* The 80/35 Music Festival in Des Moines, Iowa, has rounded out their festival nicely, especially for music fans bearing a sweet tooth. Alternative pop rock band Cake will join Conor Oberst as a headliner for the two-day festival. Cake headlines the event’s second day Saturday, July 5. Other newly announced acts include Those Darlins, Surfer Blood, The Whigs and Boy & Bear. The festival also includes Dawes, Best Coast, Ziggy Marley and Dr. Dog.
* The latest work by local icon Dereck Higgins is a selection of ambient music pieces. The restless Higgins is offering this release online only but don’t be surprised to see this work pop up on limited edition vinyl in the future. Listen to the new songs online at dereckhiggins.bandcamp.com.
* California punk band Ceremony may be the apex of the new wave of hardcore bands ably applying the lessons of indie rock and post-punk to a pummeling form of music. That’s why their return to Omaha Sunday, July 13th at the Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. This should be one of the best shows of the summer.