For its fifteenth anniversary, the Voodoo Music and Arts experience had some major headliners. Outkast, Arctic Monkeys and Foo Fighters all drew a high level of excitement from the festival goers. Other acts such as Rise Against and Awolnation weren’t slouches either.
But a festival environment is about more than just the music. Sure, it has to be a focal point, but there should be more to do than just play sing along all day.
This year’s Voodoo had four carnival rides to occupy the time of festival goers, but I rarely saw them in use by the older crowd. There was also a ton of overpriced food vendors, which was expected. I’m sure they made a killing off of us.
What was more overpriced was the festival merchandise. Find a reason for a t-shirt to cost $40 when it doesn’t have diamonds or real gold on it. People have already spent hundreds of dollars to get to Voodoo and they’re expected to shell out more for some lackluster merch? What has this world come to when I can’t get a $15 band tee and be happy?
Not everyone had bad merch though. Outkast and Twenty One Pilots had a good assortment of apparel, and Arctic Monkeys sold out of a few items. However, more often than not, I passed through the merch church and just shrugged my shoulders unimpressed.
I remember a time long ago when Voodoo was filled with aggressive sponsors who threw free merchandise at me. I went home toting a small baby’s worth in merch. This year, I came back with a wristband for an item that was never explained to me. Free stuff makes people stay, and this year, Voodoo forgot that.
But I digress. If we look at this year’s lineup, then there were plenty of reasons to buy tickets. This years musical selection was very good overall. The smaller acts capitalized on performing at Voodoo and definitely gained a few fans over the weekend.
I can’t explain why, but as the weekend went on, it seemed like the amount of people and the energy died down. The night shows had huge turnouts, but people began coming to the festival grounds later and later as time went on.
Here’s my problem with people and festivals: Why would you spend so much money to only see the acts you’ve already heard of? I can’t wrap my head around spending $75 for a one day pass and only seeing Outkast or Foo Fighters.
Voodoo is slowly becoming a festival that people go to because it is one of the biggest festivals for the state. People shouldn’t just attend something because they feel like they have to. All of these little teenagers and preteens who have no idea who most of the lineup are only come because its a big event.
This weekend was a great experience as Voodoo always is, but there is more than just music for a festival environment. Bring back the good merch, more sponsors and continue building good lineups.
Joshua Jackson is a 20-year-old film and media arts junior from New Orleans, Louisiana.