Chappell Roan Serves Up Infinite Energy at Iowa's Hinterland Festival
There was not a single line of sight free from pink cowboy hats as you entered Hinterland Music Festival Sunday morning. From little toddlers covered in pink glitter perched on their parents necks, to a set of grandparents in matching “1-800-HOT-TO-GO” shirts up against the barricades, folks of all ages gathered in the middle of a small town in Iowa to see the rising pop midwest princess Chappell Roan.
As a crowd of over twenty thousand chanted “Chappell, Chappell, Chappell!” the energy across the venue was palpable. As the introductory notes of “Femininomenon” rang out, cheers erupted and Roan ran out onto the stage revealing her convent-esque outfit. Fitted in a custom nun-inspired costume, surrounded by her “sister” band members, Roan instantly captured the audience as they cheerfully sang along to her upbeat chorus. Dancing across the stage in a high-energy display accompanied by eccentric hair flips and stunning high kicks, Chappell certainly brought the heat to an already blazing day in Iowa.
As Roan transitioned into fan favorite hit “Hot To Go”, the crowd visibly came alive, ready to partake in the sensational dance trend associated with the track. Watching over 20,000 festival goers use their arms to simultaneously spell out “H-O-T-T-O-G-O” was nothing short of a breathtaking phenomenon. There was not an eye trained on anything other than the Reverend Mother and her willing and eager followers as they happily dove into the rest of the set. Roan continued to bewitch the stage as she sang the remainder of her tracks which only continued to raise the vivacity of the event.
Closing out her stellar set with her career-defining song “Pink Pony Club”, you could feel each and every person in the crowd hanging on to every last lyric, desperate to savor every moment of the pop sensation’s time on stage. As the Midwest Princess bid her farewell to the audience, the crowd seemed to visibly be transported from the religious world of Chappell Roan, back into their Sunday reality at Hinterland.
Review & Photos by: Cat Kuczynski
Like what you read? Follow our social media and playlist for the latest in independent music:
