Music Festivals • Post-COVID 19
Coachella, Stagecoach, GovBall, Electric Forest, what do these all have in common? No, it's not Diplo… They’re all music festivals! Music Festivals that have been postponed or canceled due to the global pandemic.
Musicians have had to adapt to the imposed lockdown, taking to the internet; however, it is clear that music remains an effective way to bring people together during a tough era for society.
My own musical journey began in second grade, with acoustic guitar lessons in a neighboring town, although it really took off a decade later when I began DJing in college. I remember being absolutely overwhelmed for my first gig, but just like writing applications for college, once you do the first few, you have the content to fuel the rest, albeit with some necessary customization depending on your audience.
More recently, the last several gigs I’ve had have all been on Instagram Live, and for me, it’s been a luxurious performing experience. There is more time to prepare, no lugging equipment, no inebriated song requests, plus I can eat snacks. This, however, is not the case for the rest of the music industry.
2020 was poised to be the biggest year ever for the music industry, with live performances predicted to set a new record of $12 billion in sales, but now most venues are shut down until 2021. Typically, popular acts will spend the year preparing for “festival season” which begins in May. Normally you’d hear names like Coachella, Bonnaroo, and GovBall associated with major artists, but with everything canceled, electronic acts associated with various internet labels have had a chance to shine.
Proximity was quick to host the Digital Mirage online festival streaming on Youtube, featuring notable names like 3Lau and Gryffin. Diplo as well was one of the first big names to host, with Coronight Fever also streaming on Youtube. And who could forget Lady Gaga’s enormous One World: Together fundraiser and concert.
As much as we would all love a climactic, post-apocalyptic rave à la the Zion Dance Party from The Matrix Reloaded, the next best thing was Travis Scott’s Astronomical Fortnight Event, marking a significant collaboration between the rapper and popular online game.
Creating a way for fans to continue supporting their favorite artists is important, especially now, but it is also important to note the changing tastes of fans as well. According to Rolling Stone,
“listeners in America and abroad are tuning into chiller, more mood-oriented music”
This makes sense, as those who listen to “headphone music” prefer more relaxed vibes compared to more energetic live performances.
For the brave souls who want to grasp onto the in-person festival way of life, they should look no further than the aptly titled: Road Rave.
The Road Rave will accommodate groups of up to 6 masked individuals to sit in or on their cars, enjoying the event at a healthy social distance. Borrowing from the drive-in cinema era from nearly a century ago, this festival will be the first of its kind.
Since being announced, the Road Rave has been postponed to the end of June, in solidarity with the “powerful movement for equality” taking place around the country.
Since the Civil Rights Movement, music has had a way to empower oppressed people and give them a platform to say something important. NWA and Pussy Riot are some of the first names you might think of who used music to communicate in this way. Lady Gaga’s One World: Together saw the world come together for a televised event during the lockdown. Now, artists are emerging in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. With the economic situation and public unrest, now might be the time for creators to fuel a political movement.
While it's true that the cloud of lockdown is seriously hurting many smaller venues, and artists as well, there is still a silver lining. Australian singer, Tim Minchin puts it bluntly:
“At the risk of sounding like a dick, I find it a bit perplexing — apart from the financial anxiety — the idea that artists don’t know what to do during this time,”
Not everyone is so fortunate as to have a long, illustrious career in the arts sustaining them through this time, but, for creatives who have food to eat, a place to sleep, and a roof over their heads, this lockdown can become a phenomenal opportunity.
An opportunity to hone one’s craft and put the days, weeks, and months spent indoors towards creating something that just might open the door to that long, illustrious career in the arts.
To those who made it to the end of this writeup, much appreciated. And to those who also had tickets to a canceled GovBall, I will see you in 2021.
~Jay Chopra
