Switching Off and Dialling In: The Rise of No-Phone Raves
No-phone raves are having a burst of popularity at the moment. We take a look at why they’re increasing in demand, with contributions from DJs and promoters.
Last updated: 22nd Aug 2025
Originally published: 21st Aug 2025
To phone or not to phone? When it comes to live events, the subject of phones can often cause a bit of debate. It isn’t unusual to see people taking plenty of videos and pictures at gigs, club nights and festivals. On one hand, people want something to remember the experience, whilst on the other hand, a sea of phones in the air can often lead to a lack of immersion in the experience.
Some artists have begun to notice, with Silk Sonic amongst others, such as Jack White, Ghost and Bob Dylan, banning phones from their shows in recent years. Dance music has been no stranger to such policies either, with Fold having a no-phone policy since 2018, and some European clubs, the most notable example being Berghain, also ban phones.
Over the past year, there’s been an increase in the number of no-phone raves popping up across the UK, with one of the most notable spaces being Manchester’s Amber’s. “We just want the music to do the talking and to have an experience with the people around you that is meaningful. We think in this case, phones detract from that, so no phones, no cameras, no flash, no filming,” Jeremy Abbott, Director at Amber’s told us last November.
So, why are no-phone raves increasing in popularity? DJ Danny Roach has noticed a post-Covid shift in clubbing habits. “Pre-Covid [filming] wasn’t such a big deal because TikTok wasn’t as big as it is now. I think there’s been a rush of people trying to have this status. I think there’s pressure to feed an algorithm and let people know you’re doing all these crazy things. I think it has become more common for people to film what they’re doing on nights out.”
Virality has played a part in the rise of no-phone raves. People want to see their favourite artists drop their biggest hits on social media, especially if they couldn’t be there themselves. To see the crowd react, or an artist welcoming a special guest or playing a rare track, there are many reasons why a performance might go viral. But, this in turn leads to an eagerness to capture almost every moment of a live show. This is what many ravers and festival/gig-goers have a problem with.
“Who wants to see a venue full of people on their phones?” Asks Nathan Temple of Manchester-based promoters Mechano. “DJs take a lot of time, especially in longer sets. They hand-pick their tracks. It's a journey. You’re interrupting yourself by going on Instagram taking pictures and videos, you’re losing out on that experience for yourself.” It can massively help a DJ to have a viral moment. It can be the difference between getting a record deal or persuading a new agent or manager to represent you. But, as Roach notes, it can be a double-edged sword.
“It’s always nice when someone is right in front of you and they’re going ‘woo this is crazy’. It’s nice to have content and people videoing you and tagging you on Instagram as a DJ, because that does help your career and get your name out there. But, then it takes away from the energy of the club so it’s hard to find the balance of what’s okay and not okay.” It’s very rare that word-of-mouth is an effective promotion strategy for an artist now. Social media is at the forefront of artist marketing. With so many artists trying to make themselves visible on social media platforms, where so much content is being produced, viral moments are the difference that can thrust your name to the forefront of the algorithm.
No-phone policies are a reaction to our social media-dependent culture and an attempt by grassroots music scenes to foster a new sense of community on the dancefloor. “This is a party where you are free, and we’re actively encouraging you to participate in the small moments and synchronicities that a party or rave can have without the fear of losing yourself to your phone,” says VIVRA VERRA of Liverpool-based promoters Axon. They’ve put on no-phone nights with artists such as Frazi.er in the past.
These nights are an opportunity for promoters and DJs to fully immerse the audience in their sound. “We can take people on journeys with curated lineups that we wouldn’t otherwise be able to. I wouldn’t think blocking out a phone would do that, but I think it’s a mindset shift to the way you put on a party or curate an event, just by removing that one thing,” VERRA adds. It’s a sentiment Temple agrees with, and he believes that the majority of people would accept a sticker over their phone camera. “They probably find out that they have a better night. They’ll get more engagement with their friends or meet strangers who have the same sort of love for the music. At the end of the day, you have a more community-based event.”
The experience changes behind the decks too, which Manchester-based DJs Mold Boutique have plenty of experience in as residents of HOL, who encourage people to have stickers put on their phones. “The perspective from the booth is wildly different in terms of how good the party is when there’s a proper connection. It feels like a good step away from seeing the DJs as idols and puts the focus on the music as opposed to an egotistical perspective,” says Elliott Ogden, one half of the duo.
