According to a new study, people who have communal musical experiences — like a music festival — have elevated levels of overall satisfaction in life.
We’ve known for awhile that music can reduce stress, evoke joy, relaxation, and empowerment and now science has proven “engaging with music by dancing or attending musical events was associated with higher subjective well being than for those who did not engage with music in these forms.”
Melissa Weinberg and Dawn Joseph of Australia’s Deakin University interviewed 1,000 participants and asked them to rate their level of satisfaction with various areas of life such as standard of living, health, achieving in life, relationships, safety, community connection, and future security and found that those who attended or danced at live music events were much more satisfied with life than those who don’t go to live music events or engaged in music alone. Don’t be a middle-aged loner listening to your record collection by yourself.
The same study found that singing — or for some of you screaming — along to your favorite band increases your overall satisfaction. There is no significant difference in satisfaction for people who sing alone compared to those who do not sing at all, suggesting that any benefits associated with singing out loud only work when you sing in the company of others — like at a music festival.
Going to musical festivals makes you happy. It’s just science.
So make sure you go to Riot Fest. Your health depends on it.
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