The city that gave the world house music, Chicago, has just banned EDM events at a venue that once was The Congress Theater. A city agreement that imposes the ban is designed to be enforced at the location indefinitely, regardless of what future business opens in the historic establishment.The Congress recently shut down after losing its liquor license, but the new owner—perhaps in an effort to appease local political officials—eagerly signed an agreement with Chicago's city council banning all "EDM" events at the theater even if it's sold to a new operator. According to city officials, the behavior that often surrounds dance music events at the theater played a part in their recent loss of their license, and they simply wanted to ensure that all performances that might be taking place in the future will not be those "created by a DJ or those using equipment that is not a real instrument."According to the Chicago liquor commissioner Gregory Steadman, DJ events are often unsafe, and the Congress has been plagued by problems whenever they've hosted them. He claims that the local citizens even do not want these type of events appearing at the venue. Local Alderman Joe Moreno has been more hesitant to oppose dance music. recently suggesting such a ban by the city goes a little far, though he still supports the ban as the only way to ensure crowd safety.In May, former production manager at the Congress, Charlie Burns gave his two cents on the matter, saying he doesn't "blame the genre or the artists, it's the operator who has to be able to handle the crowd. Unfortunately, the Congress has a history of not being able to manage certain types of crowds."Despite the recent increased popularity of larger festivals in the city, local promoters and club owners in Chicago have complained to THUMP about the difficulty in securing permits for previously routine events. Venues that formerly hosted even the most subdued dance parties have caved to pressure by their local Aldermen and denied rental requests while the city itself has dismissed small-event permit requests.With recent bans on kandi bracelets by Diplo at his Mad Decent Block Party, controversy in Toronto around EDM events on public ground and general disdain expressed by some big city mayors, it could be that we're entering a new age of prohibition for dance music culture.What we know for sure is that right now, by attacking the entire genre of electronic music, the City of Big Shoulders is not doing right by the legacy of its own hometown hero, the late Frankie Knuckles.Related:
Death by Avicii, or the Dangerous Mayhem of EDM Club Shows
Toronto Just Banned Electronic Dance Music Concerts on its Public Grounds
Advertisement
Death by Avicii, or the Dangerous Mayhem of EDM Club Shows
Toronto Just Banned Electronic Dance Music Concerts on its Public Grounds
