Things At Metal Festivals That Suck

Heavy metal festivals are an amazing time and some of the most fun you'll ever have. But no matter how awesome it may be there are plenty of things about them that really suck. Here I go over all the things that can make metal festivals difficult.
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[@missilegirl77]

Thank you for speaking out about PFD. It’s an invisible illness but debilitating nonetheless.

[@dishwaser]

And is far from unique to metal festivals lol, any festie head gets it. On top of the FOMO from not being able to afford one cuz you went to another or whatever

[@Kimble81]

Usually listening to AFD cures my PFD

[@STR8L8CED]

What is pfd?

[@Scoutwalker96]

@@STR8L8CED jump to 11:05

[@STR8L8CED]

@@Scoutwalker96 ty 😜

[@FrankMontes24]

Post Festival Depression is very real. You get so used to an atmosphere for a few days that you don’t even think about the real world. Then it ends and you’re back working and only listening to music on headphones and maybe one or two good local shows every couple of months

[@adsadam1]

You get the same feeling even living in London and being able to go to gigs weekly. The atmosphere at a place like Download Festival was the best place I've ever seen, and that was my fifth one there.

[@TheBl4cKH4wK]

In our group we're also talking about it after nearly every festival. You've just been at a festival for about a week. There's always someone shouting "Slayer", some music playing or someone making dumb jokes. Now you're back home, just took a shower and smell like a normal human being, unpacked all your stuff and you're sitting on your bed. There's no one around, no shouting, no drinking, no music, just silence. No wonder it's depressing.

[@cesear123456]

Spot on 👍

[@rickwilliams967]

That has nothing to do with the festival, it's most certainly not a medical condition (as related to metal shows specifically), and it's completely because you were predisposed to certain types of depression. Don't blame the show, get some help.

[@willyklips7164]

​@@rickwilliams967 He's just saying they are fun bud no big deal.

[@Halofire]

This has already been slightly mentioned, but it deserves an additional point. If your favourite band is very popular you might not see many other bands the same day. Depending at what time they play. At least if you want to see them like in first few rows. This can be a big issue, if you don't want to get close to the pit you either have to stay behind or try to get as close to the stage as possible. And if you decide to get close to the stage you have to be there.... EARLY ; The bigger the festival the worse this gets.

[@erikwillems6466]

Front row... yes you have to be trying to get to the front several bands before they play. especially the bigger bands that play at the end of the day. In all other cases, I've never had much trouble just pushing walking up to the front. There is often plenty of room to stand in the middle of the pit.

[@hutzel5080]

I never had problems with that. Croudsurf to the front and duck yourself in so you fall through them and lnad somewere in the front.

[@redrob6026]

I've been to gigs and festivals for years, I'm now not so bothered about seeing my favourites up front, I just enjoy them from a distance. I've done my time in my teens camping front row, and now at 32 I'm happy to let the youngsters do it.

[@erikwillems6466]

@@redrob6026 I'm 51 and find myself more in the pit than the front row. :)

[@th3r4ndom_OG]

The trick is to use mosh pits and circle pits to get further to the front. Or try to crowd surf and cancel before reaching the very front.

[@bacongl]

I can't do it anymore. I am super tired of standing around all day, paying 12$ for a 12 ounce cup of trash beer, paying 20$ for half a hotdog and then getting told I cant bring water in with me. The greed has taken over. Im sick of it. Things used to be way better back in the day when I could bring a full days worth of food and drinks in with me and damn near camp there. Club shows only.

[@MrCmon113]

1) Smaller festivals. 2) Bring your own drugs / beer or buy them on the camp ground.

[@MVProfits]

Biggest peeve of mine too: the greed. It takes away from the overall camaraderie. At least, because of the "environment", we can now bring reusable bottles for water.

[@trailsdetails4061]

@@MrCmon113 100%. Go to smaller festivals, I went to the magic metal festival in denmark and it was a small-scale, more intimate festival with good music, good people, almost no lines at the bar and affordable prices.

[@UlyssesWachowski-lu2yk]

@@MrCmon113 or shit is getting darker and we should stop trying to find where the ice hasn’t broken, and instead throw a revolution

[@thekamikaze789]

smal to medium sized festivals are sooooo good. i will be in wacken this year too, but this is just every 3-4 years. see how it developed and enjoy the chaos. on the other hand: mise open air (

[@Elliesbow]

This is why I believe Vans Warped Tour was the most underrated cross country festival ever. I loved that it was only 1 day so I could go home shower and sleep in my own bed. It was smaller so you didn't have most of these problems. Bands would play for 20-30 min and do the best they could with the time they had on stage. RIP Warped Tour 1995-2019.

[@Elliesbow]

@@jamesk7179 not in the early 2000s

[@dfreeman13]

That was the best part.

[@WeWillAlwaysHaveVALIS]

​@@Elliesbowyeah it was, dumb poppy fest that I wouldn't even call a festival it's just a big tour.

[@deadmansfire]

Is that really a festival though? Or just one big gig

[@veronly2]

It sucks for the crew and stagehand to run it that tight though

[@WeinyXD]

While all of this is true, there's a lot of smaller festivals where you won't really have most of these problems. At least not on the same scale. Well, apart from the weather of course... and the post festival depression. What I'm trying to say is, If you're not sold on going to the big festivals because of any of his points, give those smaller festivals a chance. It'll be way less stressful and still be a great time seeing bands and meeting fellow metalheads.

