80/35 Goes On: July 2 and 3, 2011

Vote DAILY to make 80/35 Bigger and Better
Thank you to everyone who has been voting every day for 80/35 in the Pepsi Refresh Project. You might have noticed that despite your much appreciated, diligent efforts, we’ve been hanging in around #70. Our goal is to get in the Top 10 so we can bring that $50k in funding to the great city of Des Moines to help further improve our music scene. That’s why it’s time to step it up!

We know you’re doing your part, but now it’s time to test your rallying skills and encourage others to vote. In order for this to work, we need to get more people to vote in more places… here’s how you can help.

Encourage 10 people to vote and tell them to pass it on. You can do so by simply forwarding this email, sending a Facebok message, tweet, text, or even telling the people you’re with right now. Don’t forget to remind them that you can vote three times per day for 80/35 using three different voting tools.

1) Vote online at http://www.refresheverything.com/8035
2) Text 101600 to Pepsi (73774)
3) Pepsi Refresh Facebook App: http://facebook.com.refresheverything (Install the Pepsi Refresh Facebook app and you can vote an extra time each day for 80/35)

Vote DAILY until August 31st. It’s go time people. Let’s make it happen!

Spread the word… here’s how you can help.

• Promote on your social networks! Click these links to post a pre-written message! It’s that easy! Facebook, Twitter, Delicious, StumbleUpon
• Add a widget to your website or blog. Grab the code.
• Email this blog post to your friends.
• In the media and want to do a story? Email Jill and Hillary at jillary@onpitchmedia.com to get more details or to arrange an interview.
• Write a blog post!
• Are you part of an arts or young professionals organization? Ask if they can help promote on their social networks or email lists.

Thank you! We’ll try not to bug you too often about voting! Thanks so much for your support. This grant could truly help us take the 80/35 music festival to the next level

80/35 is in the $50,000 grant category with voting taking place from August 1-31. Supporters can vote for the festival once per day. The DMMC would use the grant to expand upon the annual music festival, in particular a stage for emerging artists.
The volunteer-based DMMC has been working to grow Des Moines’ progressive music culture since its formation in 2004. The organization had a goal to develop an outdoor progressive music festival since its inception in an effort to…

- Provide Entertainment Value:  Provide high-value entertainment at a reasonable cost to thousands of local fans and visitors.
- Generate Economic Impact:  Attract progressive music fans from all Midwestern states.
- Recruit and Retain Workforce:  Showcase newly revitalized downtown Des Moines as an attractive place to live and work.
- Strengthen Local Music Industry:  Local musicians will perform for the largest audience they have experienced.
- Encourage multiculturalism and collaboration:  Attract a multi-cultural audience and create awareness of area arts and advocacy organizations.

The goal became a reality when the first 80/35 launched in 2008. Each year the festival has drawn around 30,000 people to downtown Des Moines to see national, regional, and local bands. The DMMC is encouraging supporters of 80/35 to help grow the event by voting for the festival in the Pepsi Refresh Project.

You saw acts that you’ve never heard of before and they blew you away. You saw local bands belt out tracks that were just created in the last year. You saw national musicians feed off a hungry audience. What does this mean?

It’s means that with you getting out there and supporting the shows that come into town and latching on to our local talent, anything is possible. Des Moines’ music scene is getting on the map. More acts are stopping here, local bands are touring and recording, and crowds at shows are increasing. We can’t stop now.

Get out there and support local bands and shows coming through Des Moines. We have a vibrant music scene. Take advantage of it. Just because 80/35 is over, doesn’t mean the music and magic has to stop. It’s happening every night at venues like House of Bricks, People’s Court, Vaudeville Mews, 7 Flags Event Center, Simon Estes Amphitheater, Mars Café, Ritual Café, Des Moines Social Club, Blues on Grand, and numerous other venues around the metro.

Music is the cornerstone of a creative, vibrant culture. Music has the power to bring people together, to revitalize communities, and to make cities famous. Let’s continue our upswing together.

