Yes, this is true. The popular Bloc Weekend will no longer be held in the UK becauseΒ co-founder George Hull finds the modern generation of ravers “spineless.”
The Bloc Weekend has been a staple for the electronic music scene in England for a decade. It built a reputation for itself since 2006 and incorporated both DJ sets and live shows. The 11th anniversaryΒ edition was held this March 11-13 and featured acts like Thom Yorke, Four Tet, Jeff Mills, Floating Points and Nina Kraviz among a long list of others.
Even though the festival has had a successful run, Bloc Weekend co-founder George Hull took to an editorial in The Spectator toΒ bash the entire modern festival scene and rave culture. Hull believes that festival attendees/ravers have turned spineless with events beingΒ βtoo safe and boring.” He also repudiated the idea of early bird passes, time limits due to noise ordinances and the “safe space” policies followed by most modern festivals.
His comments have been met by criticism by several musicians on Twitter :
Rave promoter longs for the good old days, when ravers just got raped and harassed. Didn't ask for safe spaces. https://t.co/ndOTF43LFi
— The Black Madonna (@blackmadonnachi) March 18, 2016
would rather hang out with kids who understand safe space policy and what it's for than a grumpy old cunt who writes for the spectator
— Ben UFO (@BenUFO) March 18, 2016
With festivals earning bad repute due to drug overdoses and sexual harassment, several policies have been implemented to ensure the safety of festival goers. These precautionary measures are absolutely imperative and for someone with so much experience in the music festival industry to have such views is appalling. We hope good sense prevails and that his decision is reversed. If not, then good riddance to bad rubbish!
What do you think about George Hull’s comments? Let us know!