Photo Credit (Pixabay)
Hi, this is just a brief message today because we have been spending some time in Newcastle this week with the family for the funeral of one of Mal’s aunts, who passed away tragically. It’s been somewhat of a celebration because she lived a long and happy life, but it’s clear that people closest to her are still struggling. I didn’t have much time to write a post before we left, but because people have been asking a lot lately about what to wear to a festival over fifty, I’m going to give you an update on the changes I noticed at the one we attended a few weeks ago. Naturally, this isn’t limited to festivals; it’s summer fashion at its most relaxed, whether you’re strolling the dog, attending a village gala, or just lounging in a pub garden.
But first, I would like to express my gratitude for all of your birthday greetings from last weekend. My favorite pals stopped by, and I had a great time unwinding before lunch at The Mason’s Arms, which is close to Cartmel. Not everyone understood the guys’ clever “birthday cake,” which some of you saw on Instagram below. The secret is that it was my Heinz 57 birthday!
What to wear at a 50+ festival
Festivals, then. I’ve been considering what to wear to a festival for people over fifty a lot. Because that’s how we’ve opted to spend this year’s summer, we’ve scheduled a number of live music events over the next few months. As you can see, the two younger boys will remain at home until at least the middle of September, and I want to take advantage of what feels like an extra family summer by spending as much time as possible with them. In order to truly focus on the book I want to write, I will be confined to my desk during the week and won’t be taking on any other job tasks in July or August. In an intentional effort to support smaller festivals, we then take trips to see bands perform in other locations every few weekends, which will allow me to temporarily decompress.
What’s happening with summer music events in the UK?
We attended the local festival a few weekends ago to start off the season. As I mentioned at the time, the lineup was quite weak, so it was much more subdued than usual. The organizers clarified that while festivals began as grassroots community gatherings, large organizations are now consuming them. The money-makers have once again seen an opportunity to make money, and as a result, many festivals are now controlled by cartels, who negotiate exclusive contracts with performers early in the season to prevent them from performing elsewhere. Bands typically only perform at festivals every few years due to the time and effort required; therefore, there aren’t many well-known performers each season. Naturally, it’s much simpler for them to join a group with a single set of rules; thus, smaller festivals are being shut out. What shame.
The other issue is that ticket costs are skyrocketing, especially since corporations began purchasing them as a low-commitment form of client entertainment. When we saw Duran Duran, Nile Rodgers, and Chic at BST Hyde Park a few years back, we hit this head-on. We were surrounded by folks who didn’t even twitch a toe when Chic came on; instead, they were more interested in the contents of their Fortnum’s hampers than the music. It enrages me. Those who truly enjoy the bands are priced out by the corporates, and the talented guests ruin the mood. This year, if you have the opportunity, try to support smaller music events away from the corporate circuit. It’s quite discouraging for the enthusiastic people who are trying to put on fantastic events in the UK’s smaller towns and cities. If not, music will follow in the footsteps of theater and become exclusive to individuals with large budgets or corporate roles.
Now enough of the tirade, let’s return to the topic of attire and what to wear to a festival for people over fifty!
