As we draw near to festival season, the time comes to decide whether or not you will fork out the money and have the musical extravaganza weekend of your life.
Of course, there’s often not much persuasion needed, what with the adrenaline, the mud, the giggles, the cider, the dodgy food, the new friends, the meaningful conversations with random strangers, the vodka and orange, the tents, the lights, the sounds, the fairground rides… what’s not to love?
One thing is missing off the list however. Live music is unarguably the centre of any festival weekend; seeing your favourite bands, hour after hour, surrounded by friends, is an unforgettable and totally unique experience. But why limit it to just once a year?
Hundreds of thousands of gigs by bands and artists large and small take place all over the country every week. I am convinced that most, if not all, music sounds better when it’s live; the energy and passion of a band so often gets lost in the process from studio to musical file that is a completely different experience to see the song actually performed.
I suspect that often the reason we do not see more live music is that it is simply easier not to. With the ever increasing range of music providers such as Spotify and Grooveshark, more and more music is accessible at the click of a button, and in the comfort of our own bedrooms.
And perhaps the authentic and stereotypical ‘gig’ setting is not everyone’s cup of tea; the darkened back room of a venue like Stereo, the black, slightly moist walls, the sweat, the smell of beer, at a more lively gig the dancing which turns into ‘moshing’. But don’t forget there is much more on offer than this narrow sector of live music. There is a thriving jazz scene here in York for example – do not underestimate the power of a talented jazz quartet playing soft jazz in candlelight to relieve exam stress. And then there is traditional and Celtic music, as showcased by the return of York student band Nish as Rish at the Jack Lyons Concert Hall this coming month. If you fancy something even more cultured, there are weekly classical concerts from chamber orchestras to string quartets on campus, where tickets are a mere £3.
Every time I go to a gig, I regret not going more often. It is 100% worth the (fairly minimal) effort, so next time you look at a festival lineup, or tour dates for a band you like, stop hesitating – get online and book your tickets straightaway – you won’t regret it.
For upcoming gigs in the York area, please see Vision’s latest Gig Diary at yorkvision.co.uk/scene/music/gigdiary