I thought that I was alone in my preference for going to music festivals rather than concerts, but I now know that there is a bigger, cultural change taking place here in India. Concerts can be very special and a concert is to live in the “moment” that artist is really in but for connection, discovery, and pure energy, music festivals have a very different feel to them; and for this reason, in India, this shift towards music festivals is now gaining momentum.
The explosion of music festivals in India like Lollapalooza India and NH7 Weekender is not a coincidence. These festivals are flourishing because they offer an opportunity to experience music at its very best; a broad spectrum of artists, in a very social atmosphere; exposing attendees to many genres, styles and forms. At Lollapalooza India last year, it was incredible watching everyone moving between the stages discovering new musicians they may never have heard otherwise. Many of the audiences who attended for one marquee performer often stayed to watch the upcoming artist who was opening, and often found themselves drawn to new sounds that they would never have typically listened to. This is the beauty of the festival; it is a spontaneous, enormous and a community based experience.
Younger audiences in India want diversity in music. We have access to tons of music from around the world, from electronic to independent rock to Punjabi Hip Hard rock to everything in between. Music festivals now give the Indian younger generation an opportunity to experience this diversity and to listen to all of these genres of music on the largest of stages.
Another economic factor would be that since festivals are built around having a number of performances included within one ticketed experience, ticket prices are increasing as a result of this. As urban India’s costs increase and continue to be an issue, many people are choosing to go to festivals to see various performances over the course of one full day rather than purchasing separate tickets for multiple concerts taking place on different weekends. Festivals not only maximize the amount that you get from your ticket purchase (i.e., value) by providing many bands, numerous experiences, and even more memories within a short span of time but also do not break up your time or break the bank in doing it.
Another consideration would be community. Indian music festivals have developed into cultural gatherings. In addition to celebrating music and bringing together friends, creating new friendships, discovering food vendors, displaying visual art, etc., Indian music festivals create a sense of community that cannot be replicated in a concert hall.
I would certainly remain open to being proven otherwise, especially if the artists The Marias tour to India. If that were to happen, then I would have the opportunity to have the experience of attending a concert that is different from the festival experience. However, as it stands now, Indian music festivals continue to gain popularity due to their ability to provide a sense of discovery, energy, and community that cannot typically be found at concerts. Rather than simply being events, they are movements; and it appears that India is prepared for them to flourish.
