To all the music festivals I’ve loved before…
Or, “A Love Song to Summer”
My very first music festival was just outside Atlanta in 2014 and it was called “Counterpoint.” To anyone who remembers this now-defunct festival, you’ll recall it lasted for a few years then went away due to… reasons I did not want to deeply research for the purposes of this blog. At any rate, at that time I was a few months away from turning 30 and I was open to trying new things. The lineup alone was amazing and beyond worth the cost of admission, I mean, Outkast was reuniting and performing there! I had to see it!
Things I learned those three days in April: 1. Always think through your hydration and hygiene plan. 2. Make realistic decisions about what performances you will and will not see. 3. Comfort is everything; know your non-negotiables.
After that, I needed more, and the following year I talked my now-husband into going to the middle-of-nowhere Tennessee for a 4-day festival known as Bonnaroo. And honestly, I was never the same after that.
Bonnaroo is more than a festival. It is one of the freest experiences I have ever had in my adult life, no kidding. We refer to it as “dropping out of life”, just four whole days of non-stop music, parties, dancing, lounging, and… substances (if you’re into that kind of thing). There’s three main stages, other small stages, a club (with its own lineup), theme parties, parades, all kinds of foods, and each camp site has its own list of events, shows, and music! It literally has something for EVERY ONE!
I went again in 2018 and I hope to go again in the future. It’s hot as balls, but MAN what a time!
Then there’s the one that has been The Webbs mainstay for several years now: One Music Fest (OMF). This Black-owned festival was founded right here in Atlanta and features exclusively Black artists which makes it a standout on the festival scene. OMF has its namesake because originally it was one day only and just had a full lineup from morning until night, then it expanded to a Friday night and all day Saturday, and now it is a full two-day (Saturday and Sunday) lineup! OMF just continues to expand and offer bigger names and more experiences within the festival grounds, and that’s what I love about it. That and because OMF shows love to our classic artists and our music; this is where new Black artists can get their break, and old school artists can get their roses.
The only unfortunate thing about festival season is just that: it’s a season. It breezes in with spring’s warm sunny days and cool nights, hits a peak frenzy with the summer haze, and then rolls away quickly with the amber-colored leaves of fall. I miss it especially in this time of year, but before I know it, those early pre-sale emails will be rolling out and signaling the promise of good vibes and good times.
What’s your favorite festival? Have you been to one of the ones in this list? Sound off via email at wherearethewebbs1@gmail.com