If you believe in our mission, please support us through membership and getting involved in the Greater Des Moines Music Coalition. See details below.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! To our sponsors, volunteers, bands, vendors, neighbors, friends, family, and attendees. We appreciate your support for the vision and making 80/35 possible.

Sincerely,

Greater Des Moines Music Coalition

Get Involved.
The Greater Des Moines Music Coalition is a non-profit, grassroots organization, we rely solely on music fans and community leaders like you for sponsorship donations, volunteer hours and essential words of encouragement. We put on events like 80/35, Gross Domestic Product, Little BIG Fest, and Music University. We are a resource for bands, event organizers, and members of the community. We have a mission to grow the progressive music scene in Des Moines.

Donate to our cause by becoming a member. Memberships start at $25 a year and include first opportunity for VIP passes to 80/35, discounts at local businesses, free tickets to our events, and more. Sign up now.

Get involved with us! Volunteer your time. We have a handful of committees that meet regularly and are always looking for more people to help. Click here to learn about the opportunities and contact a committee chair. The best way to get involved is to come to a meeting. New faces are always welcome!

Give us Feedback.
We always strive to produce a better event. Please take a few minutes to take our 80/35 survey and give us your feedback about your experience. Begin the survey.

You might ask what Im doing up so early… Well my band gets back on the road again for Leg 2 of our Never Ending Tour, and we need to be in Minneapolis by 1pm for an on air radio session.

I want to say a huge Congrats to the City of Des Moines and the people who came out to 80/35 from all over!  You were well behaved and totally awesome!

I also want to say a HUGE THANK YOU AND CONGRATS to everyone involved…. The bands, the fans, the volunteers, the vendors, etc. You all did an amazing job to make this happen..

and Last but not least I want to say a huge thanks to Jill Haverkamp and Amedeo Rossi for working so hard day in and day out and making this festival happen!  YOU AND THE DMMC should be very proud!

ps Thanks for letting me be involved again!  I had one of the best musical weekends of my life!

Although everything I saw was good, I have to say Spoon, Christopher the Conquered and Yo La Tengo were the highlights for me this year. Thumbs up to the organizers for bringing a lot of great acts to Des Moines for the first time, particularly Spoon and Yo La Tengo.

After three years, I think it’s safe to say 80/35 has become a staple and we can expect to enjoy a new and interesting line-up every year. Cheers to everyone for making the last two days so fun and friendly!

Modest Mouse was playing the hits and it was pretty darn enjoyable seeing how many people were just loving it!  Fantastic, a perfect headliner of an amazing day!  The Jam Crowed Digging it, the Indie Kids, and everyone else was over at…..

The Mediacom Stage checking out the Killer sound of local fave Maxilla Blue drop some killer beats from their new record MBVOLII … So great, My legs feel like they are going to fall off, but I got some food finally and Im ready to rock the Vaudeville Mews for some AFTER PARTIES! Come hang!

ps as I type this I hear “Float On” in the background pretty fitting end to the evening!  JUST KEEP FLOATING ON 80/35!

Then onto check out a bit of Dar Williams an amazing singer songwriter who has been around forever!  Her lyrics are so good and felt just right on a rainy afternoon!

Then into the social club to see the Ames band the Mumfords play and oh my they were making the windows sweat!  Such an energetic, amazing show! I loved it.. I came into blogg cause I need to sit for a minute!  The Heavy just started so I need to catch some of them, then see the M Mouse over on the main stage!  Then if I have anything left leave it on the Vaudeville Floor at the After Party! WHAT A WEEKEND!  Des Moines Rules!

So far Clayton (dad), Miranda (daughter) and Landon (son) have enjoyed Califone, Avi Buffalo, and the Walkmen today!  They are having a great time and I just wanted to show the world how cool it is that people are traveling so far and wide to come to our Amazing City and this amazing Festival!!!!