[@thedarkmittetoast7967]

I have a metal background, but turned to electronic music (drakpsytrance), never go to metal festival (i live near Hellfest) . The biggest trance fest I have done is Boom Festival, in Portugal ... too much people, and all the things in this vids apply to "electronic" music festival too, all exact the same ... the only thing that change is music. Since then, I prefer going in a small party, with local artist, and good surprise can happen musically , it's more friendly, all the good without less bad things

[@B4MBI72]

@@thedarkmittetoast7967 a person after my own heart. Teenage and early 20's deeply into metal, then found the rave scene in the early 90s. Different music genre, same passion, energy and love from the fans. Smaller festivals and events are much more fun, much more freedom less security guards, and probably less trouble from arseholes too. You will always get dicks that cant handle their drink or drugs and want a fight, but its far less common at smaller events.

[@brad2299]

Totally agree. I've gone to (and played) smaller festivals for years and I've had just as much fun without all the horror stories I hear from people who go to major festivals.

[@alexdoorn234]

I know this really cheap and relatively small festival that gets organised near where I live. It was only one day and I had the time of my live. The price was cheap enough that you could go for just one band but I decided to check out a few bands that sounded interesting. I stood in the front for one band just to be in the front for my favorite band. Almost all of the stages were in tents so I did not even notice that it had rained. I would love to go to a bigger festival but only if bands I really want to see go there.

[@thedarkmittetoast7967]

@Hellequin Maskharat yes sure, agree on that point, but I have half of my friends who are going to " electronic" festival are metal heads too, I never go to open air metal fest, but I just can't believe that some stuffs are not roaming around. Drugs are always part of any kind of fest, and will always be, kind of sad, but it's true. Smaller festival, metal or electro are better choices (at least for me). If someone tells me that there is NO drugs at metal fest, I will says he's an hypocrit.

[@arnewoodman]

I have often thought of writing a parody about classical music being played in the sort of conditions metal bands (and fans) routinely endure. Glyndebourne would be the nearest they get - or the occasional classical music in a London park. Women in evening dresses and heels struggling through mud, men in suits shivering and sheltering under flimsy pieces of polythene, queuing for overflowing toilets, offered junk food at outrageous prices, bands facing incoming weather - the brass section being most worried about lightning as they are holding big lumps of metal) etc etc. But no, of course they tend to get purpose built halls and big subsidies.

[@kimberleyrae1922]

You're describing my dream, I love the Download Festival but have always fantasised about a surprise performance orchestrated by the John Williams orchestra. Would work for us sci-fi nerds and I'd cry like a baby 😄

[@brutalairwaves]

i don't think the people who own hundreds of year old purpose built halls would appreciate walls of death and the use of pyro

[@arnewoodman]

@@brutalairwaves Haha maybe not. What I was getting at is there's no purpose built rock venues, they are all exhibition halls (O2) or sports arenas (Wembley), conference centres, theatres or classical venues. Or just muddy fields!

[@thoughtengine]

@@arnewoodman Or the beer garden of a pub...

[@TheEjuMas]

you might wanna check out "Wendi's Böhmischer Blasmusik" at the Nova Rock festival in Austria. This is a brass band playing traditional brass music from the Alps. They play on the very last day as the first act so everyone in that crowd is completetly done. Hardest pit I've ever been to.

[@Mr-Foad]

This brought back fond memories of hellfest, I coped well, the main difficulty for me was HEAT and standing so long ... I recommend - Dry clothes for sleeping only (it gets cold and damp at night) - Lots of socks - cant bring too many socks ! - A compact rain coat (this really saved me!) - A camping chair (that wont break easily!) - Plan in advance for the PFD !

[@jackkelly417]

I played Hellfest last year and when we took the stage, it was 108F. It was hard enough for us to play, I have no idea how those kids could jump around and mosh in that.

[@Roanmonster]

And if you're with a group, a party tent really is a life saver at the camping site, both for sunny and rainy days

[@hevado01]

And afterwards, evaluate your packing list including do’s and don’ts to improve every edition

[@flavio5046]

Noted

[@Arthurian.]

​@@jackkelly417 i had no idea it got that hot in.... Germany? I can't remember where hellfest is.

[@AkanePadfootToshi]

I am a young woman of a very small height and for me the biggest problem is drunk men trying to take advantage of me. If I actually want to SEE the bands, I have to stand in the first row and there is almost always a drunk dude who physically “removes” me from there, hangs his hands over me to hold the fence or hurts me this or that way. And trust me, I know when it’s a typical festival situation where people push each other vs. when it can be completely avoided even in the worst crowd. Like if I’m keeping a significant distance from a moshpit, why would you want to grab me and throw me there? These kind of things unfortunately can ruin the entire festival experience for me.

[@Vixen1525]

In general drunk people are very dangerous. I just hate to get such experiences too on the streets also, not even on festivals.

[@survivor303]

Are you now talking what kind of festivals?

[@MADDRUMMER128]

Just to give some context: I’m currently a drummer in a death metal/core band in Myrtle Beach, Visions Of Brutality. I have never been to an outdoor festival, but I feel like if I were to go I would just try to embrace the suck. Whatever discomforts I’ll have I’ll probably have to get used to it cause I’m here to experience different things I never have before. I’ve been a metal head for all my 23 years of living but I’m still getting used to being around drunk people at shows lol. This looks and sounds like it really is a separation and break from the normal everyday life. I will go to one someday at least once… I hope. Stay metal to all 🤘🏻💀🤘🏻

[@1337skillzor]

do it. as a metalhead it feels like coming home everytime I do a 3-4 day festival. been doing it for over 15years now

[@annihilation777]

death metal/core HAHAHA

[@JokerInk-CustomBuilds]

I am 41 and spent the last 2,5 decade going to concerts and festivals... I got more than 200 days of experience being shitfaced at open air metal festivals... Trust me it is a freekin hard grind but it is so rewarding. You suffer with friends and laugh so much everything hurts. And nothing is set in stone! Some of the best memories of my life! -One time I was invited on stage during a Five Finger Death Punch concert!! -Just because I randomely met and made friends with one of the bandmembers GF, sadly my buddy who was there mistakingly drank one of the bandmembers water and he got thrown back out in public.... I managed to hide backstage though, so I spent the next couple of hours exploring the back stage and vip areas before I walked back out! LOL I keep returning to those weeklong festivals because it feels like an alternate reality. One I have been to for 23 consequtive years... Everyone is outgoing and friendly and there to have fun. Nothing like everyday life! And the music in open air is gorgeous compared to any stadium or arena! oh boy!!

