Spring Awakening has once again announced that they will be holding the EDM festival again in Chicago, Illinois June 12th-14th. This year is going will mark an important change in the world of EDM festivals as Spring Awakening will be going 18+. This is the first time the event has pushed for this change, but it is a growing trend for electronic music festivals to apply an adults only badge.
Historically the event has been without an age requirement. It allowed younger fans to experience some of the best EDM that Chicago can offer in the summer, but there has been growing concern in recent years. Older festival go-ers are incredibly uncomfortable around the younger fans, and want a place to enjoy EDM without concern.
Plain and simple, an EDM festival is not a place for kids. Yes, there is not an age requirement to enjoy the music of Deadmau5, Avicii, or Tiesto, but there is a level of maturity that a majority of attendees expect. Additionally, issue lies around drugs and alcohol being associated with these events along with the easy-access to these vices. If you are able to sell liquor at these events, kids should not be allowed to go by themselves. R-rated movies require an adult, and I can promise you that these events can certainly be R-rated. Not necessarily in a debaucherous way, but there’s just a lot that younger fans can be exposed to.
Additionally, there has been a rise in teenagers and younger fans being incredibly irresponsible when they are at these events. Earlier in the year at an Avicii concert in Boston, over 50 people were treated for drug-related symptoms, and 36 of these people were sent to a hospital. Even more disconcerting, is that these were all people between 16-25. If they were all 18 and over, there wouldn’t have been such a concern, but these are kids who can barely drive. They don’t need to be in that situation. Avicii tweeted below to the fans:
Just hearing the awful news abt tonight. Its a terrible thing, I rly hope everyone is ok! My thoughts go to those affected & their families.
— Tim Bergling (@Avicii) June 26, 2014
Being 18+ limits a lot of liability on the end of the promoters and organizers, and would create a better atmosphere for the rest of attendees. I understand that there are plenty of mature and responsible teens, but as the saying goes, “a few bad apples spoil the whole bunch,” or, “this is why we can’t have nice things.” take your pick. Think of how much you changed from a junior in high school to a freshman in college. Would you trust yourself, (or your friends for that matter) to handle a 3-day festival experience at that age? To those who are under-age and hate me for writing this, please understand: you’re a completely different person after a semester of college. Wait until then to give this a shot, then go big and hit up Ultra. It’ll be worth the wait, and then you’ll see it from our point-of-view.
So, to the people at React Presents, thank you for making this decision. This is without question the right call. Once again Again, this event will be 18+, so just be aware of that before purchasing a ticket.
