Review & photo gallery: Hinterland, Day 2 feat. The Marias, Kacey Musgraves, Still Woozy, Role Model, & more | 08.02.25, St. Charles, IA

Photo of Maria Zardoya of The Marias by Michael O’Connor

If Day one was a kaleidoscope of genre-bending energy, Day Two slowed the tempo in a way that stirred the soul. The air was thick with country twang, ambient emotion, and psychedelic groove. It was a day of connection, introspection, and unexpected transcendence.

After Hey, Nothing opened, Willow Avalon sang next, with a voice that felt like it had been passed down through generations – a beautiful, old-country twang that wrapped the crowd in warmth. Her unreleased track “Work To Do” was a heartfelt standout, while fan-favorite “Tequila or Whiskey” had the crowd swaying like prairie grass. It was a set that felt timeless, like it could’ve been played on a front porch.

Gigi Perez followed with a performance that was less like a concert and more a collective emotional release. Tears were shed – not from sadness, but from the absolute vulnerability in her sound. Cheers gave way to quiet reverence, as the audience leaned in, fully immersed. Her set created a rare kind of silence, the kind that says: we’re all feeling this, together.

Glass Beams completely flipped the emotional script with a psychedelic groove. The bass and guitar during their tracks were otherworldly. It felt like an ascension was taking place, as their set was completely hypnotic. It was the kind of performance that made you forget where you were, floating somewhere between dream and reality.

Role Model brought the charisma in full force. His cover of The 1975’s “Somebody Else” was a crowd favorite, but the real magic came when he brought out Maria Zardoya from The Marías for their track “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out.” Their chemistry was electric, and the crowd erupted as the two artists shared the stage. It was a cinematic moment for sure, one that the audience was ecstatic about (one of the loudest audience reactions the entire weekend), like watching a movie scene unfold in real time.

Still Woozy performed their set, with The Marías themselves following with a performance that felt like stepping into a velvet dream. Ethereal and commanding, Zardoya’s presence was magnetic. The crowd energy was absolutely insane for her track “Vicious Sensitive Robot,” truly lighting up the field in a perfect storm of rhythm and emotion. During her final track “Cariño” was the highlight of Marias performance, walking down to the barricade, reaching out to fans in a moment of pure connection.

Closing out Day Two was none other than Kacey Musgraves, who entered the stage outfitted in shimmering, reflective fairy wings. The stage was set with smoke machines and deep red backlighting to generate an immersive effect during the performance. Her set was a blend of golden nostalgia and fresh introspection, weaving tracks from her album Golden Hour with her newest album Deeper Well. Her voice was radiant, her presence serene, and the entire performance felt like a lullaby for the soul.

More than halfway through Hinterland now, the second day was a meditation in sound. Willow Avalon’s twang, Glass Beams’ transcendence, and Kacey Musgraves’ fairy-lit finale was a reminder that music doesn’t need to be loud to be heard. | Michael O’Connor