.bodytext {float: left; } .floatimg-left-hort { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right: 10px; width:300px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 10px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} Plans for a summer music festival in downtown Des Moines are still in the works, despite delays that have pushed the concert to 2008.

“We had to put our enthusiasm aside and work toward putting together a really good event,” said Scott Kubie, executive director of the Des Moines Music Coalition, the organization charged with planning the event. “For a project of this scope, it’s inevitable that you’re going to have some kinks along the way. We’re working those out.”

Kubie said the Des Moines City Council has agreed to discuss funding a portion of the festival, to be called the 80/35 Summer Music Festival. The money the city contributes, estimated at around $50,000, would go toward booking a headlining act. Overall costs are not yet known, Kubie said, but should be around $170,000. In exchange for its contribution, the city would receive the first portion of the profits from the festival.

“The type of event that we would like to build is the kind of thing that makes cities famous,” Kubie said. “It would be a significant revenue stream for the area, but it’s more than that. It’s a significant quality-of-life issue.”

When the DMMC originally approached the council in June, it expected to hold the festival this year, most likely in August. But being the “new kids on the festival block” prevented them from completing all the planning that’s needed for the festival to be a success, Kubie said. So efforts were redoubled toward getting things ready for next year.

Kubie said bands play in Chicago, Omaha, Kansas City and Minneapolis, and yet bypass Des Moines. “They aren’t playing music here, but we know they are passing through here,” he said. “Some stop to get gas here or stay in our hotels, but they don’t play music here, and that’s just stupid.”

The festival, Kubie said, would help put the city on the map for touring bands and give some prestige to local bands when they tour the country.

“Prestige is a big part of it,” he said. “Plus, this is an investment in the younger generation in our community. It helps us keep our young people here.”

The tentative plan is to hold the festival in July, between the Des Moines Arts Festival and the Iowa State Fair. The location has yet to be determined, but the hope is to set up in Western Gateway Park. “It’s still very early in the process,” Kubie said. “Nothing is set in stone yet.”

A festival planning committee has been organized to study the project and help get it off the ground. The committee consists of two DMMC members, a representative from the Des Moines Live Music Commission and two members of the city Parks and Recreation Department.

Kubie has also been talking with local businesses in the hope that they will support the festival.

“That’s why the city’s investment is so important,” he said. “It is a sign of good faith that will help us convince other entities that this is a safe idea that is going to happen.”

Though the exact details are still up in the air, Kubie said people should expect to begin to hear more in January. r