While going to a festival alone can feel scary, it’s been one of the best experiences of discovery and community building for me. I def think these online spaces can be a great stepping stone, and be the thing to help get someone out if they’re feeling apprehensive. For Riot Fest, I went alone and found an online group for solo goers and ended up making friends with people who I still talk to daily 4 years later. An online facebook group for Foals inspired me to start playlist curating and got me overseas to attend my first international festival in Paris with people I had only exchanged DMs with in the past.
And of course, discovered a lot of new music! So if you’re in a place where you’re feeling disconnected from a music scene, investigate your online resources. They can help you find something new and perhaps be a thread that ties you to new opportunities and connections in the future
Oh and silly me forgot to mention I went to New Colossus by myself last year and it was awesome!!! The spine kept me away this year but I’m determined to make it out next 🫡
Reading this and seeing all the hubub in the discord definitely made me look into festivals like this in Canada! Please Canadians, share your recs with me.
You all articulated perfectly why I'm turned off by bigger, corporate music festivals! This all sounded so much more meaningful and memorable. Great read guys!
I love a good music Festival. For me, Newport Folk Festival is an absolute every year. The community there is just amazing. Last year at an aftershow, I got to see a house band with MJ Lenderman, Spencer Tweedy, and Brad and Phil Cook. Kim Deal was standing right next to me until she went on stage (and proceeded to tell MJ he was playing her song wrong, and teach him how to play it correctly). It's a space for collaboration sets, surprises, and one of kind experiences. I saw freaking Joni Mitchell there. The best.
Closer to this experience, Run For Cover records has put on a punk, hardcore, shoegaze, emo, etc. Festival called Something In The Way for the last couple of years that I've gone to. Small bands early work there way through to big headliners. Club experience. Loud and energetic. I'm old and short, so balcony for me, but big pit and aplenty of stage diving - which is fun to watch from above.
Anyway, a good fest leaves with highlights and lowlights, and new discoveries.
A Live Nation fest might be shitty at this point, but there's plenty of good ones out there. Big and small.
Up here in Northeast Wisconsin, we have Mile of Music (https://mileofmusic.com/). Sounds like the same kind of thing as New Colossus. And it's awesome.
What a fantastic writeup and description of New Colossus. I couldn't get to the fest this year but have been to the prior 3 (covering it for wswalcottmedicineshow.com) and let me say you nailed the whole vibe perfectly. Now you've got me kicking myself for not fitting it in this year.
Yes to everything here! I go to a lot of small gigs (150 - 400 cap.) and the support bands are usually excellent. I always get down early. New Colossus sounds a lot like The Great Escape in Brighton which I really want to attend one day - although holiday and finances have so far prohibited a five day stretch in Brighton. I feel like I needed another poll to ask where do you *most often* find great new music because although my last discovery was through NBfOH discord (thank you!), live shows are often where I discover a new favourite.
I’m also going to shout out medium sized outdoor festivals. I can only speak for the UK but these can feel like real community events. There is so much going on and, if you happen to be on barrier at any stage, you’ll end up chatting to someone new and sharing music tips, especially if you are prepared to check out some smaller artists you’ve never heard of. Honestly, there is nothing I like better than listening to someone talking about the band or artist they are most passionate about! City centre festivals for smaller artists are also fantastic - even just day ones. I’m going to Ritual Union in Bristol at the end of this month which is only across 3 venues but has a great line up.
Let's go, Lou! This whole experience has really given me a lot more confidence about going to festivals where I know almost none of the artists. Personally I'm very interested in going to Punk Rock Raduno in Italy someday.
Been attending music festivals since the 80s and even got married at NOLA Jazz Fest in 1990... it's always been, for me, about discovering new music. Catch the early bands, hit the side stages, and skip the headliners!
