Another festival season rolls around, and another generational tide of youth discovers the unbridled fun of camping out en masse and absorbing days and nights full of live music. At the same time, experienced festival-goers dig out their gear and reconnect with friends as they plan to revisit their favorite festivals, try for that choice camping spot and break from daily routines for those vibrant weekends away.
Festivals seem to exist in a world unto themselves. One can see characters they only see at festivals, wear things they wouldn't dare elsewhere, and get truly 'loose' within the sprawling, colorful masses who form their temporary neighborhoods. Strangers meet strangers as brief neighbors, share space and facilities in a short-lived version of a tribal/communal lifestyle.
While music festivals with camping have been around for decades, recent years have seen an explosion in offerings and innovations. Now the festival enthusiast has a dizzying array of options when planning a summer. Some choose by the musical lineups, geographic proximity, others by the setting of the campground, and some by the alluring combination of two or more, further steered by the urgings and advice of friends.
Many prefer the larger events, with multiple stages serving up a seemingly endless banquet of top-name talent, whose reputations alone guarantee a huge throng of attendees inhabiting sprawling, crowded campgrounds. The excitement of seeing favorite artists carries attendees through the long days and wild nights, while often earning them some skin color, exercise, and stories to tell when they get home. Sacrifices often come with this territory—long lines, little space, expensive concessions, dense stage crowds and miles of walking.
Alongside the "major" festivals, with their crowds in the tens of thousands, systematic layouts and packed stage offerings, a number of smaller, more intimate events co-exist on summer weekends, offering an alternative that often appeals to some of the more experienced festival veterans. These often represent the diversity of festivals, as many take on specific themes (such as Hemp rallies or Jerry Garcia tributes) or styles (such as focusing on electronica or bluegrass), while others try to concoct a smaller but varied musical palate for discerning ears. Attendees often enjoy more space in the audience, shorter lines, and campgrounds that can be crossed in a short stroll. Instead of seeking out friends in a mammoth crowd, they enjoy seeing familiar faces all weekend.
Many of these smaller events are founded by bands who simply wanted to host summer gatherings for their fans, rounding out musical menus with personal favorites and local talent that fans might not normally encounter. Such events can be a way for a band to build community, and many become annual traditions. Some take off and grow into larger events, like the The Big Wu's 'Family ReWUnion', Ekoostik Hookah's "Hookaville", and moe.'s "Moedown." Others have relished their intimacy and stayed small, like Strangefolk‚s “Garden of Eden” and Max Creek's "Camp Creek"—perhaps the longest-running rock festival in the northeast (only certain folk and bluegrass festivals can claim a longer annual tradition.)
While fans of all ages attend all types of events, many seasoned veterans of summer music festivals are finding their niche with the smaller festivals. "I find it more comfortable," explained Sarah, who has been attending festivals for over fifteen years. "Its easier to camp with friends, and there's less of a mob scene by the stage. We spread out our chairs and can camp easily with our friends. These days I like the size of Camp Creek or Grey Fox more than, say, the big craziness of Bonarroo—though I've certainly had my fun there, too."
While there are no hard statistics to support the belief, some feel that smaller festivals are also safer. "I think less sketchy stuff goes down at the smaller scene," said Scott, who has attended festivals as large as the big Phish events as well as smaller events. "Maybe its harder to hide in the smaller campground, I don't know. Maybe it's a closer sense of community when you see a lot of the same people all weekend. But I definitely have heard fewer stories like that from the smaller events."
Perhaps it's a refreshing sign in uncertain times that so many festivals of different sizes and stripes can co-exist in a marketplace vibrant enough to support this degree of diversity. Some like to balance their summer experiences by taking in both large and small events. "I like to see all the big acts at a bigger festival, and go kinda crazy," explained Keith, a grad student who has been attending camping festivals since the late 1990's, with a laugh. "But it's sweet and mellow to hit a little fest too, something that's not as intense, where you feel less like herded cattle in a big crowd.”
As the season comes on quickly, it's choosing time for thousands of revelers across the country. Some events will flourish while others founder, as is the nature of the business, depending on where people's preferences (and budgets) take them. The events compete with one another yet share a community of people not only willing but eager to move in with thousands of like-minded music fans for long, exuberant weekends. However it pans out, and no matter the weather—always the wild card in the world of camping festivals—it will certainly be a lively season ahead. |
