A historic Chicago venue recently reopened its doors but under one condition: no EDM.
Vibe reports Chicago's Congress Theater has agreed to not "allow any EDM shows/events at the premises." The venue has been shut down since losing its liquor license last year.
Under a new agreement signed last month by the city and the Congress' owner, EDM will be banned from the venue regardless of whether it is sold to a new operator.
According to DNAinfo, the city says that EDM will be defined as "music created by a DJ or multiple DJs primarily using specialized equipment and software instead of traditional instruments."
The agreement also says, "Performers that incorporate electronic beats or prerecorded music in their acts shall be allowed, provided those performers either sing vocals or play an instrument(s)."
Local liquor commissioner Gregory Steadman says the ban follows a "rising level of concern about these events and whether or not they're safe."
Considering the deaths at the Electric Daisy Carnival and more recently at the Mad Decent Block Party, the venue's concerns are understandable.
As previously reported, nearly 800 people were treated for medical conditions during the Electric Daisy Carnival while a 17-year-old boy died of a drug overdose following the Washington, D.C. Mad Decent Block Party.
At least 20 other attendees were hospitalized and 50 citations were given out for underage drinking at this Mad Decent stop.
Chicago's Congress Theater initially lost its liquor license following after a number of drug-related problems including theater security guards allegedly seizing drugs from concertgoers and then reselling them.
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