Music festival tips: What my grandparents taught me about surviving the heat, queues and long days

The young crowd at Rhythm and Vines festival in Gisborne in 2024.

Long queues, testy weather conditions and rowdy young patrons – sometimes a modern music festival can unintentionally turn into an endurance exercise, even for those in their 20s. Lifestyle reporter Mitchell Hageman explains why young guns shouldn’t be afraid to not act their age and learn from those with more experience.

No matter how old or young you are, I’m a firm believer that a good live music event is a healer for the soul. But sometimes, perhaps inevitably, things go pear-shaped.

Over the holidays, in the stifling 36C Brisbane heat, I attended a music festival called Wildlands featuring DJ Dom Dolla, social media star-turned-singer Addison Rae and rapper Kid Cudi. It was probably one of the best and most well-run festivals I’ve ever been to, with a superb layout at Brisbane’s Showgrounds, plenty of shade and, most importantly, enough toilets.

I had a great time. But there were certainly other punters, particularly those in the 18-30 age range, who didn’t.

The med tent was giving away plasters like they were candy to cope with the demand for blistered feet, and the incredible Red Frog volunteers were working overtime to get water to those who couldn’t cope with the heat.

One guy climbed the sound pole, no doubt in order to rack up social media cred, and was quickly escorted out by security, and an age-old argument between a person who refused to stop filming with his phone and the people behind him who couldn’t see also erupted mid-Kid Cudi.

I looked at the parallel – my great time and their cruddy times – and realised that so many of those pain points could’ve been prevented with the simplest bit of planning or preparation. Instead of enjoying the music with their mates, those people were undertaking an endurance exercise.

I’ve attended a lot of live events as an entertainment journalist. And while I’m still in my 20s, the more seasoned I’ve become, the more I’ve realised something that might sound counter-intuitive: that taking a leaf out of our grandparents and parents’ books is one of the best things you’ll ever do.

With Laneway Festival taking over Auckland’s Western Springs tomorrow, it’s the perfect time to acknowledge some of the things us young folk might be doing wrong, and how older music fans can help us have fun.

Water, water and more water

So often, people go into an event with a “she’ll be right” attitude and do one of two things: Forget to drink water until it’s too late or (if they decide to have a tipple) don’t drink enough water to balance out the alcohol dehydration.

Most events clearly state on their terms and conditions that you can bring an empty water bottle in with you – so why not take up the offer and utilise the legally mandated water stations all around the place?

I didn’t for a long time and would end up forking out for a ridiculously over-priced bottle of water for the rest of the day. Seeing the barrage of reusable bottles taken in by the audience (and my older relatives) during both the Crowded House and Bruce Springsteen concerts convinced me otherwise, and I’ve never looked back.

Fans of Ed Sheeran raise their phones and cameras as he performs at Vector Arena, Auckland. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Be in the moment, not on your phone

I’m not saying don’t take the odd snap or quick video of your favourite song, but recording an entire concert can be the ultimate disruptor of fun. In their whole concert-going lives, my older relatives have never taken a video or photo of acts, and the joy on their faces and connection with their friends and family speak volumes. It’s also nicer for the artists, particularly those who cherish a connection with their audience instead of the clicks. Cherish being in the moment and enjoy the unexpected, rather than putting an elbow in someone’s face and staring at the action through a phone screen.

Plasters, panadol, perfume

Again, like the water conversation, this comes down to preparation. My older family members always pack a bag to the brim with supplies for all those niggly little concert inconveniences that could occur.

If you are walking and standing all day, blisters are highly likely, so plasters and pain relief never go amiss. This also helps relieve the stress of the First-Aid tent so they can attend to more immediate medical issues.

Also, in hot weather and crowded conditions for a long period of time, the reality is that people are going to smell. A small bottle of cologne, perfume or just a stick of deodorant can make it a much more pleasant experience for you and your fellow gig goers (just don’t spray too hard!).

Fans pull up a pew at the famous Mission Concert in Napier.

It’s okay to sit down

No one is forcing you to stand the whole day. While I always thought, as a young person, it was considered “uncool” to sit, it turns out that finding a spot in the shade or near the sound tent is the best way to conserve stamina. At events that allow, the older people in my life always bring a picnic blanket, and now I do the same. Not only do you keep your clothes clean, but you also conserve energy, which is key when some of the one-day festivals nowadays span more than 10 hours.

Just have fun

I’m of the firm belief that no one is too old to attend a festival.

While there’s always something you could have done differently or prepared for, my advice is simple: No matter what happens, keep a positive mindset, be in the moment and take care of yourself and your mates no matter what. It’s the best way to have a good time.

Mitchell Hageman joined the Herald’s entertainment and lifestyle team in 2024. He previously worked as a multimedia journalist for Hawke’s Bay Today.