Music is the reason people come to festivals. But it’s not the only reason they come back…
Music is why we buy the ticket. It’s the heartbeat of every festival and the reason thousands of people travel across countries for a weekend in a field. But somewhere between the first act and the final encore, something else happens. Friendships are formed, traditions begin, confidence grows and complete strangers become part of the same community. None of it exists without the music, yet somehow it all becomes just as memorable as the songs themselves.
One of the biggest misconceptions about music festivals is that they’re all about the atmosphere or the vibe. But those things don’t exist in isolation. They’re built around a shared love of music. There’s something remarkable about arriving at a festival campsite. In a matter of hours, an empty field transforms into a bustling community of thousands. Everyone has come from different places and different walks of life, but they’ve all arrived for the same reason. That shared love of music has a way of breaking down barriers long before anyone says hello.
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All of the bands and artists that we listen to say so much about who we are, so festivals become the place where people can showcase their personalities without feeling out of place or having to explain themselves. ”
One of my favourite festival memories actually happened back at the campsite rather than in front of a stage. I had some music playing through my Bluetooth speaker when a group camping nearby came over; they had recognised the band and couldn’t believe someone else was playing them. We ended up spending the rest of the event together, playing drinking games, chatting about the artists we were excited to see and getting to know each other. Fast forward more than seven years and we’ve been to several festivals together since, including some around Europe. It just goes to show how powerful music can be. Without that band playing from my speaker, we probably never would have even spoken.
That is exactly what makes festivals so special and is one of the biggest reasons why I still attend many every summer. You can turn up knowing nobody but because you’re all there for the music, you already have something in common. Before you know it, you’ve made friends for life, not just for the weekend.
Over time those magical moments become traditions.
Ask any seasoned festival go-er why the keep returning and very few will even mention a headline act. Instead, they will tell you about their group of friends that only sees each other for that one weekend a year, the exact same spot they’ve camped in for years or those secret hacks that discovered that only they know. Every summer the lineup changes but the traditions remain.
Festivals are one of the few places we have in modern society where people can truly express themselves and be themselves. People don’t think twice about decking themselves out in glitter, cowboy hats, retro football shirts, even swimwear or other outfits they wouldn’t wear in their day to day lives. Everyone is there to enjoy one thing. The music. And that shared passion creates an environment where people feel able to express themselves without the worry of being judged by others.
I don’t think this is a coincidence. Music has always been a massive part of people’s identities. All of the bands and artists that we listen to say so much about who we are, so festivals become the place where people can showcase their personalities without feeling out of place or having to explain themselves. From wearing your favourite band or tour merch to meeting other people who share the same love for an artist. There is a real sense of belonging at festivals and it all starts with the music.
That’s the thing I’ve always loved about music festivals. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you do Monday to Friday, what you look like or where you’ve travelled from. Once you get that wristband and enter the site, everyone is there for the exact same reason. You’re not judged by anyone, for any reason. You’re just another music fan looking forward to enjoying their favourite artists. There is something really refreshing about that.
The older I’ve become and the more festivals I’ve attended over the years, the more I realise it’s never just about the lineup. Of course, the music is still a huge part of the reasons why I buy those tickets. Nothing beats seeing your favourite artist live or discovering the next artist you’re about to become obsessed with. But it’s everything that comes with it that makes me want to do it all over again the next year.
The people you meet, the traditions that you repeat every single year, the memories you’ll never forget and that feeling of being surrounded by people who love the exact same thing as you.
This is why I think music festivals have become such an important part of music culture. The music might bring us altogether but it’s everything else that comes with it that keeps bringing me back.
