MISSION CREEK

What better way to start off April than 70+ bands coupled with 70+ pints of beer and/or shots of plastic-bottled liquor (Not one of my prouder moments). Of course, the latter half is a slight exaggeration unless you take kind to never-ending vomit and a headache that makes migraines sound inviting. Case in point, this past Tuesday marked the beginning of Mission Creek Festival. The fest’s focus is not solely music, as the ‘mission of the Mission’ is to promote the arts at large within Iowa City. That said I spent much of my time fancying new bands, mingling around some of the most underrated hotspots in town (The Mill, Blue Moose etc).

For those of you unfamiliar with the music tier of Mission Creek, think ‘Lollapalooza in diapers.’ There are approximately 70 bands that pass through Iowa City within a span of five days–much of the acts are on the rise threatening to blow up, which makes each show even more exciting. Some of the highpoints of this year’s fest included Birds & Batteries, The Cave Singers, David Bazan, VV Brown and Little Dragon. Of the acts I saw, I didn’t have one bad experience. Of course, I preferred certain shows to others–yet, the level of talent among the bulk of the fest’s lineup was unmistakable.

Each year, Mission Creek continues to grow and receive national attention. For the past four years, I’ve attended the fest only to find that every year attendance and excitement becomes exponentially larger. As new venues continue to get involved (This year, Blue Moose hosted some of the fest’s larger performances) and the quality of the lineups is firmly reinforced, Mission Creek’s potential for critical acclaim and attention grow even more promising.

If you hadn’t the chance to attend any events of the festival, rest assured the brain trust behind the fest is already hard at work dead-set on making next year’s program something for students and Iowans alike to buzz about. So c’mon all you art-fanatics and hipsters-to-be, keep Mission Creek on your radar. And in the mean time, check out all of the exceptional shows, readings and exhibits still slated to pass through in the coming months.