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The Low Down Hoe Down, an all-day and all-night collision of punk rock, skateboarding, and organic farming, is happening this Sat 8/31 at Peasants’ Plot farm in Manteno, Illinois, and this year it’ll be celebrating its tenth anniversary. Hidden within the farm’s 20 acres is a barn that holds a gigantic skateboard ramp—Todd McDonald, who runs Peasants’ Plot with his wife, Julia, is a lifelong skateboarder. He’s also a punk rock enthusiast, and for the past decade has opened the barn up to other skateboarders every Labor Day weekend—as well as booking huge lineups of loud bands and turning the barn into a massive all-night rager. These parties turned into the Low Down Hoe Down, and this year it features nine bands (mostly Chicago-based acts), and is headlined by heavy metal trio Sweet Cobra. Other acts include local punks Canadian Rifle, alt-rockers Sybris, and one-man-band the Lonesome Organist. Camping on the premises is available and encouraged, since you’re going to be out in the middle of nowhere and probably drinking beer all night. There’s a potluck dinner at 6 PM, as well as grilling all night long. Manteno is a small farm town about an hour outside of the city, so if you’re feeling a tiny bit adventurous, this is a fun, out of the ordinary weekend trip. The schedule and other details are below.
