Last week, we discussed how attending electronic music festivals continues to be a growing trend among young millennials. This week, we take a deeper dive into how several international festivals are having to plan for and deal with threats and scares as tension runs high.
On July 22nd-24th, Boom, Belgium hosted the 12th annual Tomorrowland festival, with millions tuning in from around the world to watch and take part of the live stream and social media efforts. For the hundreds of thousands of people making the trip to Belgium, there was an additional focus this year – not just what sets to catch and which outfits to debut!
Unfortunately, it is impossible to forget that Belgium experienced terrorism firsthand in March 2016, including two devastating assaults at the Brussels Airport and the Maalbek metro station where three suicide bombers took the lives of 32 civilians and injured more than 300 people.
The last thing a festivalgoer thinks about during an event is terrorism, however, festivals are now taking additional security measures to ensure the safety and well being of attendees and artists alike.
Tomorrowland released a press release about their heightened security measures.
“We are working together with some other summer festivals on collective security measures and guidelines and the metal detector gates will be installed at Tomorrowland too.
…As a society, we must learn to deal with the threat of terrorist attack. These last few weeks and months, a series of intensive consultations have taken place with local and federal police, local governments and the Ministry of Home Affairs in preparation of the approaching festival summer. Existing plans are being updated, additional measures are in the pipeline. The festivals themselves have also taken action. Graspop Metal Meeting, Rock Werchter, TW Classic, Dour Festival, Tomorrowland and Pukkelpop are working on collective measures based on their consultations with the authorities. Clear directives will be established on what to allow or disallow at the various festivals. The aim is to allow backpacks and bags but only following thorough inspection. In the next few days and weeks, each of the festivals will inform its festivalgoers, staff and other interested parties of the directives and guidelines that must be observed. They will do everything in their power to make sure the additional checks run as smoothly as possible. The organisers would like to thank the fans in advance for their understanding, their willing cooperation, the extra effort they are asked to make and also for their continued vigilance.”
These attacks, however, did not deter festivalgoers from attending their coveted event. Many took to social media to express their solidarity to the host country and shared their concerns about the upcoming event.
In 2015, major trance duo Aly & Fila made history by celebrating their 400th radio show episode in their home country of Egypt, at the foot of the Great Pyramids. Though the country security is on high alert, thousands of fans flocked to the region to partake in the once in a lifetime experience and did not let the threat or fear of travel stop them from packing the massive area designated for those fans attending.
Despite the increase of attacks and assaults and the coverage on our news channels and social media outlets to coincide, there is a resilience within the dance music community that withstands fear and facades of terror. In lieu of international travel alerts, we foresee continued support and attendance in electronic music festivals and a resounding stand against terror from the electronic music community.
With more and more areas affected by political turmoil, terrorism and unrest what changes do you anticipate in the music festival landscape? Would a potential terrorist threat deter you from attending your upcoming festival?
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