Alternative Music Tours and Festivals

When alternative music first began to be popular in the early 1990s, the bands with new fame would take their acts on the road. In many cases, they would team up with other groups to reduce the expenses of the trip and get cross exposure from disparate audiences. This culminated in the music festivals, such as Lollapalooza, that started to appear during the summers. In contrast with other music festivals that only happen once a year, Lollapalooza took a different approach. Instead of only being a large annual event, the organizers of Lollapalooza, including Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell, decided to have several stops on the tour where all of the bands would play. This made the event more accessible to the casual fan as they would not need to travel great distances to see the event.

While the early Lollapalooza festivals did concentrate on alternative music, they also celebrated the diversity of quality music that was being produced. The first incarnation of Lollapalooza saw headliners and alternative rock stalwarts Jane’s Addiction be joined by artists from various fields, including rap, industrial, electronic, and funk. This diversity is one of the primary reasons for the early success of the festival.

In recent times, the destination festivals like Coachella and Bonnaroo have proven to be more popular. This is because they offer several days of music and an even wider diversity of acts and culture. In addition to the great alternative rock, a person can sample many other different kinds of music. The festivals are also given a boost by the vendors that choose to sell their wares. A person will discover a wide variety of food options, jewelry, and social awareness programs on display at the festivals. With the many common interests found among the visitors, the modern festivals give a community feeling, if only for a fleeting weekend.