The music festival is king. From small local gatherings in a rented field to massive corporate- and state-sponsored extravaganzas that draw larger crowds than Woodstock ever did, music festivals have spread from their roots in the British rock and jazz scenes to become the preeminent way for people to listen to and engage with live music. As well as the traditional rock and jazz festivals, there are now electronic music festivals, hip-hop festivals, metal festivals, and numerous other varieties. Even as concert sales in smaller venues decline, festivals continue to expand their audiences and reach year after year, and the first few festival gigs can be make-or-break events for many new bands because of the festivals’
size and prestige.
