Live music has returned!
With the excitement of outdoor venues opening comes the inevitable question of what to wear and what to pack for the perfect outdoor music experience. Last weekend I was lucky enough to get a miracle ticket from a friend to go to Planet Bluegrass, and this weekend I will reunite with my favorite venue, Red Rocks.
After the absence of live music since February 2020 (pesky pandemic) the anticipation for real, live, in person shows is palpable.
Before the Planet Bluegrass shows, my friend and I texted back and forth, both of us joking about whether we would know what to do, what to wear, and how to dance since it had been so long. Well, as you might have guessed, it’s like riding a bicycle - you remember just what to do. If you are a frequent concert goer there is a certain groove you find yourself in at shows. And gearing up for the show, too. It's almost like I have my own recipe for planning the right gear and essentials to make my outdoor concert experience super comfortable and enjoyable.
So maybe you haven’t been to Red Rocks yet (you should seriously change that if you can) or you’re going to an outdoor music festival or concert soon and you’re starting to think about what to wear to a music festival and what to take with you. Here you can take it from me, who just happens to be "that organized friend.” You know, the one that plans everything for you? Makes sure everyone has all the things? That’s pretty much always been my me since the get go. Well, scratch that - at my first Widespread Panic show in 2000 at Red Rocks, when my friends and I drove my parents van out to Colorado from Illinois, I had zero idea what I was doing. In fact, I still remember my first show (they opened with Fishwater, which I thought was cool because most my tapes had Fishwater in the second set) and how I looked around in awe at all the beautiful mamas dancing because I didn’t know how people danced at these things. Needless to say, I caught on, and my groove was found. And along the way, I’ve also learned which items are essential to me for having an awesome outdoor show.
First, let’s talk infrastructure. Like what are you standing or sitting or dancing on? If you’re going to an outdoor festival that allows chairs, you can thank me later for sharing the most comfortable chair and loveseat EVER, the Kelty Lowdown. And bonus, the "lowdown" is that these are lower to the ground so you aren’t blocking everyone’s view - concert etiquette 101. They are also melt-into-the-chair comfy, a prerequisite to me for being worth the haul into the show.
If you’re going to Red Rocks or a venue or festival in the grass, a tarp or blanket is a great idea. Be careful at Red Rocks, they outlawed tarps years ago and they have a size restriction stated on their site - but there isn’t someone at the entrance with a tape measure. Just be respectful and take just the space you and your crew need (ahem, etiquette). I like a small blanket or tarp to keep our dancing space. I am one of those people who can get brought down when people begin encroaching on my space too much, it’s kind of a thing. For any outdoor concert, I highly suggest something waterproof and washable. In addition to getting splashed during Chilly Water (I can’t wait to get water dumped on me if it means Widespread Panic is back at Red Rocks) you will, inevitably, get a drink spilled on you. Sometimes it’s a person behind you or passing through who’s a little too tipsy and sometimes you accidentally kick over your spiked lemonade during Bowlegged (I have a high kick that happens, naturally). But either way, a tarp that is not going to get ruined is key. I've used various things over the past 20 years at Red Rocks, from a tarp to a sheet to a woven blanket. In more recent years, I stumbled on my favorite: super light tarps that pack up really small, making them ideal for your show. More importantly, they take up very little of the valuable real estate in your bag or purse.
That leads up to the next essential: your bag or purse. We’ve all been there. It’s set break and you really just want your lip gloss. Suddenly, your bag has become an abyss, a never ending black hole. After what feels like an eternity of searching you’re sure your lip gloss has been abducted by aliens and you give up. So here’s the thing. I gotta have an organized bag. I need some pockets and places to stash things to avoid the black hole syndrome. Also, I have been rained and hailed on a handful of times, and let’s not forget that guy who will spill his drink on you second set. So a bag that can withstand the elements is something I look for. As far as a weather resistant bag, I found this one I like. I like the light gray because I can wear it with almost anything, and the vegan leather will hold up in a rain shower. But maybe, like me, you already have a favorite bag but it is not weatherproof. Well, I have also used these rain covers before to protect my bag by adding a rain shell. My favorite backpack purse is a light gray Lululemon one that I never want to part with, so yeah, I got a rain cover for it, because I’m that super organized prepared friend, remember? And for me, it’s gotta be a backpack rather than a purse for an outdoor concert or festival. I’m a Colorado girl and I need to have space for my layers. As aforementioned, weather happens. And at Red Rocks, it might be scorching for the first half of the show until the sun goes behind the mountains and then the temp can drop quite a bit.
So what to wear?
I run hot, but I also don’t like to be cold, so layers are a necessity year round at an outdoor music venue in Colorado. At a typical summer outdoor concert, I probably just need to pack an outer layer of some kind, whether its my rain jacket (I found an awesome one from Patagonia that has some stretch and does not trap heat in too much) or my favorite Widespread Love hoodie (shameless plug).
Or, this vegan leather jacket really takes it up a notch. But concerts during the shoulder seasons of spring and fall can be unpredictable weather wise. In addition to an outer layer I sometimes bring leggings to throw on under my skirt, or possibly leg warmers (not too 80’s I swear). I prefer a short skirt for dancing and like that I can add the leggings later. I am all about functionality, people! I found this super cute skirt on Amazon and thinking about rocking it this weekend. Then, I’d pair my skirt with one of my Widespread Love tanks or tees (sorry, shameless plug number two, but, truth) and pick some earrings to go with it all. My go-to for earrings are usually made by my good friend who is the designer at Grey Tangerine. She combines pretty jewels and upcycled elements to make unique and gorgeous pieces. Check her out!
Once the outfit and the bag are cued up for show time it’s time to grab some shoes. Now, I have worn just about every type of shoe to Red Rocks over the years. In the summer sometimes I just wear my Chaco flip flops so I can go barefoot on my dancing tarp, but in the spring or fall those just won’t cut it. When I am looking for shoes to wear to an outdoor music venue like Red Rocks, I am thinking about all the stairs I will climb and the hike into the venue. I also don’t want whatever weather comes up to ruin any shoes (been there done that) or god forbid inhibit my dancing, so I need something durable.
Enter Sorel shoes, which are well known for their beautifully designed winter boots and also
have a super cute line of booties and sandals. What I love about Sorel shoes is that they are usually waterproof (take that, guy behind me) and that makes them super functional for Colorado weather year round. Secondly, no one wants to fall over so check out the soles on these babies. Traction city, no matter the weather. If I fall, it’s user error for sure (hey, I may have kicked over that lemonade but my friend brought me two more).
If it looks like a chilly night, these waterproof booties are super cute, and, worth the price tag because I can wear them year round in Colorado. Sometimes I need to justify why I need another pair of shoes, you know. If it looks like it will be warm and I am feeling like sandals, these flats are comfy and the straps keep them on my feet. Or, if I want to wear something a little more sassy, these Sorel slingback sandals are perfect for any Red Hot Mama. Another thing to note about Sorel shoes is that their wedge shoes are surprisingly really comfortable. I’m not a heels person and i’m telling you, I could wear them all day and night! And dancing all day and night to live music at an outdoor venue is precisely what I am so eager to usher back into my life.
With my essentials for outdoor concerts packed and planned, I’m ready to reunite with my favorite music venue. Sigh of relief. After everything the pandemic brought us (or took away from us), we can celebrate the return to live music and collective joy that draws so many of us back to the live music scene again and again.
This post includes my authentic thoughts and reviews and contains affiliate links to my favorite products.
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