Okay, so I’ve been wanting to hit up more music festivals, and not just the huge ones everyone knows. I wanted to see what else is out there across the US, you know? So, I started digging.
First Steps: Finding My Festivals
First, I brainstormed. What kind of music am I really into? I made a list: indie rock, electronic, a little bit of folk, definitely nothing too mainstream pop. That helped me narrow things down.
Then, I started searching, for real. Instead of just typing “music festivals,” which gives you the same old results, I got specific. I tried stuff like “indie music festivals east coast” or “electronic music festivals southwest.” Much better!
Digging Deeper: Checking the Vibes
- I looked at festival websites. Not just the front page, but the “About” section, the lineup history, even their social media. I was trying to get a feel for the overall atmosphere. Was it a huge corporate thing, or more of a community vibe?
- I read reviews. Not just the ones on the festival website (those are always going to be positive), but I looked for blog posts, Reddit threads, anything I could find from people who’d actually been there.
- I checked out past lineups. This gave me a good idea of the kind of music they consistently book. If I saw a bunch of bands I loved from previous years, that was a good sign.
- I checked out photos and videos of past years festival to get a sense of atmosphere.
The Practical Stuff: Planning the Trip
Once I had a few festivals that looked promising, it was time to get practical. This is where it got a little less exciting, but it’s super important.
- I checked the dates. Did they work with my schedule? And, importantly, did they clash with any other festivals I was interested in? No point planning two trips at the same time!
- I looked at location, location, location. How easy was it to get there? Plane? Car? And how far was the actual festival site from the nearest airport or town?
- I investigated accommodation. Camping? Hotels? Airbnbs? And how much was it all going to cost? Some festivals have on-site camping, which can be super convenient (and cheap!), but others require you to find your own place to stay.
- I considered buying a ticket in advance. Some of them are very popular, and I have to seize the early bird discount.
Making it Happen: Booking and Prepping
After all that research, I finally picked a couple of festivals that seemed like a perfect fit. I booked my tickets, figured out my travel arrangements, and started making a packing list. Because let’s be real, nobody wants to show up at a festival without sunscreen and a portable charger.
It was a bit of work, but honestly, finding those smaller, more unique festivals was totally worth it. I’m already excited for the next one!
