Music Festivals

One of the best ways to let your inner hipster shine is by attending music festivals. Although these festivals can be a bit pricey, they are totally worth it! Not only will you be able to rock out to quite a few top 40 bands such as Kanye West, Coldplay, etc (depending on the popularity of the festival), but you will shock your hipster friends with all your newfound knowledge of other artists you decide to watch! You will learn about obscure indie bands AND get the full music experience, which is worth so much more in the hipster world. It is not just about listening to an indie band you found on Pandora, but it is also about being "one with the music," which is only made possible by seeing the artist live.

Austin City Limits, 2011

While there is a lot of freedom of how you can dress/act at music festivals, there are still a few preparations you need to make before attending:
1. Buy your tickets EARLY. Prices can get as high as 500 dollars or more if you wait until the last minute.
2. Research the artists that will be attending the festival. The last thing you want to do is stand in a hot, restless crowd waiting for a band that you decide you hate after half a song. Trying to escape these crowds can be more difficult than you might originally think.
3. Hydrate- and no, beer is not a substitute for water. You will probably be on your feet for a while, and depending on the season of the festival, it can be pretty hot.
4. Make sure to check the schedule and look at a map before arriving. There are usually different stages in multiple locations, and the last thing you want is to miss that opening song because you were not prepared for a stage switch.
5. Dress comfortably. You will thank yourself later for going with shoes that don't give you blisters.
6. Be yourself! With so many hipsters coming together to one single location, they need to find SOME WAY to stand out amongst the crowd so they do not appear so mainstream. This is good for you because you can be yourself without the worry of trying to "fit in."

You can check out a list of some of the most popular festivals here. You will find links to each official website as well as general reviews, 2010 and 2011 headliners, and other important information.