Music festivals are one of the highlights of the summertime. There are festivals beyond this time of year, too. Regardless of what your taste in music might be, there’s a festival out there for you to enjoy. If you’re interested in learning more about festivals and how to enjoy them more, you’ve come to the right place. We have everything from information on the history of music festivals, to how to find the best vendors or tickets for the event. Whatever your level of concert-going expertise might be, hopefully, we can help you to learn a little bit more so that your next festival is a whole lot more fun.
History of Music Festivals
We all have heard of Woodstock. It’s gone down in history as one of the epic festivals of all-time. Woodstock wasn’t the first music festival, and it certainly wasn’t the last. Although it’s earned a reputation as one of the best and most popular festivals ever, there have been bigger ones in the years since.
But have you ever wondered how it got this way?
The Newport Jazz Festival was one of the first music festivals to emerge in the U.S., and it was the first to come back on an annual basis. Music has changed a lot in the years since then, but it wasn’t until the 1967 Monterrey International Pop Festival that Rock and Roll were featured in its own venue. These festivals paved the way for Woodstock, which in turn helped set up the major festivals of today, like Bonnaroo and Coachella.
When it comes to tickets to these festivals you have to consider all of the different options. You can call or order online from many of the different sites online like StubHub and TicketMaster. You’ll see a wide range of prices as well. Finding the best place to sit isn’t as important at a music festival than a standard concert. Most festivals have standing room/general admission seats. There are festivals that do carry VIP locations where you may find some elevated seating above the crowd. You’ll have to pay for this type of venture.
Vendors
As anyone who’s been to a music festival can tell you, there’s a lot more to music festivals than music.
One of the best parts about going to a festival is hitting up the wide assortment of food trucks, souvenir shops, and other vendors that have become staples of the music festival industry. Some of these vendors have become so popular independently of the festival circuit that sometimes, festivals will even advertise who some of their major vendors are going to be before an event kicks off, just to entice some of the fans of the vendor to get to the show.
If you’ve never been to a food truck gathering, you’re missing out. The biggest festivals have made taking care of their concert-goers a priority, and this means getting the best food and drink on location. Vendors are almost as big of a part of music festivals as the bands are. Be sure to find out if you can bring food or not before entering.
Staying Overnight
One of the best parts of going to a festival is staying overnight and getting ready for the second day of action. Some festivals will have camping areas provided, while others might require you to camp offsite or find a hotel for the night. Either way, this can be a great experience, but only if you’re prepared ahead of time. If you’re going to be staying somewhere, make sure that you book accommodations ahead of time so that you are guaranteed a room. There’s nothing worse than being out of luck at the last moment.
If you are going to be staying overnight, plan accordingly. That means dressing for all kinds of weather, having an adequate supply of food or money to purchase food, more than enough drinking water, and anything else that the region and the concert will necessitate.
Finally, be aware that some festivals do charge you for a camping permit if you’re going to be staying overnight. Make sure that you’ve taken this into account before you get there so that there are no unpleasant surprises. While some festivals just build this into the price of the tickets, not all do. If you’re unsure, give the festival’s customer service team a call and find out.
Best Live Bands
Believe it or not, there are some groups that really prefer playing live over playing in the studio. Jam bands have really gained a reputation for enjoying the live setting, and there’s a good reason for this. A big part of jam music, regardless of the genre, is the fluid element that a live concert brings about. It’s a one of a kind feeling, and no two shows are ever the same. If you’ve seen the Dead, Phish, Rusted Root, or Bob Dylan play on a studio recorded album, you’re going to have a very different sound performed when you see them live. There’s a reason why these artists have gained a reputation for amazing live shows!
That doesn’t mean that other types of music are less fun to see play live. There are a lot of great Country singers, rappers, and classical musicians that put on an amazing live show. It’s all about finding a professional musician that loves to play for people. If you can find this, then whatever your favorite type of music is will be an amazing live experience.