There's something so profoundly American about listening to music outside, particularly in the summer. Baby Boomers will reflect on Woodstock and any American of any generation can likely tell you their first concert and their best concert whether it be the Philharmonic or acid rock. 

This explains the surge of planning and promotion of new music festivals every year, from Bonnaroo in Tennessee to Coachella in California. Some of the more dedicated fans hit several a year, packing up their cars and touring the country. Many festival-goers opt for a rustic "camp" feel; sleeping in back seats or tents, eating fair food,  swatting mosquitos and praying it doesn't rain (sometimes really hoping it will.) Some festivals do not offer camping "accommodations" and instead partner with local hotels to offer ticket "bundles" complete with festival passes, accommodations, and shuttle service to and from the event itself. 

The crowds are flush with "millennials." You've read about them; the kids of the boomers, supposedly tech-savvy and entitled, who want things their way and want their idealistic demands answered sooner rather than later. 

But why would millennials, for all their entitlement, choose to pay inflated ticket prices to sleep on the ground and wait in line for hours for a shower?

Because modern music festivals offer so much more than music. 

Legendary Austin festival South by Southwest is a perfect example of the expansion from music to other interests. Music is only officially a third of the festival now; the film and interactive portions offer a spectacular collection of creative workshops and lectures, as well as unparalleled networking capabilities and the ever-present allure of bumping into a beloved celebrity. If you've ever followed the SXSW hashtag on Twitter, you know that everybody who's anybody is there and those who aren't wish they were. 

Bonnaroo, the rural Tennessee festival famous for its huge camping lots and incredible lineups, also expanded beyond the music. Not that they necessary needed to; in 2013 the headliners could only be called legendary with Paul McCartney, Tom Petty, and Jack Johnson drawing crowds. Spectacular booking aside, Bonnaroo stepped out to expand outside the music gathering. Each year there are herculean feats of composting and recycling. Imagine trying to convince over a hundred thousand people, many under the influence of alcohol and music, to separate their compostables from their plastic recycling. The volunteer effort is staggering, and the result is that you can go to Bonnaroo, be completely indulgent with food, beverage, and music, and still feel like you're somehow helping out the earth.

Hangout Music Fest offers the music and a beach vacation all rolled into one. Set on gorgeous Gulf shores, it's everything you want from a music festival with coastal winds and white sands to keep you cool while dancing. It takes the festival experience and removes the work that comes with camping and instead just allows you to wander out on the beach every day, where your favorite bands happen to be playing live.

There are dozens more music festivals around the United States, and several outside of the US that have gained popularity in the recent years. Fuse published a great list of the must-see festivals of 2014, but be warned. They're not cheap. But when you factor in the vacation aspect, the entertainment, and the dozens of new friends you'll make simply from proximity you may very well find that it was worth it.