Music Festivals

Warm weather is right around the corner and with that comes the sights and sounds of summer. For me, summer is synonamous with live music, camping and, of course, an adult beverage or two. Prior to the baby, my boyfriend and I would clear out the summer calendar and begin planning concerts and music festivals we were eager to attend. It began in the summer of 2008, when Tim  and I decided to go to as many music festivals and concerts as we could afford. We knew our days of poor choices and college-like behavior were limited and the Grim Reaper of our Youth would eventually find us and bring with him an eternity of responsibilities that go hand-in-hand with being a Grown Up. We succeeded in this quest, and by August, we were tired, broke and hungover from our three month adventure on Shakedown Street.  It was a summer to remember and one that could not be imitated or recreated by any means, no matter how hard we tried.

While I no longer have the luxury of a three month musical vacation, I will still make time to go to shows, and possibly even a music festival or two. . .(baby-sitter permitting, of course.) Why?? Because music soothes the soul. It ignites an energy that can be uplifting, invigorating and refreshing. It comforts and heals. The same can be said of music festivals, if not more so. There is an energy at  festivals that I've yet to experience in any other place in the world.

If you've not been to one, imagine this: What was once an open field is now filling up with tents, RV's, canopies, and a crowd with strikingly similar taste for concert t-shirts that make up a sea of tie dye.  Flags with Grateful Dead Bears and Peace Signs fill the sky, and tapestries adorned  the whimsical swirls and colors of the seventies pop up at a rapid pace, creating a community that is connected by their passion and love for live music. It's a magical place. One that will take you away from the worries of the world and bring you a sense of peace (no pun intended) if only for a short while.