I grew up with a large love for music. I remember dancing around in my kitchen at a very young age, blasting music in the car on long rides, and throughout high school always having a song to listen to that fit my mood. Although I had a very large appreciation for artists and their music, I spent 18 years of my life having never been to a concert.

I never really felt the need to buy tickets to one, not knowing how amazing they could be. I thought that they were a waste of money. I always saw my friends going to them but I never got the point. Why spend a lot of money just to spend a couple hours listening to music? Why buy an expensive ticket for just one night?

I never understood the power of experiencing the feeling of listening to your favorite artists performing live with everyone else is singing along. I never got the hype around the loud music blasting; bright lights highlighting the crowd and the stage.

After learning that my favorite artist was coming to a city near my hometown, I jumped at the opportunity to buy a ticket for his concert. I had no idea where the venue was; I had never been there before. But I had to go.

At the age of 18, I went to my very first concert and that was probably one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Abigail Lindenmeier

Hearing James Bay perform all of my favorite songs live, was one of the best experiences I have ever had. It was a very small venue crowded with a ton of teens, adults, and all ages in between. Everyone was there for the same reason: to hear a great artist put on a great performance.

For those few hours, you can forget what is going on outside of the venue.

Right there, is what started my addiction for concerts. I love the fact that everyone is jam packed into a room for the same reason; forgetting what is going on around them and just living in the moment. You get the opportunity to appreciate the artist at their greatest while watching them feed off of the energy of the crowd.

No one cares what you look like or what you're wearing. Everyone is just there for the same reason because music has impacted their life in a large way as well.

After that one concert, I went on a hunt for any others that were coming my way.

I went to see Lifehouse ("and it's you and me and all other people…") at a free festival which was outdoors and crazy fun. It was rainy and sunny all in the same day and the vibe was very carefree and loose.

Abigail Lindenmeier

Make sure to go to a concert with someone who you enjoy spending time with because these nights only come once in a lifetime.

My next concert was the infamous Ed Sheeran. It was amazing and everything I thought it would be. The crowd was the biggest I've ever seen it to be (about 20,000 people) and the energy was amazing. Every teenage girl in the crowd was tearing up at the emotional songs and even I burst into tears when he walked onto the stage. Emotions were high and the night was perfect.

Abigail Lindenmeier

Now learning how much my heart jumps at the thought of going to a concert, I'll go to one even if I've never heard of the artist. When my friend mentioned that one of her favorite country singers was performing downtown, I offered to go with her. I've never heard of the artist, I'm not a huge fan of country music, but the night was perfect. The night was perfect because of the energy of the crowd and the venue.

Abigail Lindenmeier

The following concert was put on by Matt Kearney which was also amazing and unforgettable. He has about two popular songs that were played on the radio but only the people that really listen to his music would know the words to his other tracks. In that very jam packed; small venue, the audience was singing along to every single world of every single song and eventually, he even jumped into the crowd to dance with us.

Abigail Lindenmeier

When artists choose to deeply connect with the audience, it makes the night even more magical.

When I went to see Halsey perform, she made sure to make it an experience that the crowd would never forget. She turned the concert into an experience itself, and made sure everyone listening felt safe and accepted at her show. This allowed me to feel truly one with the music and the message that she was putting across.

Abigail Lindenmeier

The most recent concert that I've been to was put on by the amazing Australian, Vance Joy. He told a story about the meaning behind every single one of his songs and that made you feel more connected to him as an artist, and made you feel more connected to the record as well.

Abigail Lindenmeier

Music can impact people in many different ways. People have their own stories and emotions that relate to songs and what I truly love about concerts is that everyone is reliving those stories all in the same night. Whether you've been listening to their music for forever or you're a newbie to the artist, you will experience a night that you will never forget.