I am not going to try and convince you that there is something wrong with the music scene in Edinburgh. In fact I think it is incredible, the amount of variety and talent is astounding. From fresh indie bands to big-name DJs and even 17-piece jazz ensembles, there is no shortage of exciting music.
However, the issue lies on the other side of the stage barrier. The issue is the crowds. Crowds that don’t move, that don’t dance, and that have no energy. Gone are the days of feeling a part of a movement in a club… now attendees are busy worrying about club photographers and whether or not they will get kicked out for vaping inside.
I have found, from my own experience, that a culture of judgement and scrutiny has arisen; especially in the club scene. People’s fear of embarrassment and the opinion of others often paralyses them. Packing venues with motionless onlookers and transforming them into echo chambers of silent tension. So what is the cause of this? Is it social media and its perpetuation of performance culture? Is it a generational shift in music? Who knows. What I do know is that the lack of enthusiasm from gig attendees is damaging to the Edinburgh music scene.
As I mentioned earlier, I have first-hand experience with this. A couple weeks ago I, along with a friend, went along to Sneaky Pete’s to see DJ Pretty Girl. As soon as we got into the club it was evident that no one was dancing. Moving into the midst of the crowd I noticed a group of your average ‘lads’ huddled in a circle at the very centre of the dancefloor. Seeing this group dominate the club, pushing and shoving those around them was disheartening: dance music and its subculture have historically been about acceptance and good times. Surely overpowering and stopping people from enjoying themselves is the antithesis to dance music culture? This dominance of space may also contribute as to why people are afraid to let go and dance, afraid to overstep a boundary and intrude on their fellow partygoers. However, I think that these music venues should be spaces of freedom, where people congregate to just enjoy the music without judgement.
I do think that there is still hope. Obviously, not all music events are filled with judgemental spectators. That being said, there needs to be change: I would encourage readers to disregard the opinions of others, embrace those around you, embrace the music.
In a world where our every move is surveilled and analysed, I argue that music venues are one of the last frontiers of freedom and equality for young people today, and that they should be maintained as places free of judgement.
Image Credits: Tamsin Dunlop