[@tomsnowden6201]

It’s the last thing from a break from normal life buddy. It’s a direct confrontation with the worst aspects of it except you’re paying stupid amounts for it.

[@stephenandrew6087]

Love this. I’m older now but you’ve done a great job capturing the realities of metal festival. Sincerely, old metal head.

[@B4MBI72]

With age comes wisdom, and the desire for a comfy bed 🙂

[@ausnahmenwerfer5570]

3:36 You know what? Unless you've got a really sturdy tent with a thick outer, don't get a lock for it. They'll not only steal your stuff, but also slice your tent open, which sucks even more.

[@isabelaeyris6932]

Damn, PFD is brutal. I remember when my favorite band had a tour in Germany, and even though I'm not German, I bought tickets for several shows instead of one to prolong my positive experience and beat PFD. The effect was even worse, it was the worst PFD of my life when it was all over.

[@thekamikaze789]

hooked on concerts/festivals for 2-3 weeks? pfd would kill me just as it did to you

[@1980extremeG]

All good points. The biggest issue for me you mentioned is there are too many bands at festivals these days. This may sound odd but it's a big deal for me, with 5 stages playing simultaneously you're going to miss 80% of the festival anyway!

[@ct5625]

No one goes to a festival expecting to see every band on the bill. Most people probably only see 20-30 bands over a 3 day fest, and that more than justifies the cost. Most also go for the social aspects too, meeting up with friends, finding new ones. You're missing out if you decide not to go because you can't teleport from one stage to the other and watch every single band.

[@1980extremeG]

@@ct5625 Fair point. I have been to 5 festivals in my lifetime; 2x 3 day weekend festivals (Download twice) and 3x single day festivals (Ozzfest, Distortion). I loved them all but I found the single day festivals better because they had 10-15 bands playing sequentially where you got to see every band 100%, no stage time clashes to worry about. Also they were all top tier bands so no filler (there are some filler bands at big weekend festivals, a fair amount of crap bands that won't interest you). Also if the weather is bad then you know that you haven't got to sleep through it (no matter what everyone says, weather governs a festivals atmosphere). 3 days festivals are more of an endurance experience but the reality is you lose focus a bit on the final day because of fatigue etc. I know people that just go to watch the headliners on a 3 day fest and stay in the campsite for the rest of the time, which seems wasteful to me!

[@rodbelding9523]

My one buddy keeps trying to get me to go to festivals with him and I keep politely declining, and this video sums up why. I know my limits and I would just be miserable if I went.

[@jackinthebox1817]

This is highly exaggerated, and 95% about complaining about many people and waiting. That's how good they are, it's not possible to have a good festival without lots of people, it's the best part. If these are problems for him, better stay away from electronic ones lol. I agree about the rain, though.

[@patrickwilliamson29]

@@jackinthebox1817 Not really, I've been to a lot of festivals in my life and while I did enjoy them at the beginning, once I looked at them objectively realised they're not all they're cracked up to be. The points here are pretty valid and though most people are friendly, the idiots stand out, especially when they're drunk. I'd rather pay more to see a specific band in an air conditioned venue than have to wait for hours in the sun holding rapidly warming beers in both hands (which you overpaid for and get knocked over by some overly drunk dickhead) for a band which has heaps of technical problems and only plays half a full set. The live sounds usually sounds like shit too because fields with other loud noises are usually not the best place for amazing live music. I'm not trying to be a hater, been to many festivals when I was younger and loved many of them but in recent experience I found that if I look objectively they definitely don't have rose cloloured glasses

[@josephfrechette9916]

The closet I came to a metal festival was a super long concert with every band using the same stage. I got a reserved seat so it was the best of both worlds.

[@erikstorm8935]

Just go to smaller festivals, especially those within walking distance of your hotel. I had great times at Blastfest and Steelfest a few years ago. Blastfest was especially easy because its inside a city (Bergen, Norway). Was so easy to find accommodation. Although even the hostel I stayed at wasn't cheap lol.

[@ct5625]

You might experience one or two of these potential aspects of a festival if you went, so not going because of all these potential bad things means you're missing out on all the great things that you'll never experience. Believe me, the good vastly outweighs the bad. It's like saying you'll never go to see a live band play in a theater because you might have to get through traffic or there might be a queue for the restroom. They're minor inconveniences in comparison to spending a weekend, or a week, in a field with thousands of like-minded people having a thoroughly great time.

[@aaronbaertsch9269]

I have worked in the punk & metal music industry for 30 years and this is spot on.

[@PikkaBird]

Interesting that you have the dust and the toilet situation right after each other in this list, because sometimes they overlap. The porta-potties may overflow or spring a leak, and there's just too many dudes pissing up against the fences so it gets absorbed into the dirt which then dries up fully and gets kicked up and blown around. There's LOTS of unsavory stuff in that dust, just so you know. Also, the Randy shirt at 10:47 rules!

[@wyattsmetal]

.....I never thought of that before and now you've scarred me for life...

[@Karldin83]

Yup, there's a reason the dust and mud smell and bad as they do. Last few years I went to Wacken I camped in a Toyota Hiace. Was so much better than the tent

[@ct5625]

Thanks for this, I hate it.

