HEADLINERS is a documentary essay film exploring what safety looks like for the avid concertgoer. Music festivals have the ability to bring diverse groups of people together, all united by their common love for music, experience, and fun. However, in light of the 2017 Las Vegas shooting and 2021 Astroworld Festival casualty incident, music festivals have also been the victim of modern-day public safety issues.
HEADLINERS explores the intricacies of navigating music festivals through the lens of self-preservation and contemplating the positive and negative aspects of music festivals. These factors include analyzing the behaviors of concert-goers, the responsibility of festival organizers, and the socio-political contexts that question the ethics of the music festival’s return post-pandemic. HEADLINERS concludes with an exploration of how music festivals can improve safety concerns, regain the trust of attendees, and return to its reputation as a place of collective, unified enjoyment of the arts.
