The rise of the phone-free concert

A growing band of musicians wants fans to experience gigs the old-fashioned way

“This machine is killing me,” croons Phoebe Bridgers in “Lost Boys”, her new song. She does not say whether she has a particular device in mind (or whether, like Rage Against the Machine, she is using the term as a metaphor for the establishment). But, given that her song is about self-destruction and stunted maturity, she may well be referring to a smartphone.

Elsewhere, however, Ms Bridgers has been loud and clear about her feelings towards the gadgets: she has banned phones during her world tour, which kicks off on September 14th. To gain entry, ticket-holders will have to seal their devices inside pouches that are then magnetically locked for the duration of the gig. That means no filming or taking photos, as fans annoyingly do at other performances. According to Samsung, a phonemaker, each concert-goer in Britain records on average 12 and a half minutes of video per show.

She is not alone in enforcing such rules. Alicia Keys, Childish Gambino and Jack White have all banned smartphones at their gigs. Sir Paul McCartney barred them at two concerts he played in Los Angeles earlier this year. Bob Dylan’s upcoming tour will be phone-free.

For some musicians, nostalgia plays a part in their decision. Sir Paul described his LA concerts as “really special”: “It was like an old gig, like how everyone used to play.” But the anti-tech trend is not just a yearning for simpler times. Rather, the hope is that fans will get more out of the live-music experience. The idea is that it is all the more special for being ephemeral.

Getting your hands on a ticket means getting to enjoy the company of your favourite musician and fellow enthusiasts without a screen in the way. Artists aver that concerts should be appreciated in the moment, not videoed for social media. At Harry Styles’s recent gig in Manchester, guests had to put their phones away, but they were given disposable cameras along with a note: “Thank you for really being here with me. Dance with all your friends.”

The effect is scarcity—the only way to experience the show is to be there in person—and that may only heighten fans’ fear of missing out. Musicians have argued that the exclusivity is part of the point. Mr Dylan has said that the fact his performances will be “device-free” will “make the occasion even more unique”.

Music is meant to connect the performer and the listener. Artists have said that they hate looking out at a sea of iPhones rather than smiling faces. Ghost, a Swedish metal group, banned phones on its tour in 2025; their front man cited the “ever-growing distance I felt between the crowd and the band”. Kaytranada, a Canadian DJ, put it more bluntly: “It looks mad awkward from where I stand.” ■