Festival Time

It is that time again, that time where we are happy to roll around in mud, sleep in cramped tents and have hairy armpits all for the love of the music! Oh yes, it is festival time once again!

I love festival time. I love that tingly feeling you get when you think about the festival, planning what clothes to take (so many choices) and trying to plan a way to sneak your alcohol past the security guards, not to mention the music, the bands and never forget memories of when you and thousands of other people are jumping simultaneously to the beat. To see a sea of hands in the air, heads bopping up and down, everyone singing the exact same words and looking at a complete stranger next to you and smiling. You both know you do not need a camera because you will never forget that moment as long as you live.

It is the only time and place in the world where it is perfectly acceptable to be dirty, stinky and wearing what the hell you want to wear. No one cares, no one is thinking except what band to see next and no one judges for one weekend only. Don’t wash your hair, shave one side off or walk around naked…who cares! It is that time to be courageous and bold! Wear that outfit you have never had the guts to wear before and wear it proudly, be the true you for 3 days of the year.

At a festival everyone turns into a hippy chick, including me, with flowers everywhere and a Love and Peace vibe floating around sweetly in the air for everyone to taste. It is addictive and blissful.

All your worries will wash away, you won’t care about anything, you are brave and having fun, you are 16 all over again! I will lay on the grass, with flowers in my hair, drink in one hand and listening to the live music with people I love, the real world has paused.

Some of my favourite memories are from when I have been watching a band playing ether at a concert or festival. When that song comes on you have all been waiting for, the one that everyone knows and means something different to everyone and the crowd is a wave of faces you know this feeling will never leave you or them ether. The electricity runs through your body, you become a member of the band, you are 100% there and do not care what you look like. You sing as loud as you ever have before, you dance like no one is watching you and for those moments loose yourself to the music. Sometimes the song doesn’t call for dancing; everyone just simply remains still, focused and sings every word from the heart. Everyone has memories personnel to them related to the song and wishes to remember and sing, oddly everyone feels the same and joins you too. This is when tears are acceptable.

It is the time of year when a sea of canvas is called home. When you pitch up and welcome your new neighbours with a smile and friendly nod. You are surrounded by people wishing you well and all stand on common ground together. You enthusiastically turn your back on brick walls and carpet floor for your new reasonably uncomfortable bubble. The festival vibe is floating heavily in the air and it is all you need to feel protected. The music is the security fence.

Run your fingers through the grass, watch the music notes drift pass and experience the sweet taste of freedom.

Love and Peace x