Today is a sad day for all EDM fans in the Northwest as 2 of the region’s most popular music festivals in Portland, OR have been postponed until they are able to secure a suitable location, which could very well mean indefinitely. Previously, Moonlight Masquerade and Bass Odyssey had been held at the Oregon Convention Center and the Portland Expo Center, but due to local government intervention the city of Portland has enstated a ban on all Electronic Dance Music events at those locations that will prevent their hugely anticipated return.
Disco Donnie Presents and Red Cube PDX (the two companies responsible for both of these events), have successfully produced innumerable events across the country, but particularly in the Northwest. Recently, they became two of the few companies in the region to impose an 18 and over age restriction to their events in order to further ensure the level of responsibilty of their attendees. In light of these companies’ efforts to ensure the safety of their guests and their long history of successful events, this ban seems a little unwarranted, doesn’t it?
A ban on electronic music events in specific and a fervent backlash from local government against dance music culture raises the question in many young minds, “Why?”. Are these elected officials so severely conservative that they are launching a campaign against one of the most popular genres of music for our generation or to answer this question must we look closer at ourselves?
Blame the “EDM Bubble” once again if it helps you sleep at night, but I highly encourage you to take a deeper look into your own behavior at festivals and shows to help uncover the source of all this recent hostility.
Here are some of the reactions from fans about the cancellations. What are your thoughts?
Are we so uneducated about the dangers of drug use that suddenly it seems acceptable to take pills from a stranger? Are we so disconnected from our fellow man that when someone is obviously in need of help we are unable to stop the party and offer them water? Are we so desperate for attention that we insist on attending shows practically naked, thus furthering the image of sex, drugs and EDM to an extreme that begs government control?
Ask yourselves what you’re really getting out of these events, because clearly it’s not just about the music anymore and this backlash from government, society and the media will only get worse.
Check out the recap video from last year’s event, because it looks like it would’ve been a good time. I really hope event cancellations like these don’t become a growing trend.
Here is the full letter of apology from the event planners:
More on WRR:
- Win the BASSHEAD’s Dream Package from The Pageant
- Kidz Bop Attempts to Cover Popular EDM Songs and Fails Miserably
- The 17 Best EDM Tattoos
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