One of Ireland’s leading electronic music festivals Celtronic will implement ‘a phone free dancefloor’ policy at the Derry festival which takes place from June 27th– July 1st 2018. Similar policies have been introduced at several large clubs and venues around the world but this may be a first for an Irish festival/event. The decision was made after it came to organisers’ attention that camera and video phones were having a negative effect on the general atmosphere of the festival.
Celtronic 2018 will take place at various venues across the city with prolific electronic acts such as DVS1, Ryan Vail, Avalon Emerson, DJ Seinfeld and Steve Bug featured on the line-up.
A spokesperson for Celtronic said:
“Since we started Celtronic in 2001, there have been countless memorable moments, sets and performances that will stay with us forever. However, a development in the scene has been the increased use of camera and phone technology on the dancefloor which can have a negative impact on the atmosphere and can be an invasion of privacy for dancers and performers alike. The dancefloor should be a place for dancing where you can be yourself, where dancers of all backgrounds, genders and sexual orientation are free to connect fully to the music and each other without fear of being captured on camera. While not a relatively new or unique idea, we feel the time is right for a phone free dancefloor policy to be introduced at our festival/events.”
