Sound of Silence: Leeds festival hosting the worlds largest silent disco and how to throw your own for just £3

 In the previous ten years, silent discos have established themselves as a beloved staple of the Reading and Leeds Festival. As a result of this when Festival Republic cancelled the event in 2016, supporters started an online petition to bring it back to the line-up.

This year It has been announced that the Reading & Leeds Festivals will host the world’s biggest ever silent-disco, in the world’s first simulcast main stage set across both sites. The festival has stated that headliners of the silent disco; multi-platinum drum and bass duo Sigma, will be playing to around 60,000 people in total.  

But why are people making so much noise for the silent disco?  

 Originally in the early 1990s eco-activists utilised headphones at outdoor events to minimise noise pollution and disturbance to wildlife. However, there was still only one channel for music to be played on. Since then, silent discos have adapted to be able to have 2 or 3 or even more channels, which means every single person in attendance can listen to something that they enjoy.  

 The use of headphones creates an immersive experience tailored to the individual, being able to adjust the volume, change to the listener’s preferred genres, and being able to stand anywhere in the arena and not compromise on sound quality. All of this is achieved while also creating safer spaces for people who may struggle with the usual sounds and sensations of traditional festival sets. 

 It also fosters a more interactive environment in which people can communicate with other people without having to shout over the music or go to quieter parts of the venue. This is great for meeting new people or talking to your friends or family you are there with. 

The other benefit of these events is that it allows music festivals to go on longer by continuing past noise curfews, which for many festival-goers who want to party on through the night is what makes these such great events.  

How to throw your own silent disco!  

Silent discos utilise headphones that are wireless, this enables individuals to listen to music without the need for a traditional sound system or speakers. These are expensive to buy and rent, can only play 1 track at a time and sound quality varies depending on where you are in the venue. Also depending on where you are throwing this party you may not want to be known as the noisy neighbours. 

The silent disco mitigates these issues while creating a fun and versatile party atmosphere. Once you have your venue sorted, whether that’s your home or local club, pub, hall etc… You can focus on the music. After reviewing multiple companies for headphone hire the standard pricing for 25 headphones was around £135 which works out at £5.40 per person, or for larger parties 50 headphones was £165 which averages out at £3.30 per person. Once you have the headphones you can set 3 channels to various different playlists and genres so that your guests can enjoy their favourite music all night long! 

As with all events its always worth considering getting additional lighting and visuals such as strobes and lasers to elevate the auditory experience and create a vibrant and energetic atmosphere for guests.  

 A spokesperson from headphonesty.com commented: “Silent discos offer many advantages for both organisers and the audience. Everybody can discover something they like because of the capacity to offer personalised music experiences through a variety of channels that appeal to different interests.  

The smooth transition between talking and partying fosters a lively and friendly environment and the headphones’ immersive qualities increase interaction and compel visitors to fully appreciate the music and atmosphere. Furthermore, the ability to set individual volumes ensures that each guest may enjoy the party at their desired volume level. You can create a genuinely distinctive and unforgettable party experience that will be talked about long after the night comes to an end”