Happening now: MAHA Music Festival
Beautiful summer weather and a new location at Stinson Park at Aksarben Village seem to have all the makings for the most successful MAHA Music Festival yet, now in its third year. Taking the first shift, I was there early enough to hear the sound check from Omaha band The Big Deep, who opened the show just a little past noon on the Kum & Go stage.
Their rugged Americana pop was a calm intro to the the day-long festival, which is still going on until 11 p.m. Following the Big Deep was Des Moines atmospheric rockers The Envy Corps (pictured above) on the TD Ameritrade Stage, who in my opinion are one of the best young bands in the Midwest and should be poised for a little breakthrough success in the US if things go their way. They have a new album, It Culls You, coming out within the next month or two.
As the day progressed, a steady stream of people began to fill the park, which is deceptively spacious. At least 20,000 people could easily fit in there. After Lincoln’s The Machete Archive spewed a sets-worth of their spastic, intricate and intelligent math rock, the crowd was expanding by the minute in anticipation of the start of the “big acts,” notably Rev Horton Heat, J. Mascis, Cursive, Guided By Voices and Matisyahu.
Meanwhile, attendees downed beers and cocktails for somewhat reasonable prices (around $2.50 apiece) and munched on food from local vendors like Papa John’s Gyros and Mangia Italiana.
Look for more complete MAHA coverage early next week.
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The Big Deep
The Envy Corps
Saber Blazek of Lincoln's The Machete Archive
