Partying vs Enjoying

good thread...for me its the music first and foremost but I would say the music and the scene (in which I include the camaraderie, the raging, and the partying) have a symbiotic relationship. While the music comes first, both feed off of one another. To me this is the best music out there, but what separates it from others and puts it into a "more than just music" category is the community and the atmosphere it creates. I go to try and catch as much music as I can but I try to stray away from taking a critical approach to it. As others have said, Lockn is also my time to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, let loose, and live in fantasy rage land for 4 days. I'm pretty good about always remembering the show no matter how much I moderate my moderation so that isn't much of a concern. I've gone to shows with huge groups, I go myself plenty, once you're there it makes little difference. As I've said on this board before, most people day dream about being on a beach with their toes in the sand, I daydream about being under an EZ-up with my toes in the Virginia dirt preparing for an epic night of endless music.

For me it's 100% the music. I shell out hundreds of dollars and drive hundreds of miles to experience great live music. There is nothing else in this world like it. My love of music is so freakishly all-consuming that beer/weed/anything that alters the mind actually detracts from the music rather than adding to it.

That being said, it is undeniable that the kind, good-hearted people that this music seems to attract truly enhance the experience. I doubt my enthusiasm for festivals would be what it is if the crowd was predominately ass-hatted in nature.

In fact, I have a story from this past weekend I'd like to share.

I was at the Big What? festival which was conveniently about 20 minutes down the highway from me. After spending a couple hours doing yardwork in the hot sun, I headed out for a full afternoon and evening of live music (the festival was awesome and if I had more time I'd write a review of it). After more time in the hot sun, walking back and forth from the various stages to take in all the great music, fatigue was setting in pretty heavy.

BIG Something finished their first set of the evening around 12:30, which is already well past my bed time. I wasn't sure I could make it through their second set, which was scheduled to end at 2:30, but I was determined to try. Mercifully I found a bench to sit on during their set break and rested my overly tired body there.

An older couple soon passed by, and not long after the man came back and approached me. He apparently mistook my exhaustion for depression, and he gave me a hug and told me that whatever was bothering me, it was all going to be okay. I told him I appreciated the gesture, but that I was just worn out from having a good time all day.

But it really moved me that a complete stranger would care enough about me to do that. It reminded me that while compassion may be rare these days in general, it is still alive and well in festival settings.

So maybe just a good reminder for all of us as we head into the festivities this weekend. The little gesture of kindness you show your neighbor could profoundly impact them and make their overall experience that much better.

At my previous Lockn's I was focused on the music and had so many acts that I simply could not miss. While so focused, I found the delightful distraction of festival life.

This year, with a couple exceptions, I'm not as rabid about the acts, and think I'll savor the fest feel more. Music will still be the centerpiece.

I'm really looking forward to partying AND enjoying spending time with all you Lockn' freaks.

Kinda like the Red Hour in "The Return of the Archons"?