[@NathanDahlvik]

Life Hack: Support more mid level and local bands. Couple hundred people at the show max and you can usually meet the bands (Almost 100% success rate if you bring a joint to smoke with said bands). I like plenty of pop metal bands but massive shows are needlessly expensive and horridly overcrowded. Mid level shows are usually less than $50 and those bands desperately need the ticket/merch sales

[@GhoulVoon]

Man, PFD occurs even after working as a volunteer on festivals that doesn't even really have anything to do with metal. Having worked at the Kongsberg Jazzfestival for 10 days straight 2 years in a row, our freakshow group of weird workaholics that drink every night feels like a family and after the festival ends, being home alone, not dressed in working pants or skirts, metal tip shoes etc, it's just the best time. Actually slightly better than being at a festival. Kaos 🤘

[@BigBass-xf5yi]

Sadly, my rock/metal fest days ended over a decade ago when I hit 40. Too much chaos. And even then, we got smart and rented our own shuttle service. Still chaotic, but it cut down a lot on the wait time. Gave on tenting up at these events after 3 summers. Just got a bunch of rooms close by so we could take a real shower and normal crap. Lol

[@ct5625]

I'm 46 this year, I do Download every summer and have since 2005. My sis turns 50 soon, she's been going since 2011. I think you've just been doing festivals wrong if you're worn out at 40 lol

[@wutang2530]

I can only deal with small festivals. Like I went to the first Quebec Deathfest and it was an awesome experience. Everything was inside at 3 different venues so you could actually see the bands and get close without needing to stand there all day + no weather concerns, the lines were never too long, and you’d just go home and come back the next day. Also since you were walking between 3 different venues in the middle of Montreal you could easily walk over to a McDonalds or something and get a meal.

[@angry_mouse]

I suffered from demophobia my whole life. Not at a paralyzing level, but I can't be in a crowd for long before getting agitated. To me, metal is everything, but I wouldn't attend a Festival not even to save my life 🤘

[@midnightkitty8172]

I took my daughter to the most tame concert ever: Amon Amarth at a tiny 'Cultural Centre'. We stood against the back wall where all the bass is, and really enjoyed it.

[@daisysunshine1324]

Similar xp. I took my son and a friend to see BfmV, Coldrain & While she Sleeps at a small local Theater. Only a couple hundred people, balcony area for those of us who are not able to do mosh pits anymore, 5 mins at most in merch queue, bands were happy to have selfies. And only cost £22 each. It was a freaking fabulous night. I would absolutely love to see Amon Amarth & so many other bands in a small setting like this. Iron Maiden gigs cost as much as a ticket to Download. It’s got ridiculous.

[@midnightkitty8172]

@@daisysunshine1324 I was completely unaware of the value of tour merch, otherwise I would have bought a hoodie *( With Oden On Our Side hoodie ) but didn't know how much these things are actually worth ... * the show was awesome BTW. Years later, I went to camp out with my gf at a BTS concert. I stood in the merch line at 2AM and waited about 5 hours. By that time, the hoodies had sold out and she had to settle for shirts and stuff. You're right about the cost of tickets; Ticketmaster is the only way, and that system has bots that buy up entire rows in seconds, leaving us with less than stellar seats. TBH our seats at BTS sucked but we wandered down to a better spot and stayed there for the rest of the show.

[@DarkestSecrets1]

I've been to countless (metal) festivals since I started in 2015. Had a few of these sort of happen a bunch of times. Last year when traveling to Metaldays, on the bus ride there we had some drunk dude wanting to fight the bus driver. He punched him a broken nose. We were not even halfway through the 12h trip and we had to wait for the company to send a new busdriver to our location. When I was at Metaldays one of the nights my whole group got their cash stolen from our wallets while we were asleep. Nobody noticed a thing! Woke up with my wallet gone from under the pillow next to me and it was at my feet, open... Also had my whole tent collapsing and breaking during a rainstorm. Literally had no dry clothes left for the last 2 days. Not even a dry towel or underwear. Oh well, those things can happen. Looking forward to going to both Graspop and Metaldays this year again!

[@Frank_Rizzo]

Countless? From only 2015? Something tells me you’re lying and it’s only 20 or under. I’d bet on 12

[@OnPointFirearms]

Countless times in under a decade. Classic hyperbole.

[@B4MBI72]

@@OnPointFirearms Thats 8 years, I would have lost count of the raves I went to from 89 to 97, hell I would have lost count from 89 to 93 ;-)

[@OnPointFirearms]

@@B4MBI72 no doubt. Raves are not unlike shows: countless. He's saying "metal festivals." Full on genre specific festivals-- multi day, large scale events. I can count those experiences using both hands and I'm 43. Half of those were warped tours back when those were cool.

[@user-tl7mj2bm4m]

A real group of fans would have taken the dude who punched the driver, cut him up, and ate him after grilling him at the festival. Just saying......some precedents HAVE to be set. Rule #1 - NO one TOUCHES the bus driver.

[@nathandean4412]

What a fun, funny, informative, well made video. Exactly what yt is for As somebody who isn't much into the genre and would likely never attend a festival, you really allowed me to expand my horizons and enjoy one vicariously! Your easygoing manner, great writing and presentation, and editing made it really come alive, thanks I can see why people would be into it ❤🤘🏻

[@Spivonious]

Went to my first festival last year (Wacken Open Air). Ended up going home after 2 days because it was so completely draining. I figured some late nights, but I did not expect people to never sleep.

[@popularmisconception1]

some people usually sleep. just not all of them. the sleeping patterns get somewhat randomized.

