FESTIVAL SEASON - Thurs 18 Feb

With Good Vibrations this weekend, Future Music Festival next weekend and a bevy of festivals yet to come we are now well and truly submerged in the depths of "Festival Season". And with festival season comes the madness of pre parties, after parties, side shows and, of course, the festival itself.
 
Over the last couple of years we have been inundated with festivals and their associated gigs. And as music contorts in all sorts of weird and wonderful ways, we find that we are attracted to more and more types of festivals with their genre bending acts. There is no longer a line in the sand with musical taste - we are open to all realms. And while this is a great thing for the music industry, it seems to equate to a section of society becoming outcast for missing out on the elusive tickets.
 
HOT TIP: 
Get in on tickets when they are at their cheapest. Most festivals have a release of “Early Bird” tickets.  They are significantly cheaper so save yourself some cash!  And if you end up not being able to go – SELL THEM!  Everyone and their dog are looking for tickets the week (or even the day) before a festival!
 
If you can get your hands on VIP tickets then do it.  These differ for each festival, but most provide you an escape from the masses with a separate bar and set of toilets.  Believe me, at the end of the day you will be thankful that you forked out the extra cash!
 
AND remember the essentials:
 
• Slip, slop, slap– even if it’s not a super sunny day, you have the potential to get burnt to a crisp being out in the sun for hours so don the sunscreen [god, I sound like my mum!]
 
• Drink water - most festivals now provide free water stations.  Make use of them.  Hot days and alcohol have a way of dehydrating us very quickly.  Your attempt to quench your thirst with other drinks will just end up leaving you with one hell of a hangover post festival!
 
• Gumboots and ponchos – just in case the heavens open up you will need to have these on hand.  With so many festivals being hit with the weather in the past few years these items have now become fashion accessories.  Get yourself some funky attire and rock out to your favourite bands.