babe •
A guide to going to a festival alone
Don’t camp though
by Marisa Lee
Going to a gig alone is awkward for most, and a festival alone is unimaginable. When you’re left with no other choice though, you’ve gotta make the most of it, and you’ll find it’s not that bad. In fact, the experience can be liberating. We wouldn’t recommend camping alone – but with Lovebox, British Summertime and Wireless coming up, who’s to say you shouldn’t spend a day festival alone with some good music?
Making friends
These days we rarely do anything alone, and even if we are alone we’re communicating through our phones. In this case – to avoid losing battery and not being able to get home – you’ll be isolated with your phone on airplane mode, but that’s not a bad thing. There’s nothing better than dancing with friendly strangers, and people at festivals are always up for a dance. Do your thing, forget you’re alone, make eye contact with other skankers and someone will bring you in.
The stages
When you’re by yourself there’s no dividing the group to see different acts. None of the “we’ll meet you here after”‘s that never happen. You can go and see the acts you want to see, and miss the ones you don’t. Plus, whether the main stage or an obscure small one, you can get even closer to the front when there’s not crowds of people to piss off as you and your mates barge through holding hands, so as not to lose each other. This is also useful if you have to run to the loos mid set, as you don’t have to wait for your friends to take 10 mins to pee, and it’s easy to sneak back into position when there aren’t people chained to you.
The acts
Whether it’s rap, Beyoncé or James Blake, there’ll always be someone to sing along with. The best music to dance alone to is probably that with words, as screaming lyrics at the top of your lungs always brings people together. When the music is good, being alone doesn’t matter. Everyone at each stage has come together to see that act whether they’re in a group or alone, so you’ll already have that in common. There’s also probably people who’ve left their friends to see the act alone because their mates aren’t fans, so find the solo superfans and join forces. The DJs and acts are still just as good, and when your favourite song comes on you can still look at those around you and scream with excitement, no matter how long you’ve known them. Forget the awkwardness of being alone and feel the ~vibes~.
Getting food and drink
Another great aspect is that you don’t have anyone else’s needs to cater to. You’re not looking after any mates who are too k’d to move, not waiting for any one to use the toilets and not waiting ages at a bar to get everyone drinks “because you’re at the front.” How many times have you missed acts because one of your friends wanted food from that specific truck that just so happens to be right at the other end of the site? Start chatting to people in front of you in the bar queue to get that little bit closer to the front. People are much more happy to let one person in front of them than a whole bunch. Say goodbye to irritating picky eaters and vomiters, you only need to look after the one and only.
The day itself
The experience also lets you to see the festival in a completely different way. You can take in the beauty of the festival experience as you walk around with no distractions, and observe all the fucked faces like you’re David Attenborough in wellies and glitter. Being alone really allows you to appreciate the day for what it is: a collection of people giving up a whole day to lose themselves and forget about everything beyond the festival walls. With a huge sense of community and sick music, why should being alone matter?