Summer: concerts, traveling, vacations, hanging out with friends. Summer vacation means no school, and no school means doing whatever our hearts desire. For some, doing what our hearts desired this summer was going to some of the biggest music festivals in Texas. Vans Warped tour, Free Press Summer Fest, and Austin City Limits.

Free Press, is an annual music and arts festival held at Eleanor Tinsley Park in Houston, Texas on June 1st and 2nd. Seniors Francisco Vasquez, Addison Barnum, Cullen Dowling, Cameron Mccan and Christian Urquhart were five of the thousands who attended. The concert featured artists such as Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Bassnectar, Cat Power, and 2 Chainz.

“It was unbelieveable being surrounded by people who love what you love,” Francisco said. “Experiencing all the different artists and genres of music was amazing, it was a great experience for me.”

Vans Warped Tour is also an annual music festival held on three dates in Texas, at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Gexa Energy Pavilion in Dallas, and the AT&T Center in San Antonio. Seniors Andrew Carter, Sandy Schwalen, and Cameron Mccan along with Norseman staff members Andrea Mendes and myself were in attendance. This year’s lineup featured Bowling for Soup, Sleeping with Sirens, Hands like Houses, and Bring me the Horizon.

Warped tour, a more alternative scene than Free Press and ACL, is brutal. In the heat of the summer, and the last stop on the American tour, the artists performing were ready to go out with a bang. While trying to stay on schedule and see as many bands as possible, staying hydrated and staying cool became a necessity.

“Warped Tour was one of the best experiences of my life,” Sandy said. “The music was so raw and beautiful you could feel it.”

It being my 2nd year in a row attending, I knew what to expect, the crowds were brutal, and the music was intense. I had a lot of fun, going with a group of friends this year, we were constantly having to save each other from the crowds. Crowds for like Bring Me the Horizon and Chiodos were insane. We even got a chance to meet a few bands, like Hawthorne Heights and Bowling for Soup, in between the madness of trying to see all of our favorite bands.

“Seeing Craig Owens live was amazing, Oli Sykes was intimidating, he made the entire crowd sit down, that was intense,” Sandy said.

Austin City Limits Music Festival, taking place in the fall, is an annual three-day music festival in Austin at Zilker Park. This year ACL celebrated its 12th anniversary, and drews over 100 artists and 225,000 fans from across the globe for three days of music and great food. Reflecting the city it calls home, ACL prides itself on the diverse lineups that vary from pop, rock, folk, alt-country, blues, gospel, and everything in between.

“Being that it’s my second year of attending ACL, I’m was excited to be going with my friends, and seeing band like Phoenix, Vampire Weekend, and Kendrick Lamar,” Andrea said. “It was a great experience to have checked out bands I’ve never heard of. The music was amazing.”

ACL is something Seniors Francisco Vasquez and Andrea Mendes have looked forward to all year, like many other music lovers. Purchasing tickets months in advance, despite the fact that ticket typically go for around $25o, the artists being featured are definitely worth the price according to those who attend.