As you know, Nerdify reviews only the most interesting and helpful stuff. And this time it’s all about leisure!

Summer is the best season to visit some outdoor music events and, with the increasing amount of music festivals all around, the possibilities are endless. If you haven’t attended any yet, it’s not too late to jump on a wagon! So if you live for music, sun and enjoying both with other music lovers, then this list may set up your itinerary for this summer vacation!

Some festivals have won their reputation throughout the years while the others are just starting to gain their followers, overall, Nerdify has compiled the best of them!

Folk on the Rocks (July 20 to 22. City of Yellowknife, Spectacular Northwest Territories)

Folk on the Rocks is an adventure worth to live for! Yellowknife welcomes thousands from all over Canada to Long Lake each year since 1980. Just imagine a perfect combination of amazing landscapes, a true beer garden and more than 24-hour music program not even mentioning the children’s area. Here is all the information you need: https://bit.ly/2Mdawka

Panorama (July 27 to 29. Randall’s Island, NYC)

This festival comes from the hand and mind of Coachella’s producers. It’s just one more reason to take a closer look at this newbie. This year’s line-up includes The Weeknd, Janet Jackson, The Killers, St. Vincent, David Byrne, and many others. Panorama also brings THE LAB, which places experiential digital art that combines technology, artistry, and design, created exclusively by New York-based artists. An experience exclusively brought to this festival. More info: https://bit.ly/2iYVpPd

Osheaga (August 3 to 5. Parc Jean-Drapeau, Montreal)

Every year Osheaga proves to be one of the best festivals in Canada. Its line-up is amazing and full of artists well known worldwide! From Arctic Monkeys, St. Vincent, Chromeo to Florence and the Machine, Franz Ferdinand, and it goes on and on with three days of non-stop music! Just click here and be amazed too: https://bit.ly/2l8oiLz

Lollapalooza  (August 2 to 5. Grant Park, Chicago)

Truth to be said, this one is one of Nerdify’s favorite festivals, no wonder it appears in Nerdify reviews. It was created in 1991 and quickly grew into the legendary music event of US. Although it almost ended in 1997, it came back a few years later in 2003. Grant Park in the city of Chicago! Different genres of music (rock, pop, hip-hop, electronic, etc.), eight different stages, endless food stands, and the most beautiful scenery with the Chicago Skyline on one side and Lake Michigan on the other side, make Lollapalooza one of the most powerful stages in the world. The line-up for this year includes The Weeknd, Bruno Mars, Jack White, Arctic Monkeys, The National, and many more. For tickets and more info follow the link: https://bit.ly/2erRyWP

Arise Music Festival (August 3 to 5. Sunrise Ranch, Loveland, Colorado)

This festival is best described as a movement, where yoga, art installations, workshops, performances, sustainability, social responsibility merge with tons of music for 3 days in the mountain valley of Colorado. An eclectic line up with some reggae, EDM, and folk. A huge variety of organic food in food trucks. And the best part is that every ticket sold funds a tree planting and honestly, in Nerdify, we think this only reason is enough to go there! Here you can get more info: https://bit.ly/1OltGyI

Outside Lands (August 10 to 12. San Francisco, California)

Food, wine, beer and all the sights surrounding the San Francisco area, make this festival really unique. Every August the Golden Gate Park turns into one of the biggest music events of the West Coast. With artists such as Janet Jackson, Florence and the Machine and  The Weeknd, this year Outside Lands will make a lot of people very happy. Get all the info for this one here: https://bit.ly/2odMU3r

Mutek (August 22 to 26. Montreal, Canada)

Mutek is listed in Nerdify reviews for a reason. This multicultural and international festival sets place the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, unifying electronic music and audiovisual performances. The splendid female artist is the one in charge of this year’s line-up. For more information click here: https://bit.ly/2teDLfa

Burning Man (August 26 to September 3. Black Rock, Nevada)

Nerdify reviews Burning Man as well, though many people will not consider it as the one dedicated to music. We needed to include it in the coolest festivals because it is indeed one of the coolest! It sets up in an inhabited part of the Nevada desert that transforms into the Black Rock City for the next 7 days. A place where people are the part of an artistic community, surrounded by futuristic sculptures and surreal art, everything in the festival comes alive when the last minute surprised DJ starts to play. It ends with burning THE man. More info: https://bit.ly/2ppRVJe

Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival  (September 22 and 23. Franklin, Tennessee)

With a 3-year history, this festival has already gained a fame of the place to find all the best bands in every genre on its 6 stages: rock’n’roll, country, bluegrass, jazz, indie, gospel, pop, and blues. Its creators have thought every single aspect through to make this festival the best experience ever – everything is kept on the highest level of performance.  This year’s line-up includes Lionel Richie, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, Jack White, and many more. Check all artists here: https://bit.ly/2ywqsM5

We admit, there’s a great number of music festivals all the year round, so probably these Nerdify reviews are just a start. We will definitely have to post similar entries for the other season’s music fests. But for now, summer is the sunny season that’s just too perfect to enjoy music outdoors all day and all night long! So go ahead and start filling the agenda!

Hey-hey, Nerdify reviews are here again! Taking a look through the books that proudly became the bestsellers in 2019, it becomes obvious that people seek for something that could inspire them and grant a little bit more freedom. It is no wonder as we live in the age of technology where the vast amount of information and the news make it quite challenging to find a clue. The books, especially if they are motivational, become a good source of answers to the questions that worry us all. Take your time to check out several examples that Nerdify reviews team has picked for your enjoyment and inspiration!

Becoming by Michelle Obama

A beautiful memoir of Michelle Obama is a poignant reflection and storytelling that goes beyond the role of the first African American lady in the United States history to make the White House welcoming and more open than ever. It is a book that tells of motherhood and work, growing up in the south of Chicago, and taking a great responsibility with a rare degree of honesty and passion. Unlike typical memoir books, “Becoming” is told in a beautiful and accessible language that most of us can relate to. Reading this book is like talking to an old friend because the narration is very personal, inspirational, and powerful.

Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

If you feel like solving a mystery, feel how the love unfolds in a truly beautiful way, and see the breathtaking landscapes with the help of imagination, this book will keep you locked in its world. There is something haunting and unique as one crosses another chapter and waits to find out what comes next. It teaches how to trust prior knowledge and instincts, how to cope with the truths revealed, and learn to live again. The book feels fresh and lyrical! There is a mystery on every page, yet in the end, it is only the love that remains the same despite the loss, desolation, and despair.

Unfreedom of The Press by Mark R. Levin

A beautiful book by Mark Levin of the Fox News fame is a great read for everyone because we all receive information daily and wonder about why it is exactly this way. The book surprisingly reveals that it is not the government that oppresses the press, but the limitations that journalists create on their own. There is fear to tell the truth because of lack of courage, group thinking, bias, stereotypes, the dangers of propaganda, and the fake news. What makes this book so powerful and popular is the fact that it is told by the one who has been inside the system for years and now wants to share the truth with the world.

It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered by Lysa TerKeurst

A great read not only for the Christian people but for anyone who wants to find an inner strength again and find out about why there are ups and downs and how most challenges can be handled. A very honest book that not only helps to feel better but also shows how to encourage a friend and be there for the ones we love. The author shows rare kindness and patience, which helps to deliver a powerful message – share the love, never give up, and be there for others!

12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson

We wholeheartedly recommend this book for the students because it is like a guide through all the college life and homework struggles. Written by Canadian clinical psychologist and professor, it discusses the daily issues we all face, including ethics, time management, stress, anger, talking to friends, the ways how to deal with unfair university professors, and much more. It also explains how to act in complex situations when it is hard to reject an offer or choose between two people. These are not really obligatory rules for life, but helpful tips that will make your life a much better experience!

Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover

A powerful story that will resonate with anyone who will start reading this great memoir. It speaks about the power of education and how it changes the way one percepts the world and the others. Starting from the author’s childhood, it tells about how the same things can be helpful and damaging if taken wrong. This book is a great reminder that tells us to stop once in a while and appreciate what we already have. It is about striving for education and sharing it with others! Recommended read for the students!

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book) by Don Miguel Ruiz

Do you want to achieve freedom, happiness, peace of mind, and go beyond personal limitations? If you do, this book is a great friend and a history lesson, telling of ancient wisdom in a truly beautiful and sincere way. There is no need to feel isolated and sad when you can be there for others and inspire people to follow their dreams! Do yourself a favor, get this book, and your life will shine with the new colors and joy!

