I don't attend concerts as often as I did a few years ago. That's just the way it is. Whether it's time constraints, further drives from venues, or simply a lack of motivation, it just doesn't happen. Most of the time, I'm okay with it because other activities satisfy me.
There are some times when I'm not as okay with it, however. In those cases, it helps to buy a ticket to a festival or two to have something to look forward to music-wise. A massive festival instead of several monthly or sometimes weekly shows is still a great way for me to scratch the itch of hearing live music. I came to this conclusion after attending the last three editions of Riot Fest in Chicago.
On those three trips to the Windy City, I had some of the best experiences of my life. The festival setup is nice because it is all about music and travel. Knowing you must go home at the night's end and go to work the next day can be a bummer sometimes. Even if you're still riding an emotional high as you're in the car.
With Riot Fest's reputation as a Punk festival, I've seen bands that I had previously not had a chance to see. Bikini Kill, Fear, Cock Sparrer, and even Yellowcard all come to mind.
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| Punk Rock legends Fear put on a great show at Riot Fest last year |
Is It Time For a New Festival?
I am at a crossroads if I should switch it up by going to a different Punk Rock Festival like Furnace Fest in Birmingham, AL. Rather than head back to riot fest.
Furnace Fest's lineup has already been announced, with "MXPX," "Turnstile," "Bane," and "Pennywise" as the headliners. I would be lying if I said that only having to drive 2.5 hours from my current home in West Georgia sounds very appealing. There would have to be some time to figure out other logistics, but those two factors sound good.
Even if their lineup has yet to be announced, returning to Riot Fest is advantageous because it's familiar territory. I've got friends that also go, I have basic knowledge of their public transportation system (despite getting lost from Midway Airport to my Airbnb last year), and I know enough about the City of Chicago to know where I like to stay.
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| Furnace Fest's lineup is already confirmed and very enticing |
Someone will likely read this and ask why I can't do both. The most straightforward answer is that they'll be on back-to-back weekends. With my current schedule and finances, it's not feasible. If something changes between now and then, I will! I could throw Louder than Life in Louisville, Ky, or some other festival like that into the mix. Just to be ambitious.
In all likelihood, I will probably return to Riot Fest because one of my friends in Chicago already joked about kidnapping me if I didn't go last year, and I'd rather not draw their ire. Regardless of the conclusion I come to, I can't go wrong. In the words of Rancid (a band I've now seen twice thanks to festival trips, by the way), "when I got the music. I've got a place to go."
