Band T-shirt day is fast approaching, so it’s time to dig out your favourite and wear it all day on this unique annual ‘fashion’ event
Written by Francesca Davis
Remember the days of concerts and festivals, you know, when you were piled on top of a series of random strangers in an uncomfortable sweaty group, but didn’t care because you were too busy bouncing up and down to your favourite band with a wild amount of energy? Long before the days of social distancing of course. Well cast your mind back to the merchandise stalls as well. Don’t lie, you’ve spent more money than you should (or even have in some cases- whoops!) on a T-shirt in the hope that every time you wear it, you are reminded of ‘the best night of your life’ *insert squealing noise*. If you haven’t, then you must a least know someone who has.
Band t-shirts are extremely popular, and always have been. It never goes out of style to show off the music you love most. If the statement ‘I own at least one band t-shirt’ applies to you, even if it’s one that you completely forgot about and has gathered dust in the back of your wardrobe, it’s time to get it out. What better time to display your admiration for your favourite music acts, than on BBC Radio 6’s band t-shirt day.
Wear your favourite band t-shirt on Friday 20th November, the 13th consecutive year of this annual trend, that not only reminds you how cool you look in band merch, but also means you will hear that band’s music that day if you tune into Radio 6 and use the hashtag #TShirtDay. So, you hear nothing but the nations favourite music based on what’s on their tees. A celebration of listeners tastes as well as a nod to fashion and the trend that you can’t go wrong with.
Be transported back to the first time you wore it too. Keep in mind that when you first picked it up, you were helping and supporting that band, so good on you. Merchandise is the third biggest source of income for a band, after live performances and music royalties, and it should come as no surprise that the classic t-shirt is the most popular form of merch.
T-shirts also really help bring people together. It makes a person feel like they are that bit closer to a band, a bit more connected, wearing a design that usually the artist has had a say in. It can make a person feel more connected to another random stranger too. I can’t count the times I’ve seen someone wear a brilliant band t-shirt that I wished I owned and wondered whether we could form some sort of amazing friendship based on our similar music tastes. Perhaps that’s an individual thought process, but I can definitely appreciate a person’s tee if it’s got someone I like on it, and I reckon I’m not on my own on that.
When you get dressed this Friday, think about what band t-shirt you want to wear. Maybe it’s your only one, or maybe you’re a band tee nerd and have a collection of fifty gathered over a range of past events that hopefully we get to attend again in the near future. Either way, if you loved the band enough to buy their t-shirt the first time, re-immerse yourself in the music, use the hashtag and tune into BBC Radio 6 to hear a song you once heard live, all whilst donning a classic item of clothing you should be proud to own.