There’s no doubt that the intimacy of the nights Mold Boutique play at HOL, which take place at Manchester’s DBA, helps to further nurture that sense of community that these policies are providing. “You get dancing with people and have a bit of chat if you see them elsewhere, it all feeds into this community-driven thing,” Ogden says. “The better the party is, the more dialled-in the crowd gets,” adds Elliott Ashley, the other half of Mold Boutique. “In these experiences that these familiar faces go through with each other, you already have that intense bond with people you might have only met a handful of times.”
Connection with one another has become increasingly difficult post-Covid. It’s well reported that loneliness is on the rise and people are making fewer friends than before. The dancefloor has always been a bastion of inclusivity, where people meet and feel seen. There are fewer of them now due to the cost of living crisis, but grassroots clubbing is having a reaction to isolation, and no-phone events have come to emphasise one of dance music’s most important characteristics - its ability to form bonds, friendships and relationships, which can all be sparked by momentary dancefloor encounters.
“I think the no-phone policy is trying to get back to the grassroots of it and get back to how raving used to be. It should be about creating community and energy, and a safe place for people to enjoy themselves,” says Roach. He notes that, from a queer perspective, these policies can be the right environment for members of the LGBTQ+ community to embrace their sense of self. “If I was someone who just came out as queer or trans and I saw someone filming me, it could make me uncomfortable. They’re finally exploring their sexuality or personality and suddenly have the pressure of being filmed. That's the only time I feel there should be a strict no phone policy, because it can make someone totally withdraw themselves, when it should be a space to let them be totally free.”
It’s underground club and rave culture that is taking the lead on the more immersive no-phone events. And, there are still lessons to be learnt from European club culture, as VERRA says. “When you look at institutions like Fold they’re mirroring a sound found more in mainland Europe because of places like Berghain and Panorama and Tresor, where the no-phone policy is less of a gimmick and more of a protection for not only the people going there but for the scene as a whole. Even on a small scale with us at Axon, we take the best parts of it and make it more of an experience.”
Places such as Fold have had the no-phone policy for a while now. Over the last few years, we’ve seen more and more underground events realise that their intimate venues only enhance the no-phone experience. It feels like a reaction to the more commercialised aspects of club culture too, where there are more barriers to connection, given the tendency for people to bring their phones out. This isn't to say that every event will see you in an endless swamp of phones gagging for breath, though.
Interestingly, The Warehouse Project recently announced its own no-phone policy for its Concourse-only events, further emphasising the trend’s growing popularity. It’s something VERRA suggested would happen a couple of months ago during our conversation. “We live in an age of trends and an anti-trend is a trend, right? No-phone policy is a reaction to the hyper-commercialised spaces of parties in the last five years. I’m sure in the next five years we’ll have so many no-phone parties, it’ll be just a gimmick. It’s all about intention, authenticity and transparency. Whilst it’s a reactionary force, the things that are authentic tend to stick.”
Trends come around in cycles. This isn’t the first time no-phone raves have come around and it will likely not be the last. However, where we do find value is in these community-led events by promoters such as Axon, HOL and Mechano, where connection can be found in a time of increased isolation. This is where lasting bonds will stick.
Music isn’t the only realm where no-phone policies are being discussed either, comedy shows and even pubs have tried them out too, with the latter usually being to encourage conversation. There are arguments against no-phone policies too. When asked about Bob Dylan’s no-phone shows, Damon Albarn stated that, “People won’t want to be on their phone if you’re engaging with them correctly”.
And there is an argument that using services such as Yondr, pouches that you lock your phone into, could be a safety issue if people cannot reach their phones in an emergency (Yondr were approached for comment but did not reply). But most events, especially at the grassroots level, aren’t as militant and just require a sticker. “The only club I know which has a strict no-phone policy, where if you post a video online they’ll come and get you, is Berghain,” says Roach. You won’t be crucified for taking your phone out in a no-phone club/rave, most of the time it’s just guidance for the experience.
Image credit: Lobar Qudratovna (Unsplash)
So, to phone or not to phone? Is perhaps the wrong question. Having any kind of debate around getting phones out feels redundant; it’s all about personal preference for how you want to experience an event and how you want to make memories. What is important is that no-phone raves are a valuable alternative to virality and the over-commercialised rave/club spaces. What the underground rave scene is achieving with no-phone policies is a tighter sense of community, a sense of throwback culture to a time when local events forged strong bonds. It’s a vital reaction to our terminally online culture, and offers people the opportunity to experience a different type of dancing experience. Yes, it will become a trend within itself, but the conversations, laughs and the musical epiphanies in underground spaces will never lose value.
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Header image credit: Lobar Qudratovna (Unsplash)