Up until this past weekend, I had never had the good fortune to attend a music festival. Sure, I had been to plenty of concerts in a variety of genres, but nothing that came remotely close to what I experienced at the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis, Tennessee. I was unsure of what to expect and tried to keep my mind open to what I may or may not see and hear. I am glad I did, because the way I look at life has been forever changed.
I have always been a music lover and going to concerts has always been a special treat I enjoy indulging in when the time and money are both available. I have attended performances ranging from Rush at a large venue, small town symphonies help in a local church and local bands in the neighborhood tavern, and after this past weekend, a music festival. Each type of artist and show comes with its own unique set of advantages and disadvantages, but they all hold a special place in my heart. Like I said, I am a music lover. However, where I once preferred watching a big name band playing in a medium size venue, my preference has since been converted to a music festival.
There are a number of reasons why I like attending music festivals. The most obvious reason for many festival lovers, myself included, is the sheer number of acts you can watch for one admission price. A three day ticket to Beale Street cost about $95.00 once taxes and fees were factored in. Some people pay this much-or more-for a ticket to see a single performer. For that price, I actively watched nine acts and caught parts of an additional four shows and listened to several more and I skipped the second day of the festival! Another reason why I like attending music festivals is the sheer variety of entertainment they provide. There truly is a little something for everyone who attends a concert such as this. The people who attend music festivals is another reason why I enjoy them so much. You never know who you might run into while attending one. People who attend these types of shows appreciate music in all its forms and tend to be quite open minded and friendly. It is easy to strike up a conversation with someone standing next to you in the crowd and make a friend for life. While expensive, the food, drink and goods for sale are also another reason why I enjoy music festivals. Just as there are performers for every taste, so too are there food and merchandise for everyone to enjoy.
If you have never attended a music festival, I highly recommend you do. It is an amazing experience that will open your ears and eyes to a whole different world than the one you are accustomed to. It can be overwhelming at first, but if you relax and let everything soak in, you will most likely find yourself enjoying music festivals as much as I now do.