80/35, Rothbury will likely return for another year
It’s a fact that music festivals, both in the U.S. and Europe, have been affected by many different factors, ranging from oversaturation to the status of economy. Some festivals, like last April’s Coachella, have seen low turnouts in attendance, while didn’t even want to take the gamble. (See: Vineland, Vegoose, Virgin Fest Vancouever, and Quart).
Yet as depressing as this may sound, it now appears it isn’t the case for all summer music festivals, especially some of the United States’ more newer products.
Even after flooding ravaged much of the state just weeks before the inaugural edition of 80/35 officially 
kicked off, the Des Moines, Iowa festival still exceeded attendance expectations. Some 30,000+ traveled to 80/35 during the July 4th weekend to watch performances from The Flaming Lips, The Roots, Jakob Dylan, and Drive By-Truckers,
“The results of 80/35 prove that Des Moines has a viable and enthusiastic audience for cutting-edge progressive acts. A multi-day music festival will be supported not only by the businesses that sponsored the event, but also by the tens of thousands who attended.
The outstanding vibe and response from festival goers gives us enormous momentum moving forward.”
- Amedeo Rossi, Greater Des Moines Music Coalition project manager
That same first weekend of July also played hosted to the inaugural Rothbury Music Festival. Leading up to the Rothbury, Michigan based festival, organizers reportedly were reluctant to shed light on its future, but after drawing rave reviews from the likes of almost 50,000 attendees, festival producer Jeremy Stein appears enthusiastic.
“Why not?” said Stein, a partner with the Boulder music firm Madison House Presents. “It’s all gone incredibly well. The response from the local community and local authorities has been great. Artists are already asking to come back.”
However, the status of the festival site, not the festival itself, may be the one thing that can put a hold on its return. Though Rothbury’s current home, the Double JJ Resort, has a capacity of near 80,000, according to the Muskegon Chroncile, the festival site is currently facing foreclosure lawsuit thanks to a debt that has accumulated over recent years. As a result, either way it now appears Rothbury will undergo some changes over the next couple months, whether changing its home all together, or becoming part of something more…
One vision has the resort dedicated to music festivals for six weeks during the summer. ROTHBURY would remain an alternative rock festival, while the staging and festival infrastructure would remain intact for subsequent Christian and country music festivals the following weeks.
Decisions regarding both the official futures of both 80/35 and Rothbury will be made in the coming days and of course, we’ll keep you updated.
I think the multiple festival idea is a great idea.
I didn’t go to Rothbury, but looking at all the things it had/offered, like the little town and such, it sounds like a wonderful place for a festival. If they are able to, the promoters should think of buying the property for a really good price from those in debt, and do the multiple festival thing.