekend in Des Moines.

Duckwrth brought all his energy to the Riverview Stage on Sunday, coming out into the crowd for the end of his set. — Duckwrth brought all his energy to the Riverview Stage Sunday, coming out into the crowd for the end of his set.

We had the opportunity to see Charlotte Blu from Davenport perform live for the first time this weekend. She recently was a contestant on NBC's "The Voice," and we hope to be hearing a lot more of her in the future.

We had the opportunity to talk with VanJess after their set on Saturday, and they said Des Moines had "incredible energy." Their music was new to us, and they blew us away.

Andre Davis headlined the xBk stage on Saturday. — Andre Davis headlined the xBk stage Saturday.

Emmett Phillips of Free PWR! on the xBk stage. — Emmett Phillips of Free PWR! performed on the xBk stage.

Free PWR! who played the xBk stage opened their set with a song called "Graffiti" and passed around a canvas for people in the audience to tag during their set. — Free PWR! who played the xBk stage, opened their set with a song called "Graffiti" and passed around a canvas for people in the audience to tag during their set.

James Tutson And The Rollback from Iowa City played material from their 2019 album "Make You Free," in addition to a cover of Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" on Saturday. — James Tutson and the Rollback from Iowa City played material from their 2019 album "Make You Free," in addition to a cover of Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" Saturday.

Spayce's set on the xBk stage with a full band was fun, freestyle and fabulous.

Concertgoers smiled during a performance near the xBk stage.

Mick Jenkins is a Chicago based rapper. His debut album "The Healing Component" was released in 2016, and his second record "Pieces of a Man" came out in 2018.

Artists supporting artists: DK Imamu Akachi watches The Finesse open the show Saturday. — Artists supporting artists: DK Imamu Akachi watched The Finesse open the show Saturday.

Des Moines music venue xBk hosted the local stage at Riverview Music Festival this weekend. In addition to a host of Iowa talent, Maria Isa from Minneapolis also played the stage. — Des Moines music venue xBk hosted the local stage at Riverview Music Festival this weekend. In addition to a host of Iowa talent, Maria Isa, from Minneapolis, also played the stage.

Headliner Earthgang closed out the day of music Saturday to a limited-capacity crowd at Riverview Amphitheater.

Tags

Music News Riverview Music Festival

Lindsey Moon

Lindsey Moon served as IPR's Senior Digital Producer - Music and the Executive Producer of IPR Studio One's All Access program. Moon started as a talk show producer with Iowa Public Radio in May of 2014. She came to IPR by way of Illinois Public Media, an NPR/PBS dual licensee in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, and Wisconsin Public Radio, where she worked as a producer and a general assignment reporter.

See stories by Lindsey Moon

Madeleine King

As the newsletter product manager, Madeleine (she/her) coordinates and writes for Iowa Public Radio’s newsletter portfolio, including The Daily Digest and Political Sense.

See stories by Madeleine King