According to ticketing marketplace viagogo, an increasing number of people are attending music events on their own. In fact, almost two-fifths of music fans (39%) have plans to attend a music event solo this season, whilst 32% have already gone alone. Traditionally seen as socially taboo and something to be avoided, solo gig-going is now considered “cool” and “socially acceptable” amongst music fans with 70% in agreement. In fact, 38% of people surveyed by viagogo noticed an improvement in their self-confidence whilst going solo, with 20% reporting getting happier and experiencing a reduction in anxiety levels.
NHS trainee psychiatrist Dr Ally Jaffee believes solo gig-going to be less fraught and more rewarding than attending in a group. She noted that some people get anxiety when they bring others to a gig, constantly worrying whether everyone else is having fun. “But when you go solo, you can completely focus on the music, leading to a deeper, more immersive experience, where you really allow yourself to be in the moment.” Going solo can also be less stressful as you navigate the event on your own terms, deciding when to arrive, where to stand, and what to watch. This flexibility is helpful at festivals when you may find multiple stages with potential set clashes. When you go alone, you miss nothing, as you will never have to lose sight of your favourite band because your friends want to secure a prime slot for the headliner on another stage.
Interestingly, viagogo’s research found regional variations in solo gig-going. In Belfast and London, 47% of music fans reported having attended a music event solo, whilst in Birmingham (44%), Liverpool (41%), and Leeds (37%), these figures were not far behind. Moreover, whilst Gen Z are most likely to attend festivals solo – 56% say they’ve done so already – “boomers” are the most open to the idea, with over three-quarters of music fans (76%) in the 55-64 age bracket agreeing that solo gig-going is “cool” and “socially acceptable.”
However, 22% of UK music fans are still too anxious to attend a major concert alone, and 24% lack the confidence to do so. According to Dr Jaffee, this anxiety is “completely normal” and reminds people of the potential to connect and make friends at such events, quipping that “you’ll probably find you strike up conversations with others while queuing for the loos or waiting for a band to come on.” For those feeling overwhelmed or subject to sympathetic overdrive, Jaffee offers advice about the “box breathing” technique, which is a quick way to lower stress levels.
Ultimately, Dr Jaffee believes that people can overcome any fears or worries about going to gigs solo, arguing that solo gig-going “can actually improve self-confidence and give a greater sense of self-identity, which is a really powerful thing”. By stepping out confidently, music fans will experience great live music entirely on their terms.
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