[@monsterschrat]

I'm 45 now and 22 was my 13th Wacken. As always: wednesday till sunday.... 😂 You just need to embrace your inner wreck at day one and try to maintain this state of mind (and intoxication) throughout the festival! (but recovering from takes half a day longer each year. Meanwhile, I need about a week 😉)

[@elwolf8536]

Lightweight!!! 😂😂😂

[@Leonardo01569]

Arrive EARLY, stay in the second or third row, stay in your place, eat and drink what's with you, don't overdo it so you don't have to go to the bathroom. You have to choose between watching the show or enjoying the other attractions of the event.

[@panamatimdawson]

Awesome bit of work. I've been around a lot of festivals for years (mostly dance ones admitedly), and you have got it nailed. As someone else below said, the smaller events get around some of these problems, but then the smaller events don't have the superstars! PFD got me on a roller-coaster for years - got me back there now too a little bit.

[@danielpolsinger7565]

Hello! I am from Austria and I really like your channel. I attend the Brutal Assault festival every year. It's the best festival if you like extreme metal and it's organised perfectly. I can strongly recommend going to Brutal Assault. It's also still way cheaper then festivals in France or Belgium and it's really familiar. Cannot recommend it enough!

[@susanrowan3622]

Surprising advice - marathon training, volcanos, and PFD. 🤘🏻 a true metal head created this video!

[@underground868]

I had a blast at Inkcarention 2021 but it had some serious issues. The worst being that on the first day of the weekend they had ZERO public drinking water. This combined with it being hot that while my friends and I were waiting in line for merch someone had passed out nearby from dehydration and heatstroke, and had to carried out by paramedics.

[@heavymetalhq6908]

🤘Great video! I’m not a festival person and actually a retired gig goer but I can see the appeal of a metal festival. Post festival depression is kinda what I feel after a decent day off from work or weekend knowing I have to return to my day job soon after 😔

[@Contraddiction]

Getting ready for Sick New World in three days. Thank you for putting together this valuable video. Especially the PFD awareness. I'll be less confused about why my regular Major Depressive Disorder is acting up.

[@Sushfoo]

The heat and the lines were insane when I went to a music festival last year. Like he said in the video, it felt like I was in line more than actually listening to the bands. But just being able to see my favorite bands was worth it!

[@BarekHalfhand]

I have graduated to smaller venues... But I can remember when ozzfest, Woodstock 94, greatful dead weekends, early Lollapaloozas where kind of like this ... Being a devout metalhead I wouldn't mind checking out Wacken but this video has kind of changed my mind... I do remember people literally dropping from exhaustion especially at Woodstock 94.

[@1980extremeG]

Agree. I haven't been to a festival since 2010, I prefer gigs these days. I'm getting too old for a 3 day festival (I'm 44) for basically the reasons you mentioned. I remember Download 2006 was insanely hot and by the Sunday I was seriously lagging, seeing bands becomes less of a priority if you're badly fatigued. I would consider a single day ticket only, not a full weekend. Gigs are better because you're more focused during an evening with no weather to worry about!

[@MrSoupsnake]

I didn't watch this video for knowledge...I watched it to reminisce. Festivals are so awesome, that I even cherish the bad memories. Oh, and PFD is very, very real. Well done video!

[@blind8478]

yyyyyyup. I experienced everything you mentioned except the thievery part. And yet I'm sitting here being so f**ing down for M'era Luna and Summer Breeze this year

[@KillbotAndGorGorAttack]

My thing is that the bands sometimes give rushed performances because they know there are a dozen bands in front of them. Seeing them on their own? They’ll take their time and not perform as urgently.

[@wyattsmetal]

That's definitely true, unless the band is headlining they'll probably play about 35 mins

[@lemsip207]

Any music festival really. There's footage of the Cure being urged to hurry up with their last song of the set as they were penultimate band that evening but The Forest is a very long song, and they didn't want to reduce the length of it to three to four minutes.

[@WillemLeijssen]

Your videos give me PFN, pre festival nervousness. So looking forward to Graspop! 🤘

[@JacksonSadinsky]

Awesome video, lmao the DUST is so real. I'll never forget how bad Carolina rebellion 2014 was in that cloud lol. Thanks for the chuckles, got a sub. Also; the shuttle busses TO the fest in the morning are sometimes unreliable - to the point where you could miss an early afternoon set. This fear has always kept me camping at campgrounds, always a fun option.

[@hazegazer4610]

All of these are 100 % true. Also don't forget, the first rays of sunshine in the year make you long incredibly for festivals. Too bad most of the time... it's still 6 months away...

[@kingdong311]

Go to the festival weeks ahead of time. Bury your whiskey, weed, lighters and papers at an open location. Come loaded ahead of time and don't forget the jug of water. Drop in a airtag if possible

[@wyattsmetal]

This man is smart and you should all listen to him

[@danmathison2654]

Thanks for the heads up... I'm going to Rockville in May so I appreciate the info

[@Misanthrope84]

Awesome work buddy. Really enjoyed that one.

[@BazzyFreshMusic]

"you're confused as no one around you is drunkenly screaming Slayer" so relatable. At Bonnaroo, after the Slayer set, I ended up at a DJ set and people really did not like my vibe of drunkenly screaming slayer......

[@erikstorm8935]

Maybe they thought you said "slay her" and were understandably very concerned lol.

[@oliwiaafeltowicz7557]

And of course great video 🤘 PFD is a serious condition, I usually try to plan some gig, even if just an evening concert, in 2-4 weeks after the festival - it creates for me transition period to regular world 😅

[@mickhoutveen4601]

This video took me back to my early 20's doing Graspop a couple of years, all full weekends of course. Never in my life have I been so tired and wasted :D From trying to find friends after arriving at the campsite, moving fully set up tents from one campsite to the other, handing out cigars to total random strangers, calling everyone by the same name as though we know them personally, using cheap-ass bbq's to grill some meat and sleeping in the cold nights and even straight out burning cheap one time use tents at the end of it all because we couldn't be bother hauling it back home using public transport. Man those are memories I cherish even almost 20 years later. Love this video!

