In “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (the original of course – sorry Tim Burton, you don’t make the cut for me), all Charlie wants is to get the mythical “Golden Ticket” that will give him access to the mysterious candy factory. While Charlie has to find his “Golden Ticket” in a chocolate bar, I’m fortunate enough that my version can be purchased online. It is, in fact, a ticket to one of the many music festivals of the spring and summer – events where the number of bands is dwarfed by the amounts of sunscreen and water bottles needed to survive them. In the spirit of “festival season” (SXSW commenced this month), I compiled a playlist of songs from the artists who are playing at the most popular festivals this year (or in the case of Lollapalooza, last year). I also got some guidance from BC students who have experienced the festivals in all their glory (hint: there’s a consistent pattern in what you should bring to them).
Lollapalooza – Grant Park, Chicago (August 5-7)
Perry Farrell, singer of Jane’s Addiction, created Lollapalooza as the first touring festival to showcase the punk and grunge acts of the early ‘90s “Alternative Nation.” Despite low attendance in the early part of the new millennium, the new location in Chicago’s Grant Park revived “Lolla.” Stephanie Mui, BC sophomore and Chicago native, describes the festival as “an endurance challenge – three days of heat, bug bites, crowds of hipsters and teens… but all worth it.” Recommended essentials include insect repellent, sunscreen, water, and, of course, a camera.
Photo by Stephanie Mui
“Rebellion (Lies)” – Arcade Fire
“Puchaca Sunrise” – Minus the Bear
“Lovelier Than You” – B.o.B.
“Lessons Learned” – Matt & Kim
“Sweet Talk, Sweet Talk” – The New Pornographers
“Bad Romance” – Lady Gaga
Bonnaroo – Manchester, Tennessee (June 9-12)
Celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, Bonnaroo is held in Tennessee on a huge 700-acre farm. Every square inch of the farm is filled with unique venders and tents, including a stand-up comedy tent and a disco tent. It’s no wonder Bonnaroo has been voted “Best Festival” by publications like “Rolling Stone” and “Spin Magazine.” Taylor Cavallo, a BC sophomore, said, “it was fantastic… in all its hippie glory.” She recommends bringing lots of water, ice, sunscreen, and spending money.
“Sunshine” – Atmosphere
“General Patton” – Big Boi
“Grace Cathedral Hill” – The Decemberists
“Cold Wind Blows” – Eminem
“Still Here” – Girl Talk
“Next Girl” – The Black Keys
South by Southwest (SXSW) – Austin, Texas (March 11-20)
There’s more than just music at SXSW. It’s also a renowned film festival and an interactive technology fair. Performing at SXSW jump-started the careers of many well-known musicians, such as John Mayer. In addition, the festival has also premiered several Academy-Award winning films, such as “The Hurt Locker.” Tina, a junior at BC, called SXSW “the best experience of her life” and recommended bringing clothes to dress down in and an open mind since everyone at the festival has “a unique style, are awesome, and do their own thing.”
“You Are Not A Robot” – Hoodie Allen
“Totem On the Timeline” – Klaxons
“You Oughta Know” – Das Racist
“Alejandro (Remix)” – Skrillex
“To Be Surprised” – Sondre Lerche
“Mexican Mavis” – Boy & Bear
Coachella – Indio, California (April 15-17)
Coachella, a three-day camping event in the desert, is one of, if not the most, famous music festival in the United States. Filled with large installation art and sculptures, the festival aims to reduce its carbon footprint every year (a solid goal considering all those water bottles people are bringing). With this year’s amazing lineup, concert tickets were sold out in record-breaking time. Chris Harlem, a BC sophomore, said of Coachella: “Before the first time I went, I tried to envision what it would be like to go to a 3-day music & arts festival with over 100 bands performing and over 100,000 people attending. But truth be told, it’s an atmosphere that can be neither imagined nor paralleled. In short, it’s a wild time that wears you out, but leaves you counting down the days until the following year’s event.”
“We Don’t Care” – Kanye West
“Hard To Explain” – The Strokes
“The Mess We’re In” – PJ Harvey
“Sunshine” – Rye Rye
“The Cave” – Mumford & Sons
“The Gardener” – The Tallest Man on Earth
Have suggestions for a playlist theme? Email moltzen@bc.edu.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lollapalooza
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonnaroo_Music_Festival
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_by_Southwest
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/why-coachella-sold-out-in-less-than-a-week-20110127