The Perfect Summer Date

As Shakespeare once said, “if music be the food of love, play on.” Music festivals and concerts are always a blast, but researchers at the University of Queensland also suggest that attending music festivals could have a positive impact on the psychological and social welfare of young adults. Their study of festival-goers between the ages of 18-29 revealed that “participants often feel more positive about themselves, others, and life in general as a result of attending a music festival or concert.”

In other words, they make perfect dates.

Melissa Friedman, a rising junior at the George Washington University, describes a date she had with her boyfriend at a Dave Matthews Band concert. “A concert was a fun change of pace from the usual dinner and movie dates; it gave us the opportunity to bond over a fun new experience.”

Attending a concert together can also build a common interest and bring you closer as a couple. Even if you have different tastes in music, you can still enjoy the night out with your date.

Jules Accetta, another GW student, recalls one of her first dates at the Sweetlife Festival in Maryland with her current boyfriend. “It was in the very beginning, before we were officially dating. He is obsessed with The Strokes and I barely knew one song. While he was singing along to every song, I was awkwardly bopping around and pretending I was enjoying myself. But then, he held my hand, and it was so cute that I found myself having a good time with him even though it wasn't my type of music.”

So where do you find these music festivals? Don’t worry, even with Bonnaroo’s sets played out and Coachella long gone, there are still some can’t-miss opportunities for Summer 2012. Check out some of these upcoming music events or find a local concert nearby for an unforgettable date.

Governor’s Ball

When: June 23& 24

Where: Randall’s Island (moved from Governor’s Island), NYC

How much: General Admission 1-Day $95 + $5 processing fee + transportation

Why: Beck, Passion Pit, Kid Cudi, Modest Mouse, Fiona Apple, Duck Sauce, Explosions in the Sky, Chromeo, & More

Check it out: www.governorsballmusicfestival.com 

Camp Bisco

When: July 12-14

Where: Mariavelle Lake, NY

How much: GA $170 + parking fee + camping fee

Why: Disco Biscuits, Bassnectar, Skrillex, Crystal Castles, A-Trak, Dada Life, Lotus, Portugal. the Man, & More

Check it out: campbisco.net

All Good Festival

When: July 19-22

Where: Thornville, OH

How much: 4-Day Pass $199, include camping, parking

Why: Allman Brothers. The Flaming Lips, Lotus, Galactic, Phil Lesh, Bob Weir & Bruce Hornsby

Check it out: www.allgoodfestival.com 

Identity Festival

When: July 19-August 19

Where: to a city near you

How much: GA $40

Why: Eric Prydz, Wolfgang Gartner, Nero, Arty, Excision, Paul van Dyk, & more (for now)

Check it out: idfestival.com

Lollapalooza

When: August 3-5

Where: Chicago, IL

How much: SOLD OUT—but don’t fear, check websites such as Stubhub, Craigslist, and Ticketmaster.

Why: The Black Keys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Black Sabbath, Passion Pit, Avicii, Bloc Party, The Shins, Justice, Jack White, Miike Snow, Florence + The Machine, Kaskade, & so much more.

Check it out: lollapalooza.com

"One of the great thing about seeing shows is that you're in a kind of dialogue with the music- you feed off the energy and sounds of the artist,” says Emily Young, a New York University student and concert frequenter. “When you experience music with a date, you experience something so intense that it's almost like you're in each other's heads. Even if you don't get to talk a lot, you're watching and hearing and breathing the same things together; every burst of sound and flash of light makes that experience an epic date."

Photo by MusicFestivalInfo.com