Discovering New Bands & Music via Live Events
While there’s plenty of ways to find new bands and music online, live events are still a great option as well. It used to be on of the main ways music fans found out about new artists. With internet it’s super easy of course. But you should not underestimate live concerts and festivals, they can reveal amazing new bands to you.
Live music events like festivals, concerts and group tours are a great way to discover new bands, artists, and experience new genres of music. Local events can introduce you to fresh upcoming bands. And big festivals often feature hidden music gems.
I used to disregard live events a bit myself, if I am completely honest. But that changed after I attended a couple music fests that featured bands from other countries. Not only I was pleasantly surprised by the artists that I’ve never heard before. I also heard new genres, that I now enjoy and listen to regularly.
Local Music Events
Local music scene is where every big superstar starts their journey. So it’s definitely should not be discarded. It’s a great way to find new upcoming artists.
Just imagine if you could listen to live performances of young Freddie Mercury, Jim Morrison, Adele. If you could witness bands like Queen, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and others before they became music legends. They all started small first.
It’s actually amazing to see how new artists start and how they change over the years. The cool thing is that now you can even find videos and early recordings of some of the big names in local venues, or doing their first gigs.
Here, I’ll share one with you right now. You’ve heard about Katy Perry, right? A huge superstar, singer of such hits like: “I Kissed a Girl”, “Hot n Cold”,”Firework”, “Roar”. One of the best-selling music artists of all time, will hundreds of millions of YouTube views. But did you know that one of her first appearances was a song “Goodbye for Now” by metal band P.O.D. She did the background vocals for it and performed with them on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Check out the video from that time:
Also when you go to local concerts and see these upcoming bands you can often interact with them. And sometimes even hang out together, as they are way more approachable compared to when they get big. For example my friend was hanging out with SUM 41 whet they just started. Great memories for him.
But if you want to find bigger bands, consider annual fests.
Annual Music Festivals
There are plenty of big annual music festivals and tours. Some are well known within their home country. And some become so popular that they cross the country boarders and become truly international events. These are huge concerts that last for several days and feature multiple bands who perform through the day.
Iconic 1969 Woodstock Festival
Usually these events are built around a certain theme such as musical genre. So you have rock, blues, folk, jazz, classical music fests. But the style can be loose and the same event may feature different bands of various genres. You might have heard some the biggest ones. See if you recognize any of these.
Most Famous Music Fests:
- Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival – Held in Indio, California, Coachella is known for its eclectic lineup featuring top artists from various genres and its impressive art installations. It draws hundreds of thousands of attendees each year.
- Glastonbury Festival – This iconic festival takes place in Pilton, Somerset, England, and is one of the largest and most renowned music festivals in the world. Offers diverse lineup and the famous Pyramid Stage. Attracts over 200,000 attendees annually.
- Tomorrowland – Held in Boom, Belgium, Tomorrowland is one of the biggest electronic dance music festivals globally. It features elaborate stage designs and top EDM artists, attracting around 600,000 people each year.
- Rock in Rio – Originally held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Rock in Rio has expanded to other cities like Madrid, Lisbon, and Las Vegas. It is known for its massive attendance and diverse lineup, including rock, pop, and other genres.
- Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) – Taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada, EDC is a premier electronic dance music festival known for its impressive light shows, stages, and top-tier DJ performances. It attracts a large international crowd annually.
- Lollapalooza – Originally a touring festival in the United States, Lollapalooza now has permanent annual locations in Chicago and several other cities worldwide. It features a wide range of genres and has become a staple of the summer music festival scene.
- Summerfest – Held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Summerfest is one of the world’s largest music festival by attendance, with nearly a million fans over its 11-day run. It features multiple genres and stages.
- Sziget Festival – Located on an island in Budapest, Hungary, Sziget is one of Europe’s largest music and cultural festivals, attracting over half a million attendees. It features a wide range of music genres and cultural events.
- Donauinselfest – This music festival in Vienna, Austria, is the largest free European fest by attendance, drawing millions of people each year. Includes various genres and is held on the Danube Island.
- New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival – Known simply as Jazz Fest it features a mix of jazz, blues, gospel, and more. Hosts hundreds of thousands of music fans each year.
Needless to say these great music gatherings are a splendid source of new music experiences, new bands and a perfect opportunity to discover you new favorite artists. They feature dozens of performances and often invite rising stars who get their big break this way.
Usually there’s a main performance in a prime time. And before that other featured bands get the stage. This is a great chance to hear new music and have a good time. I highly recommend not to miss the opening bands and attend those openers.
Group Tours
Then there are also group tours. A wonderful way to discoverer a headlining band’s best hits and music. But that’s not the only thing you can enjoy. Usually a band goes on tour with other artists. Sometimes these are bands of a similar status. And sometimes these are several smaller groups that play their music before the main performance by the headliner.
Typically these supporting bands are from the same genre, or at least they have the same vibes. So if you are going to the concert of your favorite rock band, the supporting artists will also be playing rock. It’s a nice way to find similar music to what you already like.
Group tours go though cities of a given country on certain per-determined dates. So it’s convenient to book the tickets and plan you trip when you want to attend. And if the band is famous enough they can easily go on international tour, visiting multiple counties. These are huge events with amazing stages.
Here’s a couple of photos from such event, this is Pink Floyd concert:
And don’t forget that both festivals and tours present cool opportunities to socialize. You can go with friends or you can meet like-minded people during at the spot. You will have at least one thing in common – the type of music you enjoy. That’s a great start already.
Live Performances vs Studio Sound
Music fests and concerts are a fantastic way to enjoy new music because they combine the atmosphere and energy of social events with a distinctive live sound. If you listen to a studio version of the song and then hear the live version you will recognize how different they can be.
Some prefer a less polished sound of live performances. The way the singer and the band show their musical prowess, the energy they produce. The charm of potential imperfections compared to the polished studio recording.
Plus during the live shows a band can play their famous hits in a different style. This makes familiar songs almost unrecognizable. For example acoustic versions are a popular way to change an established track.
Also during live events bands can play songs that have not been released at all. They can be exclusive to live performances. Here’s an impressive example of a live recording done for MTV Unplugged in New York.
Nirvana – The Man Who Sold the World
Hearing the band live can introduce you to their side you might have never heard before and maybe never expected to. It can be a really pleasant discovery. And if you hear the band for the first time and love the sound, then 99% of the time you will love their studio sound as well.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a new music style to try, or a new band to check, vising live events is always a great idea. During concerts and festivals you will hear many established and aspiring artists. It a great way to discover new music and find new groups.
