Music is an incredible concept. A single chord struck from one man’s guitar can trigger emotions and unpack the sweetest (or most sour) of memories. A single note sung by one woman standing solemnly in front of a microphone has the capability to unleash a flood of stored and long-forgotten emotions all at once, much like the violent force of spilled soda erupted from a shaken bottle. These precious notes are sung worldwide, and in the words of Dave Grohl, the former drummer of 90’s grunge band Nirvana and current singer and guitarist of dedicated rock band The Foo Fighters, "That's one of the great things about music. You can sing a song to 85,000 people and they'll sing it back for 85,000 different reasons,” (Grohl). Here is some food for thought: If one artist can bring together 85,000 people, how many people can one hundred artists bring together? Or two hundred? This, my friend, is the magic of a music festival. Spanning from two to four days, music festivals host hundreds of artists, and bring together thousands upon thousands of dedicated fans. Enduring the sun, the sweat, and the dirt, these fans spend days camping in ten-inch-by-thirty-inch squares, awaiting the arrival of their favorite band or artist. For some, this may seem like anything but a “good time,” but for music fans, festivals like these are an experience unlike any other; an experience that brings together friends and family; an experience that can touch your soul, and change you forever; an experience that can only be explained through the soulful sound of music. Needless to say, there are hundreds of music festivals all around the world for music fans of all ages, cultures, economic statuses, and interests – Coachella, Bonnaroo, and Tomorrowland to name a few. While options are plenty and decisions can be difficult, my advice for any young-to-middle-aged individual would be to consider Dover, Delaware's Firefly Music Festival as a top choice. Why? In comparison to festivals like Coachella, Bonnaroo, and Tomorrowland, the camping options and activities offered at Firefly span wider, the lineup is much more musically diverse, and the price of attending is much less expensive. These characteristics only scratch the surface of what makes Firefly so incredible. Last year I had the opportunity to attend the Firefly Music Festival with a group of my good friends. Having attended a wide range of music festivals, I wasn’t expecting my weekend at Firefly to be anything extraordinarily different from my previous experiences. Life, however, has a habit of surprising you. I hope that as I walk you through the best four days of my life, you are able to see what separates Firefly from other music festivals, and become confident in a decision to pick Firefly over the rave scene of Tomorrowland, or the rich-and-famous scene of Coachella. |