By Natalie St. Denis
It’s about that time of the year when it feels like just about every artist is announcing a tour and music festival line-ups are dropping left and right. Meanwhile, your bank account is bracing for impact. But breaking the bank can’t be so bad if you’re doing it in style, right? Here are some music festival essentials that will prepare you for your live music experience in style. Just be sure to check the guidelines for the event you are attending to see what’s permitted and what’s not.
Something to Hold Your Belongings
There’s nothing worse than having to hold a bag when you are trying to enjoy your favorite band. One hand is meant for a drink and the other for waving in the air. So having something to hold your belongings is key.
Luckily, we can thank the fashion industry for bringing fanny packs back. Today, you will find many people using this backpack or purse alternative, especially at concerts. Most festivals will have a size requirement for bag admittance. Fanny packs are usually the ideal size within the given restrictions. Some events will also require your bag to be clear, but fear not, there are still some cute options out there. The beauty in fanny packs is that they are certainly in and hip right now, but they also can be worn in various ways, they don’t just have to sit on your hip. You can sport them on the front of your body – in true fanny pack form – on your back or diagonal across your body.
What’s in Your Bag?
It’s important to pack enough items to be prepared for your long day of indulging in live performances. But you don’t need to go doomsday prepper on ‘em and stuff your bag so full it barely zips.
Most festivals now allow you to bring in an empty reusable water bottle. Hydration is essential, as you don’t want to be one of those people who passes out in the crowd during the best song. Ditch the Stanley for a reusable water bottle that you can clip on your bag for easy access.
Consider bringing a travel-sized bottle of Advil or other medications you’ll thank yourself later for having on you, especially if you are headache prone like myself.
You’ll likely be on your phone in between sets and taking lots of photos and videos at the festival. So now’s the time to invest in a good quality, compact portable charger. A wireless power bank will do you wonders and take up little space. If you must opt for a wired portable charger, stick to a short cable and power bank with various ports.
The Best of Both Worlds: Comfort and Style
Music festivals are a big commitment. Spending your whole day and sometimes multiple days into nights jamming out to live music is not for the faint of heart and especially not for the weakly shod. Picking out what to wear for a festival is fun, but should also be strategically done to mesh style and comfort. We all want the Instagramable photos in front of the stage, flaunting our fits, but it will be worth your time to carefully craft that outfit ahead of time, paying special attention to your shoewear.
Should you choose to wear your beat-up Converse from seven years ago, whose bottoms are so worn you’re practically walking barefoot on the ground, it may be hard to hide the pain behind your eyes in your photos because your feet are holding on for dear life.
You want to pick out a pair of kicks that are supportive on your feet and OK to get dirty. While your Dr. Martens may feel like the finishing touch on your edgy, grunge concert fit, or your heeled, bedazzled cowgirl boots may complete your country girl attire, consider opting for a stylish sneaker instead.
The age-old question for crafting a festival fit remains: to jacket or not to jacket. Look at the weather and plan for the worst, within reason. You are better off bringing a light rain jacket if the forecast predicts rain. You can tie it around your waist or loop it around your fanny pack strap when you aren’t wearing it. A jacket can also double as a barrier to sit on the ground if you need to give your legs a break in between sets.
Music festivals, for many, are a fun highlight of the spring and summer seasons. Putting some thought and care into prepping for your live music experience will be worth your while and enhance your experience.
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