[@chandler4301]

The accuracy is astoundingly on point.

[@EliteAgent51]

Dude really loving your channel! Love seeing some high quality and informative content from a new creator!

[@wyattsmetal]

I appreciate that thank you!

[@nootkpr]

A couple tips from someone who's been festivalling for the last 10 years. >Air beds are underrated. The quality of life upgrade from the tent floor or even a sleeping mat is incredible and much needed if you intend to remain at full headbanging capacity into the Sunday >Bin bags. Also known as ponchos, muddy seating areas, laundry bags, waterproof protection. Bring lots. >Get a tent with a porch. There's a technique scientists use when working in clean rooms that you will move from a black room, to a grey room, to the clean room. the porch is your grey room. Especially if you suffer from hayfever, keep your pollen laden clothes outside of your sleeping area, and in the grey room. >Do NOT put a visible lock on your tent. This is an advertisement that you may have something valuable. Someone who has no qualms taking your nice lil Bose speaker also will not have qualms in slashing your tent in order to get to it.

[@bizzhat]

emphasis on those air beds - if your tent gets flooded, it wont be all that bad. also; one layered tents are absolute shit. dont!

[@richiehoyt8487]

Good point about the padlock. Having worked at a backpackers campsite, I can attest to this. A padlock _might_ be worth considering to keep thieves from rifling through your 'sh1+' (never underestimate what people are willing to steal in some of these places, people will _literally_ steal your used toothbrush and jocks, I know this for a fact!) but the risk is that, as the O/C said, a padlock can be as much of a draw as it is a deterrent, and leaving aside the fact that you'd hardly have to be the Lock~picking Lawyer to open the vast majority of them, any jackass who owns a penknife has the key to your tent, anyway. When it comes to your valuables, at festivals you want to keep I/D, cash, phone, meds, etc. _on you_ the whole time, while being cognisant of the certainty that the crowd will be full of pickpockets; if using a daypack, a lock _might_ be worth considering here to frustrate people sneakily opening zips, fastenings etc - but don't _count_ on one! Getting back to the tent, bringing something like an i~pad to a festival has 'bad idea' written all over it anyway, imo; not wanting to be mean, but if you leave something like that in your tent, Hell, you're just _asking_ to be robbed - and that's not even counting vandalism, the kind of fools that will _dance_ on your tent just for 'lols'. I shouldn't think Sheol is going to have much in the way of Wi~Fi and 5G infrastructure, dial up modems probably being the norm, so you might as well acclimatize now and leave that sh1+ at home! At an actual tourist~y type campsite, you probably _will_ have the option of leaving your valuables for safe - keeping at reception, and this is almost certainly a better option than a locker (let alone the _sacks_ that my workplace employed for this purpose), and obviously a better choice than your tent, but bear in mind that (particularly) in the more understaffed, low~end type of joints, you could still be taking a chance... I remember one place where following a staff party, the night - manager had fallen asleep, drunk, sprawled across the reception desk (which, amongst other things, was full of campers' passports!) with the keys to the whole place loosely dangling from his hand, like the sheriff's gormless deputy in a comedy Western!

[@vindictivevox]

Very accurate video!! Well done 🤘🏽 Bonus points for spotting my face in this lmao

[@photobearcmh]

Good job dude! Damn, Now I'm really pumped for the next one.

[@RDS-3]

Idk for me personally what sucks is that I forget like most of the actual song experiences that happened at the concert. (and no I do not drink) The only way I can remember was when it is recorded.

[@teewhy6994]

Honestly, I can't think of a worst place to see a metal band than an outdoor festival.

[@OtwanD]

I realize how lucky i am now to attend small festivals close to where i live and have plenty of venues with sick line up throughout the year and many small local bands to support. So i don't have to stand this nightmare anymore. Cool video that reminds me good memories when i was younger, when bands play an hour minimum with gaps between the next one

[@Vasilis_Metalhead]

The PFD announcement at at the end had me ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!! Priceless!

[@patrickwilliamson29]

I've always hated festivals for a lot of the reasons you mentioned, but the main reason is that I rarely if ever get to see my favourite bands without them being a tiny speck or missing 5 other bands so I can see one properly. A lot of band's live shows usually suck during the day because you can't see their lights well and all the "big" bands (which are generally old and overated metal bands) play at night and are impossible to see (refer previous point). Being from Australia I was always disappointed to see my favourite bands on festival tours because I knew it wouldn't be their full set, they would play only the really popular songs and I likely wouldn't see them for a long time because it's soo expensive for bands to go there. Not to mention all the points you brought up and the cost. It's honestly not worth it for me and would rather see the band specifically live and buy merch then

[@ALL_that_ENDS]

The one thing I took away from this, that's been bothering me the most.. Who did you go see? Gojira or King?

[@nolesy34]

Goja cat king

[@azazelreficulmefistofelicu7158]

PFD is devastating, although I've never been to a huge festival, I need regular sessions with my support group, we all drown our pain in alcohol while deafening screams from hell sooth our mourning souls, another day at the pub keeps me alive till the next gig. I'm lucky.

[@brosephbroheim6428]

Most of the festivals I've gone to were only for the day but some individuals are more sensitive to developing PFD. Thank you for speaking out.

