via loufest.com
So as you can see from the above photo, the lineup for the weekend was pretty freaking amazing, with big names like The Avett Brothers and Hozier being the headliners, and other favorites like Ludacris, Young The Giant, Nate Ruess of Fun., and Brandon Flowers of The Killers bringing even more excitement. But there were also new bands that I had only recently discovered, such as Misterwives and Lord Huron, and even bands that I'd never heard of at all until the festival, like Colony House and Knox Hamilton. And yet throughout the weekend there wasn't a single show that I went to that I didn't like. Every band and artist brought so much fun and energy to their set and by the time it was all over I'd gained a new found love for some of my favorites, and discovered so many new bands to love that at this point I've lost count.
Even just getting to the festival was a new and exciting experience for me, since instead of driving into the park we decided to take the MetroLink (STL public transport) to avoid traffic. I had been nervous that it would be difficult to figure out and that we'd end up getting lost, but it was so easy and simple. We rode the metro all the way into the city and then took a shuttle into the park and I'm so glad we did. On the way back it got pretty crowded, seeing as almost everyone had the same idea that we did, but all in all it was a fun way to travel and I look forward to doing it again.
Once we arrived, the atmosphere of the festival was fun and exciting and the weather that weekend was perfect, being in the low to mid 70s for both Saturday and Sunday. The festival grounds were well spaced out with each stage having plenty of room for people to gather around and dance if they wanted to. Before arriving I had been worried that it would be difficult to see the bands perform with how many people there were, but I was pleasantly surprised with how easy it was to see and hear the bands no matter how far back we stood. There were even a few times where we decided to sit and rest during a certain set, and even then we could hear the music perfectly.
There was also a wide variety food and drinks at the festival, with all different kinds of choices, as well as vegetarian and vegan options. Basically whatever you were in the mood for, the festival probably had it. But since I was so focused on the music and who's set was up next, I found that I barely remembered to eat at all for most of the weekend, and didn't really realize I was hungry until I got home each night.
During the festival I tried not to take too many photos or videos, since I've been working more on experiencing a moment rather than constantly trying to capture it in a photo or video. But seeing as this was my first ever festival, I did take a few photos and videos, and so did my friends, to document the event and keep as memories for later. Here are a few below.
Just arrived at the festival. Ready to rock out.
From left to right: Me, Sarah, Brandon, and Madeline. The Festival Crew.
Sun going down on Saturday.
For this photo we were told to get nasty. This is what we came up with...
Saturday Night. Listening to Hozier perform. He's even better live than he is on his album. Amazing.
Resting our feet before we head over to the next set.
Friends since kindergarten and now festival first timers.
Sunday Night. Listening to The Avett Brothers perform. If you've never had the pleasure of hearing them play "I And Love And You" live, you are seriously missing out. It's absolute perfection.
One last group selfie courtesy of Sarah. So glad I got to experience my first festival with these three. Can't wait to do it all again, and hopefully soon.
All in all, LouFest was everything I hoped it would be and more. I danced and sang my butt off. I laughed with old friends and made a new friend. I got to hear some amazing live music, the stuff of my dreams. I saw about a thousand man buns. And I made so many memories that I know I will never forget. And despite the fact that by the end of the weekend I had basically lost my voice from singing, and my feet and legs hurt more than they ever had in my entire life, I don't regret one single second of any of it. Because at each set, as soon as I heard the music, I forgot all about how tired I was and how much my feet hurt and I just danced and sang along with everyone else and had the time of my life.
That's one of the things I love most about live music, and music in general, I think. The power that it has to help connect people to one another, even people you've never met in your entire life, and make you feel like you're a part of something. Even just for two days, or for an hour, or for a single song. For me, I always find connecting with people on a real tangible level to be kind of difficult. I often find myself feeling as if I'm on the outside of things looking in, rather than being right there in the middle of it all. But when I listen to music, and especially when I go to shows and experience live music, I feel like I'm finally a part of something real. I'm able to kind of step outside of myself for a moment and take it all in and be in the moment as it's happening. And so that's what LouFest was for me. A sometimes conscious, sometimes unconscious effort to step outside of myself and live each moment as it's happening along with everyone else around me. To forget about everything that might be bothering me and forget about whether or not I'm embarrassing myself, and just sing at the top of my lungs along with hundreds of other people to a song that we all know and love. That's the kind of experience I live for and the kind I know I'll never forget. So if you've never been to a music festival, or even just a live performance of a band that you love, I suggest you put it on your to-do list. For me, there's nothing quite like it in the world.
Love & Chaos,
Sam
