Last weekend, a festival was held near DC sponsored by sweetgreen, an eco-friendly restaurant that promotes healthy eating options. Green initiatives were promoted everywhere I turned, from kiosks to the on-foot orators perched on the walkways. It’s great to see products by companies that are conscious of the environment bringing their services to hundreds of people.
But really I was there for the music. My two favorite acts were slated to perform towards the end— Lupe Fiasco and The Strokes. I hold Lupe Fiasco to a higher standard than most hip-hop artists since his lyrics actually have a message. He demonstrates that he’s politically aware and bravely puts his opinions out there in the public, which is more than one can say about other artists who only sing/rap about superficial topics like money, cars, clothes and women as objects. On a completely different tune, The Strokes were the headlining band. They’re near the top of my list of best artists because their music fits one of my favorite themes- escapism. Everything about the music takes you to another time. The catchy beats of garage rock are reminiscent of the 1950’s and 60’s, and Julian Casablancas’ vocals are unique and represent real talent— way more than the mediocrity you hear on the radio. In general, the atmosphere of festivals has a 60’s feel to it, with hundreds of people coming together because of a common interest. It’s like living in a bubble for several hours, when everything else in your life stops and people simply enjoys live music together.
Even the trend of festival outfits hinted at escapism. Borrowing from the idea of Pow Wows, there was face paint and feathers everywhere, and it was completely OK. Fashion was inspired by other parts of the world as well, like zebra and leopard print from Africa and the South and Central American Ikat print. Overall, I was satisfied by the Sweetlife Festivals capacity to transport me somewhere else.
What about you? Are there particular events that take you to a place you want to be?