[@GiroChase]

THE SMELL…unforgettable 🥴🤢😅

[@oopsydaizi3s824]

Yes! I can’t forget that smell

[@buffshepherd1540]

I've been to music festivals most years from the age of 12 to my current 29 years. My teens were the big British festivals seeing all the big famous bands, then my early 20s were small boutique festivals seeing all the new emerging bands, and for the last few years I've been going to posh festivals with champagne and tuxedoes. Quite the evolution.

[@schwermetall666]

Gotta agree with you on this one. PFD is a real thing when your sleep schedule is still out of whack and you just came back from spening all your endorphins and dopamine like a lawn sprinkler during the days prior to doing your chores again, probably prioritizing the laundry. My advice for dealing with the near-constant waiting is thinking ahead and finding stuff you wanna do in the inevitable downtimes before you're there, standing in a dusty or muddy field. Bring games, seek out cool activities or make them up, get to know people over a beverage.

[@erikstorm8935]

And being around normal people again? Eww.

[@NoName-je8cb]

9:11 you really got me. Thought I had a piece of hair on my screen

[@lukwiththemissinge6522]

Hi I'm a guy from Germany and haven't visited many Festivals yet. But there is one I like the most of all. It's called "Festival Mediaval" and one of the gratest experiences I've ever had. It's really tiny and happens in September in south-Germany. Last year they had Rock and Metal special and this year the theme is "Folk of the world". I loved this one so much and had the most fun in my live with my friend there. Maybe you could mention this one in one of your next vid's. It's one of these underground festivals witch are really really cool so maybe it's an idea for one of your next videos.

[@GorlysDIYStuff]

Welcome to the Mediaval Family :)

[@Yourname942]

The first concert I ever went to: Ozzfest, and it was hot/sunny/ I was dehydrated/ I barely drank around that time so I got super drunk during the tailgating, and when it was time to head in the gate, I had to sit down for a bit between some cars.. then I woke up hours later in a hospital. I felt so bad for making my older brother and his friends miss the concert because I was being a dumbass.

[@isaacjamesbaker]

Fun video! Huge metalhead and backpacker/climber and love fests and sleeping outside but the idea of tent camping at one of these fests as pictured fills me anxiety 😂

[@hevado01]

Just make sure you’re early enough to not find only the lower areas (that WILL flood!) having free spots, and always prefer a better tent spot over a shorter walk to the entrance

[@jillhurst7390]

Yep I was not prepared for all the standing and waiting for merch! And the MUD LOL

[@agro7673]

Seeing my Ex gf at metal festival sucks the most

[@Kanoly]

Or going to see a band you haven't seen in years, and its just like no original members.

[@zippymufo9765]

4:50 is a huge problem at Hellfest. If you stay until the very end of the last band, it can take hours before you get a shuttle back to your hotel. The way to go is rent a campervan and find a local private property to park at, many of them serve breakfast and drive people to the fest.

[@missrachael1709]

Awesome vid thank you. And you sound like a nice dude but it sounds to me like you're not getting what I generally expect to at festivals which is a joyful shared, not selfish, experience with members of my own species. I attend mainly smaller alt-music festivals in Australia where standing in line is where you may meet your next best friend, either for the next 5 mins, or life, or where during that walk to a stage you are spontaneously offered a refreshment by a smiling complete stranger who becomes another friend.....that's my sort of festival.

[@left4cash]

No offense, but that sounds like the female experience. I noticed that when going out with my niece and her friend that the night life was way different from being with just dudes. People are more friendly and open in general to females.

[@FreakOnFrets]

Also one thing that I noticed for myself after a festival is over is the "resocialization" or "social rehabilitation" or "reintegration into society". While at a festival no one gives a shit if youdrop an empty beer can wherever you are standing or if you burp and fart loudly all over the place, people certainly will if you come back into society (and I have definitely caught myself doing that after a festival). That's why I like tot take a day or two off after a festival to readjust to living among people.

[@Naznurable]

So true. We went to a McDonalds on the car trip back home and got kicked our because one of our guys "cleaned" the table after we were done. He just threw everything on the ground with a swip. Other metalheads found it funny as hell, employs not so much

[@daviddorantes4292]

That’s just being disgusting. Imagine having to take some days to “recover” and become a decent person again.

[@stijnvanderveken]

yeah ... and I still don't care what they think about it 😅

[@MrCmon113]

@@Naznurable Never seen anyone behaving like that at a festival.

[@IsomerSoma]

​@@Naznurable That's just dick behavior.

[@capoa666]

festivals suck, i prefer a smaller underground unknow band in a very small place betwen 100 to 200 people . thats my opinion.

[@tommymaier3017]

yep 100%

[@tommymaier3017]

going to see Elder next wednesday, can't wait

[@capoa666]

Last gig i went it was exploited 10 years ago.

[@hevado01]

There are festivals for that!

[@firebirdlover4460]

Ozzfest and Knotfest concerts in San Bernardino were always fun, but that hike back to the parking lot or, even worse, to the street where you ride picks you up was a miles long dredge after a full day..

[@justinking3127]

I can’t wait to go to one one day. I’ve been to the traveling one day festivals like warped tour, mayhem fest, and so on, but haven’t been to a multi day festival yet

[@bizzhat]

lots of things to learn & take note of.. but the outcome is absolutely magical. I highly urge you to try before you get too mature and responsible ^^

[@thore591]

Sorry aber für genau die scheiße ge ich auf Festivals😂 scheiß auf Matsch oder geld oder stehen oder lange schlagen.... Die Stimmung muss gut sein und die Musik den Rest spürt man dan spätestens nach dem 10bier nicht mehr 😂🤘

[@MrCmon113]

Amen.

[@akimboyojimbo6614]

Still have PFD from last year at blue ridge. Good thing we got our tickets and tent spot for this years!

[@brutalitymentality2794]

sweet, spotted my tent in one of the graspop clips, good times.

