Even if the late nights of paper-pushing are back in full effect, students can still reminisce on memories of recent summer concerts.
From world tours to coffee-lounge shows, music festivals to small outdoor venues, students attended a wide variety of musical events this summer. While some enjoyed supporting their favorite up-and-coming artists, others traveled hundreds of miles to see their favorite mainstream performers.
“I think that the summer is great for concerts because it is the time when most artists release material,” Sean Lynch, a sophomore journalism and mass communication major, said. “This year was a great year for new albums, so it was a successful summer for concerts.”
Some students, including Lynch, said they attended some of the country’s largest annual music festivals, such as Bonnaroo Music Festival in Tennessee, The Governors Ball Music Festival in New York City and Global Dance Festival in Colorado.
“I attended the Global Dance Festival at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado,” Alexis Jennings, a sophomore psychology major, said. “It was by far the most exciting concert I’ve been to—the performers were all awesome DJ’s, such as Benny Benassi and Tiesto. The amphitheatre is literally formed by giant red rocks, and the light shows were so hypnotic that attendees call it ‘dancing under the electronic sky.’”
Many attendees brought flags to represent their countries—all while sporting neon and glitter-themed garb, Jennings said.
Jennings said while it took some extra cash and a plane to attend this annual outdoor rave, some students lived nearby some of the larger festivals, such as Governors Ball on Randall’s Island.
“I really enjoyed Governors Ball because of the atmosphere and the caliber of the performances,” Lynch said. “Drake and Florence & the Machine really brought their best material out and gave amazing performances.”
Even if students could not afford the costs of these bigger events, local shows offered cheaper admission fees.
Venues like Darien Lake Performing Arts Center, First Niagara Center and Buffalo Canalside offered smaller, less expensive general-admission seating. Some of the most recent headlining shows at these venues included The Rolling Stones, Imagine Dragons, Matt and Kim, Chris Brown and Train.
“All the local concerts at Canalside in Buffalo are free, so I’m really thankful that I live somewhere that I can attend these amazing shows,” Anna Rine, a sophomore marketing major, said. “This summer, I saw Matt and Kim, which was the first Canalside show of the summer—so everyone was there. Even though I had never listened to Matt and Kim’s music before, the show definitely made me a fan.”
Even though the school year has begun, there are still concerts to come. Some students plan to attend concerts throughout the semester, while juggling their course work.
“I will be attending Nate Ruess’ concert on Nov. 21 at the Town Ballroom in Buffalo,” Lynch said. “I’m excited because of the energy he brings to his performances. I’d recommend that students bring a friend who may not know the artist. It’s a great way to spark new interest in music for that person, so just relax and enjoy the music.”
mcgurllt14@bonaventure.edu
