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Artist News Business News Gigs & Festivals Live Business
Unsound Festival bans fan-filming and photos of live shows, explains why
By Aly Barchi | Published on Friday 30 August 2013
Bosses at Poland’s ultra-alternative Unsound have, in keeping with the festival’s 2014 theme of ‘Interference’, placed a ban on all filming and photo-taking at the event (selfies are fine, it seems).
Clarifying his and his team’s anti-cam policy, which in the past has had A-list advocates in Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Savages and even Beyonce, Unsound AD Mat Schulz says: “Our aim is to encourage our audience to focus on being in the moment, and not distract others out of that moment. We want to question the automatic tendency to place photos and videos of concerts online, be it on social networks, music websites or video streaming platforms, to put some tiny glitch in the constant bombardment of images, today’s main tool of communication.
He somewhat strictly adds: “The ban will not be policed by security guards, this is going to be a community action – if you see someone next to you filming, ask them politely to stop”.
Taking place in Krakow between 13-20 Oct, this year’s Unsound will feature the unfilmable likes of Andy Stott & Demdike Stare, Laurel Halo, Pantha Du Prince And The Bell Laboratory, Dean Blunt, James Ferraro, Mykki Blanco, Julianna Barwick and Forest Swords. That’ll all be preceded by a London-based lead-in event, spanning various locations from 26-29 Sep, co-starring Karenn (aka Blawan and Pariah), Forest Swords and King Midas Sound.
