Sunglasses are the often unsung hero of festival season. Granted, British festival season seems like a complete wash out every year, but when the sun’s out, there are few items more crucial. This year, I’ve been fortunate enough to partner with Meta to test out their new eyewear at Yungblud’s one-day festival BludFest and let me tell you off the top – they are incredible.
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The Meta AI Ray-Bans are lightweight and sleek. The 12MP camera, five microphones, on-ear speakers and AI capabilities are all folded into the classic shape of the Wayfarers, so there’s no additional bulk. They work perfectly as sunglasses too, leaving me feeling comfortable all day, dampening the blazing sunshine without being too dark in the shade.
An unexpected delight as a punter is being able to enjoy the day’s acts without a phone in hand. It meant that I was able to record the spectacle and watch it for real, rather than watch it through my phone; nor did I have to worry about spectators behind me having their view blocked. It all left me thinking about the increasing number of acts who are banning phones at their live shows, and whether mass adoption of glasses with in-built cameras might be a happy medium.
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The ease of operating the camera and video features also meant I was readily able to catch spectacular moments without fumbling for my phone. When Rachel Chinouriri got the whole crowd two-stepping together, and when Yungblud set off confetti cannons and smoke flares during ‘Hello Heaven Hello’, I just pressed the button on the arm of the glasses and captured the moment perfectly. Comparing the image to what my friend caught on his brand new phone, it’s easy to see which one was in-the-moment, vs a reaction to the moment.
The battery life was also a massive plus on the day. With the glasses and case both fully charged, I was able to capture hundreds of photos and videos before they needed a charge. Back in the case for even 30 minutes, they were ready to go again for another swathe of captures, leaving my Meta AI app bursting with memories, while my phone battery didn’t need touching all day, perfectly capable of running my sat nav to get me home in the evening.
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Unfortunately, I wasn’t as readily able to use Meta AI’s voice commands onsite, but that was purely down to The National Bowl’s awful mobile reception – phones were rendered near useless, too. It meant that I wasn’t able to make a hands-free note of some of the food vendors I enjoyed, and I wasn’t able to get quick details on the lineup as I moved about the site. When I was able to connect to WiFi backstage though, the AI was super fast and responsive, and again, the five microphones meant that even with a music festival going on, it could hear me ask any question that popped into my head.
But the real reason I’ve absolutely fallen in love with the glasses is because I attended as a journalist. Reviewing BludFest meant that I had to be on the move between the two stages all day to see as many acts as I could. They allowed me to capture the feeling of community and love that was present all across the site, and I was also able to record performances while simultaneously making notes on my phone. The flexibility it afforded me was invaluable in writing my review the next day, while watching it all back fills me with joy and excitement for BludFest Year 3.
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Hanging out backstage, I was fortunate enough to speak with a handful of artists, including Nxdia, Cliffords and Yungblud himself. These all happened on short notice, but with the glasses, I was able to start recording while my friend set up his camera, making the most of every second we were gifted and capturing wonderful off-the-cuff conversations and jokes. The glasses gave a unique first-person POV that you don’t often see, allowing viewers to feel like they are themselves talking to the artists. And when the night’s secret special guest Billy Idol walked past us, I was able to capture the moment, complete with my friend’s shock that we were within 3ft of a living legend.
Sunglasses are an invaluable part of anybody’s festival kit, and the Meta AI Ray-Ban Wayfarers are utterly essential. My experience at BludFest would have been wonderful without them because it’s just such a joyous place to be, but they allowed me to feel refreshingly present in the moment while still capturing memories. My day was elevated beyond my expectations and these glasses allowed me to relive the day as if I’m there all over again. I cannot wait to hit another festival with them in hand and, as a writer, it has rewired how I approach reviews and interviews. They just might be the future for the industry and punters, alike.
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Words + Photography: Jack Butler-Terry
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