Why You Need To See More Live Music (Backed By Science)

You've lined up, had your ticket checked, dodged and swerved through the crowded venue to locate the dirty bathrooms, or to buy a drink that'll cost the price of Jesus' tears... It's loud, it's sweaty, someone spills a drink down your shirt, but you don't care. Your favourite band has just walked onstage. 

Sure, you were literally just bopping along to their music from the comfort of your own home. But this experience is different - so different that it can reduce stress, can make you live longer, and just makes you happier (and cooler, let's be real).

Here's why you need to see more live music.

It can reduce ya stress hormone levels

When your body is under the pump, frazzled and stressed, cortisol is produced. Cortisol isn't an enemy - it has positive effects like making us more alert and productive in small doses.

But when cortisol won't nick off, that's when we have an issue with our menty health. We're told to do things like meditate, go for a walk, do yoga, or journal. Funnily enough, a scientific study by O2 and Patrick Fagan, an expert in behavioural science, showed that well-being increased by 21% from just 20 minutes of gig-time, compared to just 10% for yoga and only 7% for walking... Uuuummmm the proof is in the pudding.

Your stress hormones decrease during concerts. What's interesting is that it doesn't matter if you're musically inclined or not, live music has a pretty similar effect on everyone.

It can make you live longer

Seeing live music once a fortnight could have life expectancy rocketing by nine years!?!?!?! Sorry what?

In the study mentioned above, key markers across the happiness spectrum showed increases such as self-worth (+25%) and closeness to others (+25%) whilst mental stimulation climbed by an impressive 75%. Continuously seeing live music keeps making you happier, happier and happier!

You're surrounded by funky people

Live music is, by nature, a shared experience. Everyone's sense of self slips away as they get caught up, all atrociously yelling the lyrics to their favourite song together. 

Think about it. Watching a new film is always more euphoric at the cinema. You have people gasping, sobbing, and laughing alongside you. Same with live music. It's the euphoric feeling that you're all there together that makes it so uplifting and euphoric!

French sociologist Émile Durkheim coined this feeling “collective effervescence,” - a contagious sense of connectedness when people are engaged in a shared purpose. Think about when you all scream "one more song, one more song" - that's some hardcore collective effervescence. 

Long story short, it makes you happier

We all know the power music has over us. But seeing it live, surrounded by people, that's transcending music as we know it. 

People who go to live gigs on the reg were the most likely to score their happiness, contentment, productivity, and self-esteem at the highest levels. 

So how can I get amongst more live music?

• Search for smaller Aussie bands/artists/DJs that are always gigging around. They'll also be cheaper than seeing big artists like Harry Styles or Taylor Swift 24/7.
• Stalk those bands on Instagram - see what bands they've played with/supported.
• Always watch the supporting acts - they're normally red hot as well (and soon will be the main act).
• On Spotify, choose songs and click on "song radio" - it'll show you similar songs from similar artists.
• Try music genres you wouldn't normally be into you - you'd be surprised how fun it can be going to a heavy metal gig when you love country music (and who knows, you might become a heavy metal fan).
• Go to gigs alone if no one can come with you! It's not weird, no one is staring, and no one gives a rats ass about anything but the music!

Now I have to go. I'm seeing These New South Whales in an hour. xoxo.