When I was 20, I attended my first music festival, Osheaga , in Montreal with my then best friend. While the lineup was a dream, no one warned us of the harsh realities of music festivals: the long lines, mud that turns lethally slippery when it rains, and unnerving sight of young people being carried away from the crowd on stretchers. On the last night, as we trudged to our Airbnb with feet caked in mud, I remember thinking I’d never return.

It’s been easy to maintain that vow, given that in the 13 years since, the music festival has become a popularity contest. As a sober, single woman with only a handful of friends, I now mainly avoid music festivals out of fear I’ll feel like a loser going alone. But when I saw this year’s Osheaga lineup included Doechii, The Killers, and Olivia Rod

See Full Page