Enjoy your time,

Nerdify Reviews team

Ah, college. The phase of life most hyped-about—from Hollywood depicting non-stop partying to wistful middle-aged people admitting that’s when they peaked. While university can be a fantastic time for developing friendships, finding your academic passions, and discovering yourself, that’s a lot of pressure to put on you for the next four years— especially because your growth as a person certainly doesn’t stop at the age of 21. Nerdify reviews team agrees your college social life will differ significantly from that in high school—especially if you’ve been learning remotely as of late and are starting university in person. Nerdify reviews different advice on how to hit the ground running at your new campus:

1. Students Spend Orientation and Syllabus Week Meeting as Many People as Possible

When you first get to campus, everyone will be in the same shoes as you as Reddit users state—most likely in a new town without friends, and looking to make some as quickly as possible. Ephemeral friend groups are established rapidly, formed merely based on proximity. If you’re shy, your roommate and/or suitemates are an excellent social foundation to branch outward from as you get more comfortable with your surroundings. The single most helpful tip for gaining a vibrant social life is to spend as little time in your dorm as possible.

2. A Great Way to Meet People is to Take Advantage of all Your Amenities and Campus Celebrations

As the semester begins, your campus will be hosting numerous events—think spirit day pep rallies, craft activities, career fairs, and more. While many of them may be cheesy, go nevertheless because you’ll likely find other like-minded people there that you can bond over the cheesiness (and “free” food) with. As for the other amenities like the gym, dining halls, library, etc., go to them each at least a few times because, for one, you’re already paying for them, and two, it’s easy to strike up a conversation with fellow students in these locations. A great place to find new people is at the initial meetings of campus clubs. Even though you can’t join a dozen clubs, you can still be introduced to people you want to hang out with outside of the meetings.

3. Don’t Feel Discouraged if You Don’t Immediately Find “Your People”

While there is an initial rush of buddy-making at the start of school, many of those friendships go as quickly as they came— which is not a negative thing in the slightest, say Nerdify reviews experts. Early on, there is an unspoken agreement that striking up small talk with someone sitting next to you in class, waiting on the machines in the laundry room, or standing behind you in line at the dining hall is an invitation to friendship that’s not seen as awkward or forced from what we can see on Reddit. Even if they don’t become your best chums, by spending time with them at other gatherings, eventually through an interconnected web of acquaintances, you’ll find the people that you mesh with seamlessly.

4. You’re Likely to Have Multiple Friend Groups

One of the most beautiful things about college is that with your class size likely being in the thousands instead of the hundreds like back in high school, you’re going to be able to have multiple groups of friends quite easily. Reddit users, for example, say you’ll have dormmates to make food within the communal kitchen, classmates to study with at the library, people with whom you go out to events, and friends who would rather watch movies with you on a rainy day—a friend for any and every occasion.

5. With a Large Number of People Comes Less Gossip

A pleasant surprise you’ll find is that because there are just so many students, things like campus-wide cliques and rumors just aren’t feasible. Sure, you have the people in sports that Hollywood might call “jocks”, but with a myriad of students, no one friend group consists of the ultimate “popular people.” Someone sitting alone in the dining hall isn’t seen as a “loner”—they’re just a person who has time between classes that’s grabbing a bite to eat. Outside of someone’s classes (of which there are hundreds) or friend groups (of which there are also hundreds), people have no idea who the other people on campus are—so even when there is gossip, it doesn’t travel far. Nerdify reviews team suggests it can be chalked up to maturity or people being more self-assured that they don’t feel the need to put others down, but college students have better things to do than make or care about baseless rumors about others.

6. Don’t Be Afraid To Express Your Authentic Self

Being one among thousands, you can easily be a wallflower or just face in the crowd if that’s what you’re most comfortable with. However, if there’s something special about you that you want everyone to know—be sure to show it. In all honesty, the quirkiest and most eccentric people on campus—the ones who have funky hair, wear Heelys to class, dress up in Halloween costumes in April, and play the bagpipes in the park—are the people treated like celebrities on campus and talked about with reverence years after graduation, you can find a lot of stories that prove that on Reddit. You don’t have to pretend to be someone you’re not to fit in with a specific group—there are so many friends to be had that you’ll be able to find the people who make college feel like a second home in no time.