This time last year I was preparing for my first-ever festival, Primavera, in Barcelona. I had a fantastic time, although our friend did get mugged (more on this later), and I did spend the day after the festival finished lying in my sweaty, sandy, hostel bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering if I’d ever feel joy again (more on this later). Thankfully this experience helped me come up with your ultimate student music festival guide 2018 edition.
Primavera is a city festival in a warm country, so the majority of the anecdotal pieces of advice in this festival guide will be catered towards the no-mud/no-rain/no-camping festivals. I’ll have a small checklist at the end of this music festival guide, though, for your general music festival needs. Although, considering I’ve only ever been to one, and at that one I did manage to get lost without even realising that I was, in fact, lost from all of my friends, take everything on this student music festival guide 2018 edition with a grain of salt.
When it comes to being organised at events (I’ll happily take a change of top and a backpack in my canvas tote so I can change from the pub to a club if we decide on an impromptu night out), so in spite of never having actually been to a festival, I was the only one of our group who had the following in her backpack (important: take a backpack or a bumbag, something flat and hands-free, and take only what you can fit in there during the days). I also had made a colour-coded timetable before leaving, which some would say is mildly excessive. Anyway. This is the best student music festival guide 2018 edition.
Here is what did come in handy
Tissues – and lots of them. One pack will not suffice (because toilets. Seriously. Even at a place like Primavera where they’ve fancy port-a-potties, things get gross at 4am. You want to at least mimic cleanliness.)
Water bottle (Primavera and a few other festivals I’ve heard about actually don’t let you bring bottle caps in, so prepare for this when you’re going through security and slip that cap into your pocket).
Nuts (you’re going to want a snack at some point. Or your friends will. And no one really fancies paying 8e for a small plate of nachos. Nuts are healthy and nutritious. Bring them.)
Now, I’m not saying sneak in alcohol but my bag did have a small mid-compartment that fit 3 150ml wine boxes. The security was lax. Do with that information what you please.
Some tips/tricks I should’ve done but didn’t
If you take away one thing from this student music festival guide 2018, make it this one. This is an obvious one, but don’t let a friend wonder off alone, and have designated meet-up points. Our friend got mugged at Primavera last year, and the phone signal at festival sites is terrible enough as is so finding anyone will take forever. Even if you’re going to the toilet, take a friend with you.
Have smoothies/juice at your hostel/AirBnB/tent/wherever you’re staying. And make sure it’s the real stuff, too – none of that sugary crap. Your appetite will be fucked by the end of the festival, and you’re going to feel like shit because you’re not eating, drinking loads, and staying up all night. Smoothies and juice are a good way to get some vitamins and calories in you without making you feel like you’re about to vomit – I didn’t figure this out until the day after Primavera ended when I realised that I couldn’t stomach more than two bites of a bread roll. Bananas will work too, but in all honesty those were a struggle to get down.
Multivitamins and 5-HTP supplements: the former because, well, vitamins, and the latter because your serotonin levels will plummet by the end of the festival. You can get both at Holland & Barrett, and your body/brain will thank you for them when you’re sleep-deprived and hungover/on a comedown/both. Having these with me probably would’ve helped with the whole lying-in-bed-wondering-if-I’ll-be-happy-again thing. It got very dark. Do not recommend.
Various do’s/don’ts/what-have-yous
(most festivals will have an app with set times and maps).
You’ll be able to use these offline.
Even if it’s not that warm, you can still get sunstroke/heatstroke/get dehydrated.
You can get cheap ones from Amazon or Ebay.
Anything to make you feel clean (ish). Chewing gum, too.
And one more change of clothes that you think you might need if you’re camping.
Evenings can get cold.
You will regret this later. You’ll be up all hours, so try and get a few solid meals in.
The least you can do to your skin is sort of clean it.
Yes, they look good. Yes, they are a quick, easy outfit. No, no you don’t want to pee in them when you’re drunk. Especially if you can’t find a toilet. Take it from a girl who has had to do this. Don’t be me.
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