Source: TIME Magazine
The Community and Culture of Music Festivals
ISLAND
This essay appears in an upcoming zine produced in collaboration with Process Magazine, which centres around the creative processes involved in putting together the 10th Anniversary edition of Malaysia’s largest music festival, Good Vibes Festival. The zine features interviews with local musicians, explorations of the evolution of physical spaces, and goes behind the scenes to reveal the creative inner workings of these musical communities.
IN
Sunita Soh, Editorial Writer for C27
THE
SUN:
A
SAFE
Throughout history, people have sought activities and spaces where they can foster a sense of belonging. This intrinsic desire for connection is apparent even in early civilisations, where people with shared values would gather for seasonal celebrations, religious ceremonies and communal gatherings.
SPACE
CULTURE
These events not only served as entertainment but also conveyed cultural values, history, and collective experiences, reinforcing a sense of shared identity.
& COMMUNITY
MUSIC
FESTIVALS
ISLAND
IN
THE
SUN:
A
SAFE
SPACE
CULTURE &
COMMUNITY
MUSIC
FESTIVALS
This essay appears in an upcoming zine produced in collaboration with Process Magazine, which centres around the creative processes involved in putting together the 10th Anniversary edition of Malaysia’s largest music festival, Good Vibes Festival. The zine features interviews with local musicians, explorations of the evolution of physical spaces, and goes behind the scenes to reveal the creative inner workings of these musical communities.
by Sunita Soh, Editorial Writer for C27
Throughout history, people have sought activities and spaces where they can foster a sense of belonging. This intrinsic desire for connection is apparent even in early civilisations, where people with shared values would gather for seasonal celebrations, religious ceremonies and communal gatherings. These events not only served as entertainment but also conveyed cultural values, history, and collective experiences, reinforcing a sense of shared identity.
2017: An attendee at Good Vibes Festival 2017 shows off his hairstyle. Source: All Is Amazing
Given this innate desire to connect, it is no surprise that people would gather together in celebration of their shared love for music, eventually giving rise to music festivals. These gatherings, which date back to ancient Greece, revolved heavily around culture and involved competitions in music, art and sports. The modern-day music festival, as we now know it, has origins from the legendary 1969 Woodstock Festival held in Bethel, New York. Taking place at the height of the counterculture movement, Woodstock promised “an Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music” and surpassed all expectations, earning its rightful place in history as the epitome of the music festival experience.
2018: An attendee at the 2018 edition of Good Vibes Festival poses for a picture. Source: All Is Amazing
2017: An attendee at Good Vibes Festival 2017 shows off his hairstyle. Source: All Is Amazing
2018: An attendee at the 2018 edition of Good Vibes Festival poses for a picture. Source: All Is Amazing
Given this innate desire to connect, it is no surprise that people would gather together in celebration of their shared love for music, eventually giving rise to music festivals. These gatherings, which date back to ancient Greece, revolved heavily around culture and involved competitions in music, art and sports. The modern-day music festival, as we now know it, has origins from the legendary 1969 Woodstock Festival held in Bethel, New York. Taking place at the height of the counterculture movement, Woodstock promised “an Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music” and surpassed all expectations, earning its rightful place in history as the epitome of the music festival experience.
2017: An attendee at Good Vibes Festival 2017 shows off his hairstyle. Source: All Is Amazing
2018: An attendee at the 2018 edition of Good Vibes Festival poses for a picture. Source: All Is Amazing
Given this innate desire to connect, it is no surprise that people would gather together in celebration of their shared love for music, eventually giving rise to music festivals. These gatherings, which date back to ancient Greece, revolved heavily around culture and involved competitions in music, art and sports. The modern-day music festival, as we now know it, has origins from the legendary 1969 Woodstock Festival held in Bethel, New York. Taking place at the height of the counterculture movement, Woodstock promised “an Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music” and surpassed all expectations, earning its rightful place in history as the epitome of the music festival experience.
2019: Glastonbury festival-goers proudly display their colourful outfits. Source: When I Grow Up
2019: Bonnaroo festival-goers make their way through the grounds. Source: Columbia Daily Herald
Woodstock ‘69 had a profound influence on the development and inspiration of numerous music festivals that followed. The Glastonbury Festival, which began in 1970, drew inspiration from the free-spirited and communal atmosphere of Woodstock. While it has since evolved into a diverse arts and music festival, its roots can be traced back to the ideals and ethos of Woodstock. Another example includes the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, which launched in 2002. It drew inspiration from Woodstock’s emphasis on a diverse lineup and a sense of community; and aimed to create a space where music, art, and culture converge.
Given that self-expression is a key element at music festivals, it is natural that festival outfits have become an integral part of the experience. They serve as a way for people to express their creativity, embrace their uniqueness, and foster a sense of belonging. From flower crowns and tie-dye t-shirts to body glitter, these physical elements convey the message, “I belong here too.” Other than that, festival outfits often serve as a collective effort to represent a movement. The flower-power fashion of Woodstock was an active rebellion against the “stifling uniformity” of the 1960s; while Doc Martens and oversized grungy t-shirts at Lollapalooza paid homage to the punk rock community that permeated the festival both on and off stage.
Many people can agree that music festivals often provide an escape from the constraints of everyday life. Within this environment, gender norms can be challenged without fear of repercussion, and outfits can be worn without the unnecessary burden of sexualization. Through their outfits, attendees can immerse themselves in a fantasy or alternate reality, transforming into a different persona or embracing a specific theme. There is an element of the carnivalesque, where the world turns “upside down,” playfully mocking social norms under the veil of fantasy, before the community eventually returns to normalcy after the festivities conclude.
It is precisely because the world within music festivals is presented as “upside down” that we can experience even an ounce of true belonging.It defies the pressures imposed by society and the world around us, allowing us to break free from the confines of homogeneity. In a time when safe spaces for non-conforming gender expressions are increasingly threatened, music festivals provide a sanctuary—a platform for individuals to assert, “I am here. I am me. I belong,” and truly mean it.
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