Take a Look Back: What Killed My Festival Love? How My Music Festival Obsession is Fading
- Author: Phil Goebel
- Approx Time: + - 2 Min
Disillusionment with Mass Music Events: My Personal Shift in Perspective (Opinion Piece) - Festival's Fallen Charm: My Disenchantment with the Grand Event (Opinion Piece)
My first visit to the Eifel in 2013 was a game-changer. Rock am Ring - there was no other option. The mystique, the size, the Nürburgring - a dive into festival madness, I was instantly hooked. Anyone who's ever pitched their tent on the hilly campsites of the Ring on a Wednesday morning understands what I mean.
The dew-soaked grass beneath my feet, distant bass thrumming, the wafting smell of breakfast grills, and the sun, slowly rising. From that moment, everything else fell away - it was a vacation for the soul. A morning beer? No sweat! Skipping showers for days? Why not! Making new friends for a concert? You bet!
Festivals Used to Be the Ultimate Soul Vacation
For years, festivals were a blend of escape and reunion for me. But things have changed lately. The aches in my back keeping me from bouncing out of bed in the mornings - I can live with that. I can't guzzle down liters of IPAs like before - age catches up with us all. But somehow, festivals now seem too slick, too pristine, too sanitized.
What were once fields with a beer stand if you were lucky, have morphed into a "Foodcourt" serving quinoa smoothies and fiber-rich muesli. Snobbery in a paper cup. The era of canned ravioli for breakfast is over. The group showers have been replaced by a "Shower Wonderland" offering free skincare products, lounge areas, and soothing music. At least no one sees you break down in the water. Because, let's face it, it's tragic.
I know, it might sound like an "Old-timer complaining about the good old days." Of course, it wasn't all rosy ten years ago. Hauling heavy boxes of food and drinks for hours was for masochists or fitness fanatics. I, too, prefer to shop fresh at the supermarket on the campsite today. But with the increasing opulence around festivals, shallowness and caution have also moved in.
Luxury is Turning Festivals into a Depersonalized Instagram World
Don't misbehave, don't wander around in last year's clothes, or you might end up in someone's Instagram story. Instead of dirt, glitter now graces our faces. Outfits are no longer limited to old band T-shirts and sweatpants, they're carefully planned from the wardrobe to look a bit "Coachella" in the mandatory photo in front of the Ferris wheel.
The last bit of anarchy in festivals is dwindling, and with it, my enthusiasm. Whether this is because a new generation of attendees prefers it this way or because organizers court these people with amenities is the age-old question. I just know: The more opulence there is, the more festivals like Rock am Ring morph into a soulless Instagram hell, where everyone is just posing for the perfect shot. And I'll stand there, hardly recognizing my old playground anymore. With a beer in hand. At 7:30 am. Maybe for the last time.
Note: This text was first published in June 2024.
- Related Events: Rock am Ring, Rock im Park, Music Festivals
Additional Insights:
- Commercialization and Sponsorship: Festivals like Rock am Ring have become more commercialized, with brands like Opel using these events to promote their products [2]. This increased sponsorship can lead to perceptions of less authenticity.
- Luxury Amenities and Experiences: Festivals now offer luxury amenities to draw a wider audience, such as high-end accommodations and unique experiences. This luxurious feel can also contribute to a perception of less authenticity [2].
- Changing Audience Demographics: Festivals cater to a broader audience, including those interested in lifestyle and luxury, creating a shifting perception of authenticity [2].
- Technological Advancements and Production Quality: Advances in technology and stage production have elevated festivals, making them more polished and professional. While this enhances the overall experience, it can also contribute to feelings of less authenticity due to the highly-produced nature of the events [2][4].
- Financial Pressures and Ticket Pricing: The cost of attending festivals has increased significantly over the years, leading to perceptions of exclusivity and luxury [4].
- Festivals, once sanctuaries for Phil Goebel's soul, appear too polished and sanitized, a stark contrast to the grassy fields and canned ravioli breakfasts of the past.
- The evolution of festivals from basic beer stands to "Foodcourts" serving quinoa and "Shower Wonderlands" offering skincare products and lounge areas embody the transition from carefree gatherings to luxurious, depersonalized Instagram excess.
- As festivals like Rock am Ring and Rock im Park cater to a broader audience with increased Commercialization and Sponsorship, the line between authenticity and shallow Instagram-worthy experiences blur, diminishing the original festival spirit.
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