For some, it may be music to their ears, for others an abomination: dance, electro and techno festival Voodoo Village is testing out a version of a "no phone policy" in some areas of the festival ground.
The festival organised in the woods around Humbeek Castle on 7 and 8 September – one of the last on the summer festival agenda – will be the first festival in Belgium to adopt a type of "no phone" policy at one of its five stages scattered across the magical site.
Specifically, festival-goers wishing to enter The Oracle, which can accommodate a thousand or so people, will be asked at the entrance to cover their smartphone lens with a sticker, making it impossible to take videos or photos.
"The Oracle should be a unique experience shared with the Voodoo Village community. Being completely in the moment, without disturbances caused by phones, makes for a memorable experience," said Maxim Dekegel, the festival's organiser.
Blocking view
While the festival says its initiative is a premier on the Belgian festival scene, mobile phone taping is already more established in the club scene, and Horst Club in Vilvoorde, already used the same system this spring.
Globally, more and more artists are also asking for the policy to be implemented as they find people are more occupied with their phones and filming concerts than enjoying them. While some people heading to the ninth edition of this festival may be vexed by this policy, others who are bothered by phones being held up, blocking their view of the stages, will likely welcome it.
Dekegel stressed that it is not his intention to make the entire festival free of smartphones, by for example taking them off people or making people leave them in lockers, but that this is merely a test to see how their visitors react to the system. It could then be further expanded to another stage.
Voodoo Village is expected to attract 15,000 visitors each day, while a total of 80 DJs and live acts from both home and abroad, including Black Coffee, GOLFOS, and Bibi Seck, are programmed to take to its stages.
As in previous editions, the organisers will once again put mental well-being at the forefront of the festival, with mobile teams roaming the grounds to help if there are issues or if a person experiences harassment. The Sanctuary, where a psychotherapist will be based, will welcome those in need of rest, while there are several other chill-out zones on the festival grounds so people don't get overwhelmed.
