The solo festival experience: why 1 in 3 are now going it alone

New figures suggest that more of us choosing to fly solo at festivals – lone wolf Amie-Jo Locke discusses why this is so empowering for music fans

Imagine the looks of disbelief when I told my mates I was going to Glastonbury alone.

The year was 2015. Some folks had dropped out, or failed to get tickets. But Patti Smith was on the bill, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to miss her Pyramid Stage performance because people were being flakey. Questions levelled at me fluctuated between admiration and concern. Won’t you feel lonely? Isn’t it a bit unsafe going to a festival alone? How will it feel like fun if you aren’t with your pals?

Of course, I’m more than familiar with the shared festival experience. There is nothing like it. The bullish confidence. The stupid chanting. The portaloo camaraderie. However, there are times when that just isn’t an option. From unexpected pregnancies to financial clangers (I remember when a burst pipe and subsequent caved-in ceiling once kyboshed a mate’s entire summer social calendar), plans do change. Or, sometimes there’s just an amazingly niche line-up that speaks to the depths of your musical soul, and your soul alone – why shouldn’t you just go and see all these wonderful acts sans (potentially moany) partner/entourage?

Figures suggest that more of us are coming round to this line of thinking. A recent study found that solo attendance is becoming an established part of festival culture, with almost one in three Brits (29%) attending a festival alone, and nearly one in five (18%) saying they would consider it in future.

Speaking as someone that’s done it a bunch of times, I can personally vouch for the feelings of empowerment and general badassery when flying solo at a festival. Much like travelling alone, the experience opens up a whole new set of perceptions and opportunities – ones you might overlook when trying to herd twenty battered mates from the pie and mash van to the dance tent.

Still not convinced? Here’s why I love going to a festival on my tobler…

Everything is on your terms

Festival-goers at TRNSMT hold up a sign reading "I love you"

How many times have you missed a billed act that you really wanted to see because you stuck with the majority. For me, this has happened far too many times to count. Of course, none of us ever want to get separated from our pals, but when staying in a meandering group (while someone screams food-stall coordinates into the smartphone void) comes at the mercy of not seeing a band you love (I missed an epic Queens Of The Stone Age set two years ago because of this precise reason), then you start to realise that going it alone might not be such a bad idea,

Of course, you could just have a bit more agency at a festival. We’re all adults here. There’s nothing to say you can’t sack off your mates and go see GOAT on your own. But, I do find that when you’re not influenced by the decisions of others (and this isn’t just the line-up, it’s everything, from where you camp to what you eat for breakfast), you get a lot more done.

The hours I’ve spent in my life waiting for a pal to decide whether or not they need to go to the toilet, and if we all need to go together to the toilet, and where the nearest toilet is, and yada, yada, yada. HOURS, mate. Solo festivalling? No more of the above. Just all the free time to bop about (finding the toilet) at your leisure.

You make new friends

A group of performers at Wilderness festival wearing elaborate fancy dress outfits

When you aren’t moving as a pack, you’re inevitably going to open yourself up to meeting new people. I’ve had some of the most riveting and insightful conversations with strangers at festivals. I’ve also listened to recommendations from the aforementioned strangers, and as a result seen artists such as Lambrini Girls, Laura Marling and Solange Knowles on tiny stages – proper pinch-me ‘before they were famous’ moments that I wouldn’t have experienced without these random chit-chats at the cider tent.

You’ll also have adventures. When you are on your own, you’re far more likely to get into secret sets and bars simply because there aren’t thirty of you with the same idea. I’ve had some of the most batshit encounters because I’m able to live and act in the moment. Being alone at a festival makes you appreciate every encounter and every kindness, however small. There’s a kind of magic, a sort of Before Sunrise-esque romance about spending a night chatting shit with strangers at a festival that I absolutely adore. Highly recommend.

You dictate your own pace

Let’s face it. Festivals can be hard work. Hands up if you’ve ever just wanted to head back to the tent at midnight, but don’t feel you can because your tribe are sleep-shaming you into hitting up some filthy happy hardcore set (in a forest) that doesn’t start for another three hours. Yep, the struggle is real. When you go alone, you camp alone, which means a lot more control of your rave strategy.

Now, by all means. Go alone and meet friends at the festival. But (and I 100% stand by this), camping alone means more rest, and more opportunity to head back to the tent during the day to decompress if it’s all becoming a bit much. Also, no more being dragged out of a fragile state by smug mates who don’t suffer with hangovers. If you want to cook yourself in a sweltering tent until 2pm, that’s absolutely your prerogative, and no one else’s business. Plus, there’s no one nicking your loo roll. Happy days.