The new trend is sweeping the nation from coast to coast. Pictures of girls with flowers in their hair and paint on their bodies fill our social media feeds, flower crowns, and crocheted vests are flying off the shelves, and more indie bands are getting recognized. Music festivals’ height of popularity began in the '60s, the biggest one being the infamous Woodstock festival that catered to over 400,000 free spirits in New York. To those of you who aren’t familiar with them, music festivals are festivals of music that usually house many undiscovered bands over a course of two or three days (sometimes longer). Most of the time, there are food, art, and clothing vendors available, and usually, they are targeted toward a certain group of people. Over the years, they have become more and more popular to the younger generation; Coachella, Shaky Knees, Music Midtown, Bonnaroo, and Hangout Fest are just a few of the most popular festivals.
In recent years, music festivals have become a trend. Only the hipsters or wannabe hippies attend to listen to bands that they have never heard of for a high price. The starting price for Coachella tickets is over $350 for a three-day pass. That doesn’t include the gourmet, artsy food vendors, the outfit changes, or the 30 bottles of water that you have to buy because it’s in the middle of the summer. Fashion has been a staple for music festivals, and sometimes attendees just go to show off their new looks and post pictures of it on social media. People spend loads of money and time trying to figure out the perfect outfit from Free People or Urban Outfitters, just to be dancing and sweating in the scorching sun all day long, outfit and hair ruined.
I had a first-hand experience at Music Midtown a year ago. I was so excited to see Panic! At the Disco and Hozier, who are some of my favorite bands. $150 to see ten bands didn’t seem too bad at the time, but it all added up in the end. My friend and I dressed up in our trendiest festival wear, put on our wristbands, and headed to Piedmont Park in Atlanta. This particular year was Music Midtown’s most successful year—they sold out completely. There were swarms of people. It was 90 degrees outside. It was miserable. I bought probably five bottles of water and a delicious but expensive gyro to eat. The prices for everything were outrageous, and none of the vendors accepted debit cards (we’re in 2016—come on), so we had to go to the ATM, which charged even more money to our cards. Then we of course had to buy band merchandise, which was another 50 to 60 bucks.
My friend and I watched some of the smaller bands that we knew, and no one in the crowd knew any words to the songs. It was kind of awkward. When we had the opportunity to see the bands we came for, it was too difficult pushing our way through the thousands of people to get to the front of the stage. People would fight their way to the front, and they weren’t afraid to get physical. Are the expenses and fights for music festivals worth standing in the hot sun listening to unknown songs? I say no. After Music Midtown, I told myself that I wouldn’t waste any more of my money on music festivals.
To me, music festivals are just a way to show off. People go just to say they went and to receive hundreds of likes on their artsy Instagram pics. Don’t waste your money on a publicity event.
