Throwback Tuesday? A Look Back at Free Press Summer Fest
Written by Coog Radio on February 16, 2016
So today as some of you may be aware the blind pre sale tickets for Free Press Summer Fest 2016 dropped at 10am. I anxiously waited refreshing the page, as one would, every second prior. Much to my disappointment the tickets were $109.50 with a $17 “fee”. Now I am not too shaken by this happenstance considering that FPSF has been declining in quality and increasing in prices, trust me I am a 4 year veteran of the festival I’ve seen a major change.
My first year at FP was in 2012, I had to miss the first day for my high school graduation. I had purchased the tickets two weeks before the festival for a modest price of $80. The one-day that I did attend made me fall in love with music festivals, so much so that I purchased next years ticket, 2013, blind pre sale for the price of $40 dollars. A totally acceptable price considering that the lineup wasn’t known and the festival has long established a reliable reputation. This is also the first year that the festival sold out. That year the headliners were brilliant (Postal Service, Bassnector, Calvin Harris, Gogol Bordello) but a notable decline in the quality of the crowds was observed, more neon colors, drunken frat boys and basketball jerseys flooded the narrow strip off Allen Parkway that hosted the festival.
FPSF 2014 the blind pre sale sold out fast and at a higher cost. I managed to cop tickets when they dropped for general admission for the hefty price of $160. That year some notable bands were Jack White, Zedd, Above& Beyond, Cage the Elephant, The Kills and Die Antwoord. It was a great but hot 2 days with what seemed to be an ever-expanding crowd. I mean it really felt packed in the narrow park along the bayou.
After my experience with the previous festival, 2014, I vowed to boycott the festival all together. My resolve was strong until the very end when I ended up volunteering for a group from the University of Houston. Looking back I am very glad that I decided to attend. FPSF 2015 was also the year where the usual venue Eleanor Tinsley Park received heavy rain a few days prior, so the Festival had to scramble to find a different venue, finally settling on the parking lot across from NRG Stadium. Being in a parking lot the hot asphalt made the day unpleasant, but when the sun went down the city came out to party. I was actually taken aback at how smoothly the change of venues was made. I really enjoyed myself last year. Amongst the most notable performers Steve Angello, ODESZA, Chance the Rapper and Major Lazer.
FPSF is one of the few music festivals that Houston hosts with a large variety of genres and artists. It’s an annual festival that marks the beginning of summer in the endless collection of roads that is Houston. I highly recommend that you check it out, discover new music, kickback with friends and enjoy the sun.
You can get your blind-presale tickets today here!
2-day general admission passes start at $ 109.50 plus fees and Fancy Pants passes start at $163.50 plus fees.
Act quickly the cheaper options are already sold out but there’s still passes with collectible credentials up for sale along with the advanced tickets.
See you at FPSF this summer!
By Leo Bulaev
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