Socio-spatial authenticity at co-created music festivals. (March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Szmigin, Isabelle; Bengry-Howell, Andrew; Morey, Yvette; Griffin, Christine; Riley, Sarah
• Is Part Of: Annals of tourism research. Volume 63(2017)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 11
• Publication Date: 2017-03
• Subjects: Authenticity -- Music festivals -- Co-creation -- Socio-spatial -- Aura; Tourism -- Periodicals
• DOI: 10.1016/j.annals.2016.12.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-7383

Abstract

Highlights: We identify whether and how music festivals goers experience authenticity. We examine how authenticity emerges in co-created commercial places. We show the importance of different socio-spatial experiences in understanding authenticity. We show how integrating the physical environment complements authenticity. Abstract: From the early days of hippie counter-culture, music festivals have been an important part of the British summer. Today they are commercialised offerings without the counter-cultural discourse of earlier times. Drawing on participant observation, interviews and focus groups conducted at a rock festival and a smaller boutique festival, the paper examines how their design, organisation and management are co-created with participants to produce authentic experiences. The paper contributes to research on authenticity in tourism by examining how authenticity emerges and is experienced in such co-created commercial settings. It presents the importance that the socio-spatial plays in authenticity experiences and how socio-spatial experience and engagement can also be recognised as a form of aura.