Sunglasses often go unnoticed as vital accessories during festival season. While it's true that the British festival season frequently seems to be drenched in rain, there are few things more essential than sunglasses when the sun shines. This year, I had the opportunity to collaborate with Meta to try out their new eyewear at Yungblud’s one-day festival, BludFest, and I must say right off the bat – they are fantastic.
The Meta AI Ray-Bans are lightweight and stylish. They incorporate a 12MP camera, five microphones, on-ear speakers, and AI functionality, all while maintaining the classic Wayfarer design, ensuring no added bulk. They function flawlessly as sunglasses as well, making me feel comfortable throughout the day by softening the intense sunlight without being too dark in the shade.
As a festival-goer, an unexpected pleasure was enjoying the performances without having a phone in my hand. This allowed me to truly experience the acts while effortlessly recording the scenes, rather than watching them through my phone screen; plus, I didn’t have to worry about blocking the view of other attendees. It had me contemplating the rising number of artists who prohibit phones at their concerts, and if the widespread use of glasses with embedded cameras could serve as a happy compromise.
The simplicity of accessing the camera and video features meant I could easily capture remarkable moments without fumbling for my phone. For instance, when Rachel Chinouriri had the entire crowd dancing together, and during Yungblud’s confetti explosions and smoke flares in ‘Hello Heaven Hello,’ I just needed to press a button on the glasses' arm to perfectly document those moments. When I compared my images to those my friend took on his brand new phone, it was clear which captured the essence of the moment versus a reaction to it.
Additionally, the battery life was a major advantage throughout the day. With both the glasses and the case fully charged, I managed to take hundreds of photos and videos before needing to recharge. Even after just 30 minutes back in the case, they were ready for more captures, filling my Meta AI app with memories, while my phone's battery remained untouched all day, easily handling my navigation home in the evening.
Sadly, I didn't have much success using Meta AI’s voice commands at the venue, but that was solely due to the poor mobile reception at The National Bowl – phones were nearly ineffective, too. This meant I couldn’t make hands-free notes about some of my favorite food vendors or quickly check the lineup while moving around the site. However, when I had WiFi access backstage, the AI was impressively quick and responsive, and thanks to the five microphones, it could pick up my voice even amidst the festival noise when I had questions.
The main reason I’ve truly come to love these glasses is that I was attending BludFest as a journalist. Covering the festival required me to move between stages all day to see as many performances as possible. They allowed me to capture the sense of community and love that permeated the site, and I could record the shows while also jotting down notes on my phone. This flexibility was essential for composing my review the next day, and watching the footage later fills me with joy and anticipation for BludFest Year 3.
While backstage, I was lucky enough to chat with several artists, including Nxdia, Cliffords, and Yungblud himself. These interactions were spontaneous, but with the glasses, I could begin recording while my friend set up his camera, taking full advantage of our time and capturing delightful impromptu exchanges and laughs. The glasses provided a distinct first-person perspective that is rarely seen, making viewers feel like they are conversing with the artists. When the surprise guest Billy Idol walked by, I was able to record the moment, along with my friend's astonishment at being just a few feet away from a living legend.
Sunglasses are an essential part of any festival-goer’s gear, and the Meta AI Ray-Ban Wayfarers are absolutely vital. My experience at BludFest would have been wonderful without them, given the joyous atmosphere, but they allowed me to be fully present while still capturing memories. My day surpassed all expectations, and these glasses enabled me to relive the experience as if I were there again. I look forward to attending another festival with them and, as a writer, they have transformed my approach to reviews and interviews. They could very well represent the future for both the industry and festival attendees alike.
Fast-forward. A life in media. A profession. One company after another. Yet, the question remains: who controls the narrative? Who benefits from the
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