EDM festivals facing possible ban in L.A. county
[Photo cred: OhDagYo]
Following the reported overdose deaths of two teenagers at HARD Summer fest in Southern California last month, Los Angeles county officials are “still evaluating” a possible complete ban on EDM festivals on county-owned properties, “in the interest of public safety,” as per Digital Music News. An electronic dance music festival task force has reportedly been set up to research these events in order to consider new policies and restrictions that may need to be implemented as drug-related deaths continue to rise. In the meantime, Live Nation has agreed to cancel their upcoming event, HARD Presents … A Night at Fairplex, which was to host DVBBS, Juicy J, AC Slater and many more artists on September 10 in Pomona, California.
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Another upcoming HARD event, Day Of The Dead, hasn't suffered a cancellation but will be met with many updated requirements. The two-day event, to be headlined by Deadmau5, Skrillex, Flying Lotus and more, with a myriad of artists in tow, has been changed to a 21+ event from it's previous 18 and over rule, which is expected to result in a decrease of roughly 50,000 attendees over the course of the weekend. To up the safety factors, Live Nation plans to provide more shade, free water, cooling stations and increased medical and security staff. Drug education material will also be distributed at the event.
With a possible ban of these festivals on the horizon, many are expressing their concerns for what this may result in for the local EDM culture. Insomiac Events founder, Pasquale Rotella, best known for organizing the popular Electric Daisy Carnival, has said: “If we’re trying to create a safe and secure environment for these passionate fans, sending them back into the unregulated underground isn’t a step in the right direction.”
What are your thoughts on the situation?