[@LetsgoJags]

Welcome to Rocville was amazing when it comes to waiting in line. Only place I actually had to wait was the main merch tent. When Buying food, going to the restrooms or any of the other tents I never had to wait. They have so many bathrooms there that it’s damn near impossible to have a line.

[@geoffrymodlin2098]

Been watching all your videos on loop the last few days because ive got a case of PFD that i wont be able to remedy til September

[@EmilBoenke]

What a great video! You need a bigger audience!

[@wyattsmetal]

Thank you!

[@ratsrstars]

I've never been to any metal festivals. Only a few concerts because honestly that's what I can afford. I've seen prices for festivals it's expensive. But looks like a fun time. Great video 🤘

[@BarryMcDikkon]

I spent about two years saving my estimated costs for Wacken before I bought my ticket for the following year so three years total. $20 from each paycheque, maybe if I was a good boy a little extra. I knew it was going to be a once in a lifetime trip and it was well worth the wait and cost.

[@ratsrstars]

@@BarryMcDikkon I hope that festival was awesome. But yeah, saving money for future events is the way to go. Unless, you're rich then price tags don't matter lol.

[@MrGrombie]

Pro tip about music festivals, get camping passes when possible. They tend to have private bathrooms, lines are easier to get through. You can take breaks whenever you want. And the food and drinks are cheaper since you can bring your own necessities. Worth the little extra money. And no need for a hotel!

[@KieranJamesHickman]

glad this popped up in my recommended, getting myself hyped for Grasspop

[@Denden-mx9gl]

I would enjoy this, like he said on 00:29. Not everyday you get to experience these struggles but you just need to make the most of it.

[@mattiep6692]

You say u complain a lot? Subscribed! I need more channels like this

[@SinjinTaidjeKhan]

Hey Wyatt, love the video! I'm so over tents from camping. As I get ready to start going to festivals, and I hate waiting in line for an hour here, an hour there, etc. I was wondering if you saw or know if I were to rent an RV, is there a parking area for motorhomes? Instead of heading to the bus line to wait an hour for the bus to a hotel or instead of waiting an hour to go to the bathroom in a dirty porta potty, it'd be much better to just head to the RV (which you have friends pitch in on the cost, etc) and crash, go to the bathroom, party, (Plus you'd save a ton on eating out since you can cook in the kitchen in the RV) etc. is this something you see there, within the realm of reality, lol, or no? Thanks again for the vid. 🤘

[@1234567898asdfghjkl]

I think its important to mention how the loudness of the music may damage you hearing. Its more of the hearing nerves that get damaged, it can also happen when you experience a very loud concert once. I play keyboard and when i got back from the festival on the first day i heard every note i played very distorted. It got better after one day but this affects you gradually when you dont take measurements like ear plugs.

[@yannickvanhoutte4403]

Used to go a lot to GMM 10+ years ago and this brought back a ton of memories with smiles and grimaces. I really should've had a survival guide of sorts back then.

[@ct5625]

Good video. I've experienced it all, but the worst for me is the rain. I can cope with the sun, the heat, the dust, the aching legs, the lack of sleep, the occasional dehydration, but I cannot cope with the mud and having my tent washed out and all my clothes soaked. Pro tip - most of the time the mud is only a major issue if it's been raining for days before the festival, that means the ground is already waterlogged and when everyone gets there it's going to be a swamp for at least the first day. Even if it's sunny when you arrive, if it rained for two days before expect at least one day of mud before it dries up. Of course, then there are the times when it never stops raining, in which case you're f'ed lol Thankfully, I've done this enough times now that I'm prepared for it. Ponchos, waterproofs, trash bags for my clothes to sit in all weekend just in case my tent is flooded. I'm too old to care about getting to the front of the stage. I'm happy to plonk my butt down at the back and just spend the day watching, drinking, hanging out with friends. Surprisingly, queues aren't that bad at Download these days. The merch stalls are bad but everything else is generally fine, even the bars usually take at most 10 mins.

[@p.f132]

Summerbreeze was probably the greatest festival I've ever been to, and I felt that a good 3 weeks afterwards. I was sore, bruised, hungover, mentally and physically drained, but still: worth it.

[@Kcikd011]

Thanks man, learning from this.

[@JamesMisplaced]

You earned the 👍 right outta the gate with the statement. "What's the point of having a KZbin channel if I can't complain about stuff..." 😂

[@ChickenatorJr]

PFD is real, I just got to see Knotfest in Melbourne Australia, after not having any real metal festivals here since precovid times and man it was such an amazing release to be around all the metalheads again!!! But for a few days after all I could think was when will the next one be?

[@Limburg92]

What sucks the most is the 2 weeks of depression when it's all over and normal life starts again.

[@turkinator1014]

The intro part following the prolonged “Buuttttt” was the most accurate example of my day to day life that I’ve ever heard. Lmao

[@alexandercorey850]

Im going to blue ridge rock festival in September and cant wait. Its my first multi day metal event

[@viscountrainbows2857]

Having only been to MDF 3 times and these fortunately being at the worst on concrete and at best on wood flooring, the mud factor is totally something I am glad to miss. But yeah last day of the last MDF, being 12, one dude passed out in front of a hotel at night and by the time I got out the next morning after just chillen and chatting, he was STILL THERE. Metal festivals aren't quite made the same outside of New England; yeah we have ours but we have almost next to zero antics outside of whatever is in the pit or hotels that day in context. And it helps that it is all indoors with those floors that turn into slip n slides when someone spills a PBR.

[@thenext9537]

I don’t do festivals anymore. I did several, and the last non metal festival was Coachella back in ‘08. Disaster. Super expensive everything, bathrooms are bad, food is bad, stages on top of stages so you can’t hear everything properly. Never ever again.