Whether it's your first Bonnaroo or you’re a music festival veteran, we welcome you to Inforoo.
Here you'll find info about artists, rumors, camping tips, and the infamous Roo Clues. Have a look around then create an account and join in the fun. See you at Bonnaroo!!
Hey guys, I've been a long time reader of this site but never have posted before. It's been a great way to not go crazy waiting for Bonnaroo and also reading some great posts about experiences and new music I should check out. I went to Bonnaroo this year with a few of my friends and it was one of the best times of my life. My Morning Jacket, Pearl Jam, and The Raconteurs were performances that will always rank as some of the most fun I've ever had and I'm glad I could share with people who love music as much as I do.
My question is, and also what finally got me going to get an account here is about festivals and what they have to offer over concerts. I have to do a feature piece in my journalism class at the University of Buffalo and it might show up in the on campus magazine that I write for "Generation." I was looking for some insight from some very musically inclined and also some good responses so I thought what a better place than here. Thanks for reading.
Post by StreetBum87 on Oct 8, 2008 12:20:18 GMT -5
anyone can goto a concert......it definately takes some dedication to last a festival....and with that dedication it puts everyone on the same level, mind frame......like u goto a concert, get pushed around mybe get into a little verbal spat of some sort majority of festival goers understand were all out there together for 4 days versus just a few hours and are more willing to help keep everything in control and keep everyone happy....its not like your going anywhere so why not try and make the best of it.....my .02
First and foremost, I would say festivals give you more bang for your buck. Unless you're going VIP all the time, there's no way you can get more music for the price of a ticket.
Secondly, I think you see "better" music and sets at a fest. A concert will more than likely have a set-list from which the artists rarely deviate, while festival shows are more free-flowing and, for lack of a better work, jammy. Not to mention the endless opportunities for guest appearances at a festival.
Finally, the vibe and atmosphere at a fest is so much better.
I'm sure you'll get plenty more opinions! Good luck with your piece.
bonnaroo ticket < a years worth of the same bands my expenses for bonnaroo 2007 ($500 total-gas, ticket, food, other items), my concert expenses this year so far ($500 ALONE in tickets)
Post by sparklybecca on Oct 8, 2008 13:54:27 GMT -5
a festival to me, is about community (not just about the bands that are there)- to be with like minded music fans and party together in a hopefully really beautiful setting... a concert.. is just to see a band, for the most part...sometimes you can get that community feel at a show - but its few and far between
One thing you will miss out on concerts though is just seeing a band in a small intimate venue. Bonnaroo had some of the best crowds I've experienced (energy levels were awesome), but IMO seeing a band at a small 300 person bar beats the hell out of a tent.
I would always choose a festival over a concert if I had the money. Why see one band when you can see 100? A lot of people say that the sets are shorter at Festivals, but that is not always true. MMJ at Roo is a great example of that. On the other hand when I was at Jazz Fest Ben Harper played for a depressingly short amount of time.
I have one friend who HATES festivals....I think she is insane....but she says she just hates crowds. Her boyfirend had to BEG her to go to ACL this year. I am trying to talk her in to giving Bonnaroo a chance and she is about 45% sold on it so far. she just doesn't realize that the vbe there is so much more amazing then a concert venue.
Thanks for all the responses, keep em coming, haha. The community aspect is definitely one of the things that I was going to focus on in the piece. The price another thing. I took a Greyhound from Buffalo to Bonnaroo, that and other expenses made it very expensive but also worth it. I am excited to get back to the farm though, and hope to go to a few more festivals next year. I'll make sure to post a link to the piece when I'm done with it.
There's good points to both and so much depends on the band and the venue.
Let's take my experience with John Butler Trio.
I had heard of them before Bonnaroo 2007, but only "Better Than." Because I liked this song and knew I was going to see them at Roo, I researched and found everything else and fell in love with this band. They were one of my must-sees and I fell even more in love with them at that Sunday daytime set. It was magical.
So when I found out that they were playing at the 9:30 club in DC (v. small venue), I immediately bought my ticket. I didn't think it could get better than JBT at Bonnaroo, but it did. Hearing them in such a small space, the music just surrounded me and I could really feel it. Amazing. Definitely my favorite of the two experiences.
