Rejoice, live music fans: Live Nation is about to release the Festival Passport, a $799 guaranteed-entry/cut-the-line pass to more than 90 music festivals this summer and fall, including Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo, Electric Forest, Governors Ball and a host of other gatherings in Europe and Australia.
The good news? Even if an event is sold out, you get in. Given the several-hundred-dollar ticket range for most of these fests, you’ll probably break even if you go to just three of ‘em.
Now, some caveats:
You’ll be alone. Only 1,000 of these are up for grabs. It’s one per person and the ticket is non-transferrable.
You need to be a VERY specific person to enjoy this. Do you have a lot of time on your hands and enjoy music festivals? Great, you’re probably in your early 20s … when having $800 and travel money might not be in the cards. Oh, you have $$$? These are General Admission tickets (you’ll be in mud, kid). And, as noted above, you’ll potentially be by yourself.
We’ve hit peak music fest, and it’s all downhill from here. Live Nation is consolidating the music-festival business, which means you’re getting less interesting, extremely interchangeable lineups at these fests (hope you like Migos, The Avalanches and Phoenix!).
On the other hand, given the problems of independent promoters (Pemberton just joined Fyre in the WTF moments in music festival history), maybe a little corporate oversight is good.
And hey, you can craft your own variety! Governors Ball in New York, EDC in Vegas, Voodoo in New Orleans, maybe Rock am Ring in Germany (your only chance to see something called Fine Cream Fish Fillet) … a little bit of work on your end, some patience and a nice wad of cash, and this could be the best summer of music ever.
And we can help: use our summer music fest guide to plot your path.
The Festival Passport goes on sale May 22 at 10 a.m.
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