While going to a festival alone can feel scary, it’s been one of the best experiences of discovery and community building for me. I def think these online spaces can be a great stepping stone, and be the thing to help get someone out if they’re feeling apprehensive. For Riot Fest, I went alone and found an online group for solo goers and ended up making friends with people who I still talk to daily 4 years later. An online facebook group for Foals inspired me to start playlist curating and got me overseas to attend my first international festival in Paris with people I had only exchanged DMs with in the past.
And of course, discovered a lot of new music! So if you’re in a place where you’re feeling disconnected from a music scene, investigate your online resources. They can help you find something new and perhaps be a thread that ties you to new opportunities and connections in the future
Oh and silly me forgot to mention I went to New Colossus by myself last year and it was awesome!!! The spine kept me away this year but I’m determined to make it out next 🫡
Erin please write an offshoot article specifically about that
Reading this and seeing all the hubub in the discord definitely made me look into festivals like this in Canada! Please Canadians, share your recs with me.
"hubbub in the discord" is a good band name
You all articulated perfectly why I'm turned off by bigger, corporate music festivals! This all sounded so much more meaningful and memorable. Great read guys!
Thanks Caroline!!
I love a good music Festival. For me, Newport Folk Festival is an absolute every year. The community there is just amazing. Last year at an aftershow, I got to see a house band with MJ Lenderman, Spencer Tweedy, and Brad and Phil Cook. Kim Deal was standing right next to me until she went on stage (and proceeded to tell MJ he was playing her song wrong, and teach him how to play it correctly). It's a space for collaboration sets, surprises, and one of kind experiences. I saw freaking Joni Mitchell there. The best.
Closer to this experience, Run For Cover records has put on a punk, hardcore, shoegaze, emo, etc. Festival called Something In The Way for the last couple of years that I've gone to. Small bands early work there way through to big headliners. Club experience. Loud and energetic. I'm old and short, so balcony for me, but big pit and aplenty of stage diving - which is fun to watch from above.
Anyway, a good fest leaves with highlights and lowlights, and new discoveries.
A Live Nation fest might be shitty at this point, but there's plenty of good ones out there. Big and small.
I love stories like this. And I'm heartened that "bigger deal" artists are still being people. We really need that right now.
Not enough talk about Phil Cook around here!
Up here in Northeast Wisconsin, we have Mile of Music (https://mileofmusic.com/). Sounds like the same kind of thing as New Colossus. And it's awesome.
What a fantastic writeup and description of New Colossus. I couldn't get to the fest this year but have been to the prior 3 (covering it for wswalcottmedicineshow.com) and let me say you nailed the whole vibe perfectly. Now you've got me kicking myself for not fitting it in this year.
Come next year!
Yes to everything here! I go to a lot of small gigs (150 - 400 cap.) and the support bands are usually excellent. I always get down early. New Colossus sounds a lot like The Great Escape in Brighton which I really want to attend one day - although holiday and finances have so far prohibited a five day stretch in Brighton. I feel like I needed another poll to ask where do you *most often* find great new music because although my last discovery was through NBfOH discord (thank you!), live shows are often where I discover a new favourite.
I’m also going to shout out medium sized outdoor festivals. I can only speak for the UK but these can feel like real community events. There is so much going on and, if you happen to be on barrier at any stage, you’ll end up chatting to someone new and sharing music tips, especially if you are prepared to check out some smaller artists you’ve never heard of. Honestly, there is nothing I like better than listening to someone talking about the band or artist they are most passionate about! City centre festivals for smaller artists are also fantastic - even just day ones. I’m going to Ritual Union in Bristol at the end of this month which is only across 3 venues but has a great line up.
Let's go, Lou! This whole experience has really given me a lot more confidence about going to festivals where I know almost none of the artists. Personally I'm very interested in going to Punk Rock Raduno in Italy someday.
That sounds fab!
Been attending music festivals since the 80s and even got married at NOLA Jazz Fest in 1990... it's always been, for me, about discovering new music. Catch the early bands, hit the side stages, and skip the headliners!