The Movement of Music
What’s the move? What is everyone up to on the weekends all year around?
Festivals. From music to art and all the beautiful lasers in between, the rise of the culture of festivals have come to an absolute climax with no end in site. It wasn’t long ago when Woodstock was a reigning champ, but the big ones of our time, Coachella, EDC, Ultra, Lost Lands, and so many more are taking the festival season circuit by storm. Attending festivals has become the new trend for younger individuals to partake in. People are paying from hundreds to thousands to have a good time for one long weekend under the complete control of music and art. Dive into what makes people partake in these festivities and travel far and wide just to stand in the mud and dirt and listen to music at absolute high volumes.
For some, festivals have total control of their lives. They go from work straight to the shows and festivals on the weekends to enjoy said music. Dressing in fishnets, pasties, and bandannas, because less is better. Along with the support of a totem or flag to help navigate your festival family through the ocean of people you will come face to face with.
The massive impact comes from the world of EDM and the community of ravers who dedicate their lives to headbanging, shuffling, and grooving to the beat of electronic dance music. These festivals mean more than the money they spend and the time away from home, but in a way, the adventure to their home.
Following a group of ravers who attended a Texas based EDM festival in Dallas in the last weekend of April called Ubbi Dubbi Music Festival, they explain the ups and downs to pursuing what they call their hobby: raving. From battling the heat and the weather, nothing can stop these festival goers from having the time of their lives, even if its just for a long weekend.
Houston raver, Carlis Miller, explains how festivals have taken over his life and what EDM outings mean to him.
“Festivals mean going out and having a good time and seeing all my friends and listening to music I enjoy,” Miller says. “When attending the festivals, I look forward to seeing really good artist and picking up merch. These events have become my personal life, this is pretty much all I do now with my free time is go to work then go out and rave with my friends.”
For others, going to festivals mean seeing their favorite artist and seeing art and visuals that have been displayed all over the grounds of the events. This enhances the festival goers enjoyment and overall experience when they attend.
Austin raver, Brandon Perez, explains what he looks forward to when he attends festivals, especially EDM festivals.
“Festivals are my life, I love festivals, and it is a lifestyle for me,” Perez said. “I look forward to the music and seeing the different artist especially the ones I came to see and the new upcoming local ones as well. Along with seeing the art because it is simply amazing to see. ”
Perez also explained how this culture changed who he was as a person and how he has personally bettered himself in the long run.
“Personally it changed my life forever because I’m not the same person I used to be,” Perez said. “I used to be shy and to myself and now I am more outgoing and I actually enjoy having a great time vibing out with everybody.”
Traveling for these festival is just part of the experience. Whether you’re driving 30 minutes away or flying to another country, you will find a festival for your interest.
Texas raver, Jerry Harris, has spent the past few years traveling all over the world catching festivals and shows for his pure love for EDM. Harris has become a social landmark when it comes to the culture as he trademarks his good spirits and welcoming personality for all that meet him.
Harris explains what he enjoys the most about attending festivals and how the festival in Dallas was for him even with bad weather that occurred.
“When I go to a festival I look forward to seeing all my friends and seeing DJs that I like and have high expectation of their sets being good along with good production and organization,” Harris said. “A down fall of festivals would have to be the weather like it was in Dallas because if it rains out it would mean the chance of a festival being shut down, or the situation of too many people coming to a festival and not having enough accommodations for said festival.”
Lastly, when it comes to festivals people always seem to question: What is the different between regular music festivals, such as Coachella, and EDM festivals like EDC or local festivals such as the one in Texas.
Texas raver, Michael Molina, has been in the scene for years to understand the aspects that create a better environment for festival goers for whichever festival they decide to attend along with making friends to enjoy your time with.
“Compared to a regular festival, when the sun goes down you know it is coming to an end,” Molina said. “When the sun goes down at an EDM festival the night is just beginning! From fashion to flow toys, festival goers have been finding new ways to express themselves with different styles that cause a double take when walking from stage to stage. It is also a great way to break the ice and make new friends.”
Festivals might just be a trend right now, but a trend that has surged into many young people to partake in. At this point in time, this is what people are doing with their free time, spending it in mass amounts of other individuals while enjoying the same taste in music. No one knows how long the craze for festivals will go on for, but as of now, its booming.
