Watching a band, group or orchestra play music live is an experience that far exceeds listening to a CD or MP3 player at home. As today’s technology has made the storage and replay of music as compact and compressed as possible the listening experience moves further away from the original performance. But stand in a concert hall shoulder to shoulder with thousands of other individuals who enjoy the same music as you do and you will have a truly exciting experience.
Compared to a single or album release live music can be played as the band always intended it – with little production or tweaking to smooth the sound to suit a particular market. The musicians can ad-lib adding embellishments to guitar solos, drum riffs and even changing song lyrics to speak directly to that night’s audience. For concert-goers who are already fans of the band the experience makes them feel closer and connected to a band, whether they are local amateurs or international superstars.
Live music can be accessed in many ways and does not have to be rock or pop to be a worthwhile experience. Look out for free open-air concerts in your local park – you may find a brass band one month and a jazz band the next. Local pubs and bars are always a great place to discover your area’s talent and possibly even to experience the next big thing before they move on to big venues and stadiums! To keep informed about your favourite band’s live music it is a good idea to subscribe to their newsletter – this often means you will be the first to receive announcements of live dates.