All About Music: Concerts vs. Festivals

Music:

one of the few things that is universally loved. Music allows us to dive deep into our emotions, dance like no one's around, and express ourselves with almost no judgment. The unique thing about music is that everyone’s preference is.. well.. unique. There are not two people in the world that have the exact same taste in music, but it connects people when their opinions are in the vicinity of similar. Music also brings us an experience. You can even have a musical experience just by turning your headphones on loud and closing your eyes; however, the best ones come from seeing your favorite artists play live. Scratch that: they do not have to be your FAVORITE artists. Some of the best live music I’ve seen has been performed by artists that I’d never even heard of. It almost makes it more fun to enjoy a set when you have no expectations.

So, with all of that being said: which is better? Traditional Concerts or Festivals?

Neither. I refuse to choose between the two because they are both amazing in their own ways. Now I am sorry if that defeats the purpose of this blog post but hear me out. Up until this past weekend in Berkley, I would have said festivals by a landslide. I had not attended a traditional concert in quite some time and didn’t fully appreciate the ones I’d been to. Plus, I had never attended one outside or at a venue as stunning as The Hearst Greek Theatre. The band I wanted to see was the opener. It is a three-person band called Khruangbin. They are a mix of multiple genres, but basically play very relaxing music, which I was excited for. The main artist was a guitarist named Trey Anastasio. Some of you may recognize the name from his other band, Phish, but I personally had never listened to his music. I also typically do not prefer long guitar solos, but I was absolutely blown away by both performances. They were so talented on their instruments and the vocals sounded like a recording, but better. It opened my eyes to the fact that there are so many artists that I am unaware of and how much more there is to explore.

Honestly, I guess my epiphany could be blamed on the atmosphere and the good company, but hey, that’s half the reason festivals are so fun. Anyway, we sat at the very top of the grassy amphitheater, on a little blanket, had an amazing view, and sipped on good beer. It would’ve been difficult to not enjoy our time. Going to this concert has made me eager to explore new venues, in new cities, and see offbeat artists. Goal: attend a show at the Red Rock Amphitheater in Colorado!

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Feelin' myself at Outside Lands 2017

HOWEVER, just because I have a new found love for traditional concert settings, I will never let go of my love for music festivals. I haven’t been to as many as I would’ve liked, but the ones I have attended have each given me an unforgettable experience. I have been to Outside Lands in San Francisco, Lightning in a Bottle in Bradley, California, Coachella in Palm Springs, and Snowglobe in Lake Tahoe. My favorite is a tie between Coachella and LIB. If you have been to both, you know they are impossible to choose between because they have completely different vibes and settings.

Carried this shell around the whole time :) LIB 2017

The best part about any festival is the environment. You feel as if you have left the real world and entered a dream. There is music playing from all angles, people are happy, and the venues are incredibly beautiful. Yes, the beer is about 14 dollars, but hey, it’s worth it. There is such a sense of community and the understanding that you are all there for the same reason: to enjoy yourselves. I also fully admit that planning a trip to a festival is a total pain. It takes a lot of time and money, but you never regret it.

If anyone has been on the fence about attending a festival, I highly recommend it. You can have your own, unique experience, and make it exactly what you want. However, if you are on a budget and honestly just don’t have the time to plan it, find a random concert at a cool venue. Gather your friends, family, significant other, or even just go by yourself and make the experience solely yours. Sometimes we get so caught up in our responsibilities and stress that we forget to make time to enjoy ourselves. I think live music is the perfect way to just let go and have some old-fashioned fun.