I’ve been going to see my favourite band perform live for over 25 years. 

When I’m at a show, I don’t have to think about any of my daily obligations. I am free to express my emotions in any way I like and act however I want. I’m not worried about what anyone thinks, because I know there’s an understanding. Everyone is there for the same thing, and we all have a history with this band. 

There is a beautiful sense of community at concerts. It’s powerful to watch a group of women expressing their emotions freely. They could be over-emotional, ecstatic, crying or turned on and it’s safe because it’s all women.

Most young girls are not yet as inhibited by the roles society has traditionally determined for women: taking care of others, making yourself small and your needs unimportant. As adults, listening to the music of their teenage obsession reconnects women to their untamed inner self, and reminds them of who they are at their core.

At a pop concert women and girls are temporarily free of patriarchal society’s expectations. They don’t have to fit into a role and can just be themselves. 

Seeing my favourite band live is pure joy to me, and something that I do for myself. Because I’ve been a fan for so long, each of their songs represents a specific memory or moment. Each song takes me back to who I was at the time of its release. And singing out those songs with the people who have chaperoned me through life, is just the best it gets.

So if there’s a tour, I’m going. My husband can take care of the kids for a couple of days. Work can wait. I’ve been going since I was fifteen and (almost) nothing could make me stop.