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What Me, Myself, & 100,000 Other Festival Fanatics Are Raving About

My Life as a Festival Connoisseur Drowning in Serotonin

By Jaime SkyePublished 6 years ago 4 min read
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Splash House Palm Spring, CA

Do you pay rent to the music venues in your town? Have an itch that never seems to be scratched, even after 12 plus hours of moving and groovin'? Well, welcome one and welcome all who share my minor addiction to the unparalleled atmosphere of modern day music festivals!

I have attended copious amounts of music festivals in my lifetime, Coachella 2013 being my first. And over the years, I have grown to become somewhat of a festival connoisseur. They are what I spend all my free time (and money on) and I wouldn't have it any other way! Let me tell you why...

I love the ambiance of the campgrounds at night. The immaculate outfits that people invest hours and hours into articulating. The strict diets of champagne and Uncrustables. Being caked in dirt for four days. Being disconnected from society. The renegade sets. The endless dancing. The euphoric bubble that surrounds each stage. The huddled masses of individuals reliving a memory or making new ones to each song played. And last, but certainly not least, I LOVE the knowledge of being surrounded by a diverse group of people with different backgrounds and occupations, all brought together by a shared passion for the artists performing. It is truly the BEST way to spend a weekend.

I'll stop preaching for now, seeing as all those who are reading this are most likely aware of the surreal happenings of a music festival. I am a firm believer in the idea that a person must always have something they are looking forward to. Something to motivate them in their day-to-day life. To work hard at our subjective jobs, in order to reach that marker of release. That event or date or place where you will get to just be. Forget your deadlines, classes, pressures, and stressors. As we speak, I am currently embarking on an exhausting debate of what to wear to this coming weekend's gathering: Splash House.

Attendance at this fest will be a first for me. I have a deep aversion to the idea of public pools, communal bathing, and anything involving mass amounts of people sharing a body of water really. But I made an exception for this fest due to the sole fact that upon release of the lineup, I had what can only be characterized as an existential crisis.

Though mainly dominated by the house and techno music scene, any attendee can satisfy most musical cravings through the likes of these popular performers. Headliners like Gorgon City and Whethan provide unique sounds of bass-driven house, paired with addictive vocal melodies. Artists like Walker and Royce, Kyle Watson, and J Worra transport you to an intergalactic safari where you can't help but groove your booty to the beat. And then there are visionaries of the likes of Cut Snake and Curt Reynolds and Nora En Pure who just make it fun to be under the desert sun surrounded by electric vibes and feel-good music.

Overall, your time spent at a music festival can be split into two periods. The first being at the festival itself. The second being the time spent recovering/preparing for the festival itself. Both I equally enjoy.

There is something quite spiritual about a group of friends jammed together in a hotel room or campsite rhythmically cycling in front of a shared single mirror. With music blasting, glitter flying, and beers guzzling, "the pregame" is a celebrated, time honored tradition of the festival experience.

The postgame, though less vibrant and upbeat, is equally as enjoyable, piled onto a single king bed or mattress blanketed in glitter and googly-eyes. This time is the universal recapping of the day's dynamic sets, outrageous gags, and obscene people watching happenings. It's a period for reflection, hydration, and purification before you pass out only to arise four hours later, ready to do it all again.

A doctor, who shall remain anonymous, once said, "A concert a week keeps a day job tolerable." And those are words I choose to live by. In the chaotic and sometimes overwhelming reality of adult life, it is important to find and explore the things that bring you happiness. My philosophy is that the only thing you leave this planet with are the memories and relationships you build. Foster growth in those realms of life, and be comforted by the fact that everybody else is trying to do the same god***n thing!

Stay tuned for other articles about my life, festival truths, recaps, do's and dont's, personal blogs, and anything else I choose to rant about!

festivals
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About the Creator

Jaime Skye

~~22 year old avid beer connoisseur & music festival goer. Here to write about the happenstance of it all~~

Instagram: @jaime__skye

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