Why do you attend a music festival? Line up or atmosphere?

JanisRuby · 05-21-2014, 07:03 AM

Hiii everybody!

I am looking for your opinion about music festivals! The number of music festivals and the size of their audiences has been considerably increasing during the past decade.
EXIT, Sziget, Coachella, Melt, Glastonbury, Summerfest, Ultra, T in the park.. are just few big names on this continuing list. Some festivals are even sold out before any band names are announced. So people are already paying an average of €180/$240 for a 3-day festival ticket before they even know the lineup. This makes me wonder how you guys eventually decide which festival to visit.

Let me know, what do you think.. Are the character and atmosphere of a music festival more important than the line-up when deciding to attend a festival? AGREE or DISAGREE?

Thanks a million!

Psy-Fi · 05-21-2014, 09:05 AM

If I can't find out who's playing at a festival before I purchase a ticket, then I won't be spending my money on a ticket to that event. Festivals are just too pricey now, to gamble on an unknown line-up.

**Janszoon** · 05-21-2014, 10:31 AM

Isn't the music what makes the atmosphere though?

djchameleon · 05-21-2014, 10:57 AM

People that buy tickets for festivals without knowing the line up probably do so based off of their previous experiences and don't really care who actually shows up but just to be in the scene full of crowded people enjoying the type of music they love.

JanisRuby · 05-22-2014, 04:20 AM

So unless you know from past experience that the festival lives up to your expectations it might be worth buying a ticket before knowing the line-up.

I also heard some people say that attending a specific festivals is part of trending aka it's hip to attend that specific festival. They don't really visit a festival because of the music but more because they make a statement by being there and display thereselves in the newest 'festivaloutfits'. ''It's about the experience."
Is this somewhat recognizable?

Carpe Mortem · 05-22-2014, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psy-Fi

If I can't find out who's playing at a festival before I purchase a ticket, then I won't be spending my money on a ticket to that event. Festivals are just too pricey now, to gamble on an unknown line-up.

Agreed.

However, as long as there is at least one band I dig, I'll go, even if I'm not familiar with any others. I gotta assume that if there's one band I like, I can expect a vibe and general atmosphere catering to that band, which means there will be more new to me for enjoyment.

hillary4424 · 05-24-2014, 12:49 AM

Line-up. The music and the people that come bring the atmosphere. Bring on the music!

**Scarlett O'Hara** · 05-24-2014, 01:45 AM

Definitely line up however I tend to go to indie festivals to see artists I don't know so I can expand my tastes if I like their performance.

jackhammer · 05-24-2014, 08:12 PM

A bit of both but it is primarily driven by line up. I do try to attend at least one different music festival each year. I love my Metal but I also love a ton of other genres and 3 days of Metal does get very tiresome. If it's a fest abroad then I will incorporate some sightseeing before or after for a couple of days.

The only festival that I can see myself attending religiously is Damnation festival which is a day festival, ridiculously cheap (this year is the most expensive @ £36) and chock full of one off dates, unknown bands and great facilities. This year will be my 4th in a row and of course I meet up with Mojo each year for a beer or two.

The reason why I am going to alt fest this year is the sheer scope of music on offer. There is a main stage, goth stage, steampunk stage, metal stage, EBM stage as well as an alt circus stage.

What I won't attend is a festival that has an attendance of 20k +. I don't care who is playing (this years UK Sonisphere looks damn good) because if I am a mile away from the stage, having to pay £5 for weak beer and queue for 30 mins to get said beer AND pay double than my usual festivals then I won't enjoy it.

neardeathexperience · 05-24-2014, 08:52 PM

I use to go to outdoor festivals, but it's just become a giant pain in the ass. Lets face it a few thousand people scrolling through their cell phones which they can't seem to put down and the long lines for bathrooms, food and drinks has totally ruined my attending these things anymore.

05-21-2014, 07:03 AM	#1 (permalink)
JanisRuby Groupie Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 2	Why do you attend a music festival? Line up or atmosphere? Hiii everybody! I am looking for your opinion about music festivals! The number of music festivals and the size of their audiences has been considerably increasing during the past decade. EXIT, Sziget, Coachella, Melt, Glastonbury, Summerfest, Ultra, T in the park.. are just few big names on this continuing list. Some festivals are even sold out before any band names are announced. So people are already paying an average of €180/$240 for a 3-day festival ticket before they even know the lineup. This makes me wonder how you guys eventually decide which festival to visit. Let me know, what do you think.. Are the character and atmosphere of a music festival more important than the line-up when deciding to attend a festival? AGREE or DISAGREE? Thanks a million! Last edited by JanisRuby; 05-21-2014 at 07:17 AM.

05-21-2014, 10:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
Janszoon Mate, Spawn & Die Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Rapping Community Posts: 24,593	Isn't the music what makes the atmosphere though? __________________ A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man Time & Place 25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die last.fm

05-24-2014, 01:45 AM	#8 (permalink)
Scarlett O'Hara Make it so Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 6,181	Definitely line up however I tend to go to indie festivals to see artists I don't know so I can expand my tastes if I like their performance. __________________ "Elph is truly an enfant terrible of the forum, bless and curse him" - Marie, Queen of Thots

05-24-2014, 08:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	A bit of both but it is primarily driven by line up. I do try to attend at least one different music festival each year. I love my Metal but I also love a ton of other genres and 3 days of Metal does get very tiresome. If it's a fest abroad then I will incorporate some sightseeing before or after for a couple of days. The only festival that I can see myself attending religiously is Damnation festival which is a day festival, ridiculously cheap (this year is the most expensive @ £36) and chock full of one off dates, unknown bands and great facilities. This year will be my 4th in a row and of course I meet up with Mojo each year for a beer or two. The reason why I am going to alt fest this year is the sheer scope of music on offer. There is a main stage, goth stage, steampunk stage, metal stage, EBM stage as well as an alt circus stage. What I won't attend is a festival that has an attendance of 20k +. I don't care who is playing (this years UK Sonisphere looks damn good) because if I am a mile away from the stage, having to pay £5 for weak beer and queue for 30 mins to get said beer AND pay double than my usual festivals then I won't enjoy it. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

05-22-2014, 04:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
JanisRuby Groupie Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 2	So unless you know from past experience that the festival lives up to your expectations it might be worth buying a ticket before knowing the line-up. I also heard some people say that attending a specific festivals is part of trending aka it's hip to attend that specific festival. They don't really visit a festival because of the music but more because they make a statement by being there and display thereselves in the newest 'festivaloutfits'. ''It's about the experience." Is this somewhat recognizable?

05-24-2014, 12:49 AM	#7 (permalink)
hillary4424 Groupie Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 2	Line-up. The music and the people that come bring the atmosphere. Bring on the music!

05-24-2014, 08:52 PM	#10 (permalink)
neardeathexperience Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 531	I use to go to outdoor festivals, but it's just become a giant pain in the ass. Lets face it a few thousand people scrolling through their cell phones which they can't seem to put down and the long lines for bathrooms, food and drinks has totally ruined my attending these things anymore.