Virtual reality comes to Lollapalooza's 25th anniversary courtesy of Samsung Gear VR

Back in 1996, I attended the greatest concert of my life. I was only a teenager -- not yet old enough to drive -- so I got a ride from Long Island to Randall's Island in NYC. The show was Lollapalooza, and the lineup was epic -- Metallica, The Ramones, Soundgarden, Wu-Tang Clan, and more.

Back then, concertgoers didn't have smartphones and other such modern technologies -- we stared at the stage, not a screen. In 2016, however, things are very different. The upcoming Lollapalooza concert -- the 25th anniversary of the festival which is being held in Chicago -- will have a more high-tech feel. Why? There will be virtual reality onsite -- and offsite too. The VR technology will be supplied by Sasmung's Gear VR.

"Samsung Electronics America, Inc. returns to Lollapalooza to amplify the festival experience for music fans, bringing a host of new, immersive experiences grounded in virtual reality (VR), fun games, giveaways and more throughout the 4-day weekend. Galaxy owners will have the opportunity to gain VIP access to The Galaxy Lounge for an unforgettable view of the Samsung Main Stage", says Samsung.

Marc Mathieu, CMO, Samsung Electronics America explains, "Lollapalooza is an excellent opportunity for us to connect fans to their favorite music using our mobile and VR technology. We are thrilled to partner with the festival in this unique way, delivering new possibilities in content creation and content consumption through Samsung products, and allowing fans to have a deeper connection to our brand".

If you are like me and won't be in Chicago for the 4-day music festival, Samsung will also be streaming some of the show to its iconic "Samsung 837" location in NYC. As a special treat, the Manhattan location will have exclusive VR content regarding the history of the festival. If you aren't in NYC or Chicago, well, you are out of luck, I'm afraid.

While this use of virtual reality is very cool, remember concertgoers, you should spend some time without the smartphones and VR as well. Lollapalooza is supposed to be a communal experience -- listening to music and having fun with others in actual reality. While there is certainly room for things like VR and social networking, don't forget to stop and smell the roses too.

Photo Credit: Rommel Canlas/Shutterstock