Then, there's Pearl Jam.
I saw them in 2007? at the Verizon Center in DC. HUGE space and we were up in nosebleed. Still an amazing concert, but we were squished in our seats and a little afraid to stand up for fear of falling over. But again, still loved them.
Then at Bonnaroo 2008 - OMG. Being on the ground and surrounded by so many other PJ fans. Blew the other concert out of the water.
But this isn't to say that the HUGE venues are all bad. I saw the Dixie Chicks twice at Verizon and just loved it. There was so much energy in the space and I was further down so wasn't afraid to dance!
So I wouldn't take one over the other. Both have their good points. I will say that I haven't been to as many concerts this year and I haven't minded because I saw so many shows at Bonnaroo.
Hmm, well, first of all, welcome to Inforoo. To answer your question though, I'd say there are a few key differences between a festival and a concert. As has already been mentioned, festivals have more of a sense of community; a concert does not. Also, a festival gives you the opportunity to see many different acts (including some you ordinarily wouldn't pay to see in concert, but are still interested to see nevertheless), whereas a concert usually just focuses on one act. I would say that the average audience member at a concert is more likely to be a devoted fan than an audience member watching the same performer at a festival; however, I would also say that the festival goer is probably more of a music lover in general than the concert goer. It takes a certain type to make a commitment and say "yes, I'm willing to drive hundreds of miles, spend loads of money and not shower or eat a proper meal for days, just because I love music".
I'd say that, as a result, festivals tend to attract a more diverse, colorful crowd of people. Finally, there's just so much more to do at festies. A concert, well, you're really just there for one thing, but at Bonnaroo, you get the chance to check out the comedy tent, or the beer lounge, or Shakedown Street, or any number of other attractions.
Post by strumntheguitar on Oct 9, 2008 2:00:53 GMT -5
Let's just say I'll buy tickets to a festival without having any idea who's playing at the festival. I wouldn't do such a thing for just a one night concert.
Festivals are all about the environment and just the whole surreal feeling you get all weekend
I would say that the average audience member at a concert is more likely to be a devoted fan than an audience member watching the same performer at a festival; however, I would also say that the festival goer is probably more of a music lover in general than the concert goer. It takes a certain type to make a commitment and say "yes, I'm willing to drive hundreds of miles, spend loads of money and not shower or eat a proper meal for days, just because I love music".
I really love this. I ever thought of it this way, and it makes so much sense. I'm stealing it
I don't really know if festivals have anything over concerts, I mean they are two entirely different monsters. there are a lot of bands that I prefer to see in venues over fests and vice versa.
Post by Mada is it backwards on Oct 9, 2008 13:04:06 GMT -5
I would have to go with festivals overall. I have been to three festivals, and many many shows. I saw MMJ at Roo '08 and in Dallas this year. Both were incredible shows, and each had their specialness about them. I also was lucky enough to see Erykah Badu play with MMJ in Dallas and Kirk Hammet play with them at Roo. So I was lucky enough to be at a small venue and still get that togetherness at least a little bit, but MMJ can do that whereever they play.
The overall festival experience is what makes it the winner in my book. The camping, the meeting of new people, new bands you discover, and all the little extras that make fesivals amazing. I too, will drive hundreds of miles, and pay hundreds of dollars for a festival. To me, that is all there is for me. I'll never stop going to festivals.
2 very different experiences obviously. As someone already said, the typical festival goer is a much more dedicated music fan but at any given festival show there will be a less devoted audience. With the exception of headliners and late night shows, sets are going to be shorter and more tailored to a broader audience at a festival vs. a concert.
That means to me that at a festival I'm likely to get turned on to several new bands that I can fall in love with that I had never experienced before (Jose Gonzalez last year as an example for me). I can count on my fingers the number of new bands I've fallen in love with at concerts over the past 30 years as opening acts. The opportunity isn't the same. The more diverse/less dedicated audience at a festival show also means that I have to be ready for a lot more commotion with people talking and moving around constantly. Also the sound quality at a festival is almost always going to be a downgrade from a concert due to the nature of the space and multiple performers using the same equipment.
