Speaker 1: Let me tell you something, an outdoor concert is a
great way to have a blast and get into the groove.
That's where a lot of people enjoy the vibe and
have a great timeh live music in the summer. Nothing
beats it.
Speaker 2: Welcome to another Happy English podcast, coming to you from
New York City. And here's your English teacher, Michael.
Speaker 1: All right, thank you John, and thanks everyone. It's Michael
here from Happy English and I help people speak English better.
And this is Happy English Podcast, Episode eight sixty three.
American Culture, Music and Festivals. Hello and welcome and thanks
for joining me for another episode of the Happy English Podcast. Well,
it's summertime, the weather is warm, and the music's loud.
Today we're diving into one of the best parts of
American summer culture, music and festivals. There's just something about
summer in the US that makes people want to be outside,
especially with good food, good friends, and good music. And
let me tell you we go big when it comes
to outdoor concerts and festivals. I mean one of the
most classic summer activities in the US is hitting up
a concert at the park. Most cities and towns organize
free concerts, and I mean literally in the park or
at the beach. They set up a stage, sometimes a
few food trucks or stands, and people bring lawn chairs, blankets,
and snacks. It's relaxed, chill and very community focused. I
remember going to a concert a few years back at
the Beach in New York. It was Britt Floyd, a
Pink Floyd tribute band. There were hundreds of people there
chilling on the beach and enjoying some nostalgic music. And
let me tell you, the full moon really made the
atmosphere special. The vibe was so good. My friends and
I really had a blast. Have a blast. When you
have a blast, you have a good time. Like everyone
had a blast at the concert, you can also say
that something was a blast, like that concert was a blast. Yep.
Live music on a summer night is always a blast,
whether it's jazz, country, indie, or cover bands. There's something
magical about listening to live music under the stars. Now,
let's take it up a notch, because music festivals are
a whole different thing. Music festivals usually last a day
or even a few days, and feature multiple artists, multiple stages,
and a crowd of thousands. Some of the biggest ones
in the US are Coachella in California, Lollapalooza in Chicago,
and Bonaru in Tennessee. We're talking major artists, huge crowds,
food trucks, art installation, and yes, a lot of dancing
in the heat. And let's be honest, sometimes these festivals
can get a little wild. When going to a summer
music festival, people really let loose, dancing, singing and just
enjoying the moment. All right, let's talk about that phrase
for a moment. Let loose. Let loose is a great
phrasal verb that means to relax and completely have fun,
no stress, no holding back. Like everyone was letting loose
at the music festival and at the club afterwards. Jenny
really let loose on the dance floor. She let loose.
And speaking of dancing, dancing in public totally normal in
the US, dancing at outdoor events is totally common, even
if you're not a pro. People dance it concerts, street faars, parades,
even in the grocery store parking lot if there's a
band playing. The cool thing is nobody cares if you're
a good dancer or not. You just go with the flow,
enjoy the music and get into the groove. Get into
the groove. There's another idiom for you. When you get
into the groove, you relax and enjoy the rhythm or
the flow of something, especially music. When I went to
that concert at the beach, once the band started playing,
everyone got into the groove. And at the dance club,
Jack was pretty shy at first, but then he got
into the groove. What a dancer. And sometimes even random
strangers will dance with you. I think it's one of
those only in America moments, and honestly, it's kind of awesome.
Live music is really a big part of the summer
music culture in the US. You'll also find lots of
music festivals on the local level. These aren't just for
big name artists. There are blues festivals, jazz weekends, Reggae
in the Park, folk festivals, even eighties throwback nights. A
lot of traveling carnivals also feature live music, including local
music with an international theme like traditional Italian or Greek music.
I mean, who wouldn't want to listen to some old
Italian love songs while eating a nice cheese calzone. Yeah,
it's not just about the music, it's the whole vibe.
You're outside, the sun is shining, maybe you've got a
lemonade or a hot dog in hand, and someone's playing
your favorite song. Honestly, even if you don't know the band,
you can still have a good time just soaking up
the energy and speaking of good times, if you ever
go to a music festival or outdoor concert, there's one
slang word that sums it up. It's lit. When something
is lit, it means it's amazing, exciting, or full of energy,
like that concert at the Beach was totally lit. So
what's the best concert or music event you've ever been
to and what kind of music would make you get
up and dance? Come tell me on Instagram at Happy
English and Why, or leave a comment on the blog.
As always, thanks for listening, and remember, the best way
to remember English like this and any other word or
phrase in English, is to take that word or phrase,
write it in a sentence that's true for you or
true in your world, and then memorize your sentences. And remember,
why not check out my AI English tutor. It's a
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