Pictures show music festivals are back after more than a year, and attendees say they missed the chaos and crowds

Joey HaddenAug 4, 2021, 03:23 IST

A general view of the atmosphere during Lollapalooza in July (background) and a close-up (inner-circle) of a crowd at Hard Summer.Josh Brasted/FilmMagic/Getty Images, Courtesy of Audrey Boyt.

With more of the country opening up, music festivals are back from Los Angeles to Miami.
Concertgoers are enjoying weekends of music, dancing, and making friends at festivals like Lollapalooza.
Recent attendees told Insider that festivals feel just like they used to, and they missed connecting with strangers.

As crowds and live music ramp back up after a quiet year, days-long music festivals like Lollapalooza are making a comeback.

Flipp Dinero performs during the 30th Anniversary of Lollapalooza at Grant Park in Chicago. Josh Brasted/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Lauren Leegard told Insider that she felt anxious going into Lollapalooza, her first music festival.

Leegard at Lollapalooza. Courtesy of Lauren Leegard

But once she settled in, she said she realized how much she missed being around complete strangers.

Leegard (left) poses for a photo in front of a stage. Courtesy of Lauren Leegard

Overall, Leegard said her weekend at Lollapalooza "felt like such a change from being inside all the time."

Leegard after a day at the festival. Courtesy of Lauren Leegard

Natalie Mars told Insider that she was at Lollapalooza for the first time in July, too, and that she's never seen so many people in one place.

Mars poses at Lollapalooza. Courtesy of Natalie Mars

Mars recalled what she said was her best moment in the crowd at Lollapalooza. "You'd walk into these circles of women dancing, hyping, each other up and singing together," she said.

Mars' friends in the crowd. Courtesy of Natalie Mars

Mars recalled what she said was her best moment in the crowd at Lollapalooza. "You'd walk into these circles of women dancing, hyping, each other up and singing together," she said.

Paloma Havlik said she drove from Michigan to attend Lollapalooza this year. "Being there and feeling the music literally go from my feet to my heart is a feeling like no other," Havlik told Insider.

In California, during the same weekend of Lollapalooza, Audrey Boyt and her friends went to Los Angeles' first large-scale music festival since the start of the pandemic.

Boyt (second from the left) and her friends attend Hard Summer. Courtesy of Audrey Boyt

In California, during the same weekend of Lollapalooza, Audrey Boyt and her friends went to Los Angeles' first large-scale music festival since the start of the pandemic.

Hard Summer music festival didn't require proof of vaccination, according to its website.

DJ Jai Wolf performs onstage during Hard Summer music festival. Scott Dudelson/WireImage/Getty Images

Boyt, who lives in the Los Angeles area, said it was her first music festival in almost two years.

Boyt poses for a picture with friends. Courtesy of Audrey Boyt

Boyt said that attending Hard Summer felt just like festivals did before the pandemic - but after nearly two years without attending one, the atmosphere felt even warmer.

Boyt takes a selfie in the crowd. Courtesy of Audrey Boyt

Boyt said that attending Hard Summer felt just like festivals did before the pandemic - but after nearly two years without attending one, the atmosphere felt even warmer.

On July 23, the weekend festival Rolling Loud took place in Miami, and fan Luke Fischer attended for the third time.

General view of crowds on day three of Rolling Loud Miami 2021. Jason Koerner/Getty Images

Fischer said he doesn't think the pandemic altered his experience at all.

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Pictures show music festivals are back after more than a year, and attendees say they missed the chaos and crowds

As crowds and live music ramp back up after a quiet year, days-long music festivals like Lollapalooza are making a comeback.

Lauren Leegard told Insider that she felt anxious going into Lollapalooza, her first music festival.

But once she settled in, she said she realized how much she missed being around complete strangers.

Overall, Leegard said her weekend at Lollapalooza "felt like such a change from being inside all the time."

Natalie Mars told Insider that she was at Lollapalooza for the first time in July, too, and that she's never seen so many people in one place.

Mars recalled what she said was her best moment in the crowd at Lollapalooza. "You'd walk into these circles of women dancing, hyping, each other up and singing together," she said.

Paloma Havlik said she drove from Michigan to attend Lollapalooza this year. "Being there and feeling the music literally go from my feet to my heart is a feeling like no other," Havlik told Insider.

In California, during the same weekend of Lollapalooza, Audrey Boyt and her friends went to Los Angeles' first large-scale music festival since the start of the pandemic.

Hard Summer music festival didn't require proof of vaccination, according to its website.

Boyt, who lives in the Los Angeles area, said it was her first music festival in almost two years.

Boyt said that attending Hard Summer felt just like festivals did before the pandemic - but after nearly two years without attending one, the atmosphere felt even warmer.

On July 23, the weekend festival Rolling Loud took place in Miami, and fan Luke Fischer attended for the third time.

Fischer said he doesn't think the pandemic altered his experience at all.