I think if you're comparing seeing a single band at a concert vs a festival, you're almost always going to have a better individual experience at a concert (unless you're at a big venue which can go either way) but you can't beat the atmosphere and diversity of a festival if you're a music lover.
Post by canexplain on Oct 10, 2008 15:12:42 GMT -5
thought i posted this daaaaaaaaaaaah
Ok so a little off thread, but people putting on festivals made me think. Some of these might not qualify as festivals but I think they do. Example being the bridge benefit concerts. They are always two days, and since I flew or drove out to the bay and went both days, they were fests to me. List is just off the top of my head so it is just that, a list of about 50 (if you count each year):
Lollapalooza 91-97 (missed one year there in the middle) Atlanta Pop Festival 69 & 70 California World Music Festival 79 Denver Pop Festival 69 Mile High Music Fest 08 Monolith 08 Altamont 69 Summer Jam Watkins Glen 73 Curiosa 2004 Warped (five times maybe) Ozz Fest (bunch of times) California Jan 74 2nd US Festival 83 Coachella 04-05 Bonnaroo 06-07 Vegoose 05/06/07 Wakarusa 05/06/07/08 Woodstock 69 & 99 Bridge Benefit 98/99/00/01/02/03/04 (maybe 05)
the farm has ruined me for normal concerts. Last non-fest or club show I went to was DMB at Piedmont in Atlanta and I got verbally abused by soccer moms in the 45 minute+ Port-a-Potty line, because they accused me of line cutting, It was very annoying. Plus the certain freedoms of festival shows as apposed to a large commercial venue shows also are a perk
I would say that the average audience member at a concert is more likely to be a devoted fan than an audience member watching the same performer at a festival; however, I would also say that the festival goer is probably more of a music lover in general than the concert goer. It takes a certain type to make a commitment and say "yes, I'm willing to drive hundreds of miles, spend loads of money and not shower or eat a proper meal for days, just because I love music".
I really love this. I ever thought of it this way, and it makes so much sense. I'm stealing it
I agree totally. For as long as I am able, I will be attending Bonnaroo (and other festivals, but Bonnaroo primarily) regardless of the bands playing.
I really love this. I ever thought of it this way, and it makes so much sense. I'm stealing it
I agree totally. For as long as I am able, I will be attending Bonnaroo (and other festivals, but Bonnaroo primarily) regardless of the bands playing.
I love music.
Same. My dad and I have been going since '06 and have made a pact to go every year. I have friends who say they'll "wait and see until the lineup comes out", but it always kicks ass and they always wind up going. I had another friend who said he was "over Bonnaroo", which I don't really see how you can say unless you did the festival completely wrong
i went to a halloween party that had 3 stages, in a house!
the upstairs had electronica, hip hop, indie and latin/funk the main room downstairs had a marching band, and dj's (dance party) also downstairs, there was a room with metal, punk, rock
there was about 1,000 people and it felt so much like bonnaroo. every time one act was done, i went to check out the other one or went to the dance party. it felt so much like 'roo with the people, costumes, fun, music. except for the metal room, most bands sucked, but some loved it.
went back to camp (home) at 4am. and cause it was in brooklyn, no driving either, subways rule
Post by nardomarques on Nov 2, 2008 14:52:22 GMT -5
One quick difference is that even at an arena show the experience a band can sometimes be more intimate. Main stage acts at festivals always seem half a football field away cause of the gap between the stage and security rails.
^^true... but then again, a festival show can sometimes give me the opportunity to get much closer to the stage than I ever would at an arena. For instance, I managed to get right up front on the rail for !!! and MIA this year, which would never have happened at an arena show(unless I paid an exorbitant amount for pit tickets).
I guess it all kind of depends on the situation - for instance, I almost went to a Gogol show at some club in Rhode Island this summer, and I'm sure that would have been a lot more intimate than their show on the Which Stage. At the same time, though, I feel like the show at Roo was probably crazier / more intense than their normal gigs, just because it's a much bigger deal and there's probably a larger audience.
