I recently had one of the most curious and intense experiences I’ve ever lived as a fan of live music: I attended a concert by the Swedish band Ghost where phone use was strictly forbidden. The phone-free concert took place on May 4th at the Unipol Forum di Assago in Milan and was part of the Skeletour World Tour 2025.
But this wasn’t just a rigid rule about copyright. The goal was to create an environment of full presence and mindful attention.
For this tour, Ghost partnered with a company that specializes in phone-free events—already active in schools, courts, and concert venues. In this article, I’ll explain how the experience works in practice—and why it might just change the way we experience live art.
How Does a Phone-Free Concert Work?
Right at the entrance, everyone’s phones were sealed in special pouches made by the company Yondr, which uses a magnetic lock similar to anti-theft tags in clothing stores. So, you keep your phone with you, but you can’t access it during the event. The pouch was flexible and lightweight.
You could only unlock the pouch at specific stations inside the arena, and phone use was restricted to those zones. Afterward, the phone was resealed until the end of the show.
Paying for Food, Drinks, and Merch
We live in an era where phones are used for everything—including payments. Anticipating this, the organizers sent an email before the event advising attendees to bring physical cards if they wanted to buy food, drinks, or official merchandise.
What About Digital Tickets?
Both printed and digital tickets were accepted at the Milan show. For those with digital tickets, staff members were positioned right after the scan area with pen and paper, writing down each fan’s seat location—especially important for those in the stands, since they wouldn’t be able to reopen their ticket once inside.
Three phone-use stations were available for emergencies or personal needs. Their locations were displayed on the arena screens before the show started. After the concert began, you could simply ask a staff member to direct you to the nearest unlocking station.
A key point: this phone-free policy was clearly stated at the time of ticket purchase.
Logistics: Lines, Organization, and Flow
Knowing the protocol in advance, we arrived about an hour before doors opened. Despite long lines, entry was smooth and well-organized.
Phones were sealed in their pouches during the bag check, immediately after ticket validation. The material was light and flexible. It fit easily into my small backpack, and I saw others slip it into their pockets.
At the exit, staff with portable unlocking devices helped unseal the pouches quickly, avoiding large bottlenecks. The whole process added maybe 10 extra minutes—totally reasonable for a venue that size.
Returning to Pre-Digital Concert Culture
With no access to messages, we went back to the old ways: meeting points arranged in advance, clear landmarks, and trusty wristwatches to check the time. Nobody seemed bothered by the lack of phones.
As mentioned, the unlocking stations were announced before the show. I didn’t see anyone trying to bypass the rule. Everyone seemed aware that this was part of the concert’s concept—and they were willing to embrace it.
The atmosphere felt light and almost nostalgic. People were more present, talking, eating, and enjoying the evening.
The Transformed Concert Experience
Without the urge to film or take pictures, the audience was fully immersed in the moment. Instead of glowing screens, you saw people singing, dancing, and reacting passionately to Ghost’s performance.
Personally, I noticed more details: the lighting, the stage design, the band’s movement. My attention was sharper.
I even felt more empathetic toward others’ excitement. When someone stood up in the stands—not to film, but to enjoy—it felt like genuine expression. It was beautiful to witness. It changed the energy around us.
Without phones, everything felt more vivid. As someone who’s been attending rock concerts since 1995, it was like traveling back in time—when live shows were fully lived in the moment.
Emotional Impact and a More Engaged Crowd
Ghost fans are famously passionate and sing along to every song. But what stood out was the level of focus. People were really watching the stage and feeling the moment together. It was collective presence.
Even though I wasn’t a hardcore fan, I left wanting to feel that again.
No Recordings: Loss or Liberation?
In this era of digital dependency, not being able to record the show was, surprisingly, a relief. Without the option to document it, our attention intensified, and the memory seemed to root itself more deeply. We were truly present.
A great concert doesn’t need to be filmed to be unforgettable. The intensity stays with your body—it reaches your heart.
And in Ghost’s case, knowing the band professionally documents the tour, including interviews with fans for official videos, gave many people peace of mind. That night would be remembered visually, just in a different way.
Is This the Future of Live Music?
Ghost isn’t the only artist to adopt this approach. Bob Dylan, Jack White, Placebo, and various electronic music festivals have implemented similar policies—sometimes using sealed pouches, other times with camera lens covers.
Even schools around the world are using these systems to promote focus. Perhaps future generations will grow up more accustomed to these fully present moments—what many of us still associate with analog-era nostalgia.
Could more shows adopt this model? Absolutely. It doesn’t require elaborate staging or lighting.
But Ghost nails the experience—not just because they’re dynamic performers, but because they also provide high-quality official coverage of each show. It soothes the fans’ anxiety and helps solidify the memory in a different, curated way.
Are We Missing the Point with Phones at Concerts?
We live in a world of constant stimulation. Offline experiences like this one help reduce anxiety, improve focus, and deepen connection. And this isn’t age-specific. Letting yourself fully enjoy a show—without digital distractions—is magical for every generation.
At Ghost’s concert, I saw people of all ages: teens, adults, families with kids, and even older metal fans. All having a great time, together.
In contrast, I’ve seen some wild things at other shows—not just filming or photo-taking, but people playing Candy Crush, scrolling social media, answering group chats, or even watching football matches while the band gave it their all on stage.
Do we really need to divide our attention that much during the few hours a concert lasts?
Final Thoughts: An Experience Worth Living
We’re digitally connected to thousands of people, and yet we often feel alone. A concert like Ghost’s—phone-free—reconnects us to the real world, to art, to the joy of presence.
Kudos to Ghost for the bold move—and to the fans in Milan for their wholehearted embrace of it. May this serve as inspiration to rethink how we consume—and truly live—live music.
Have you attended a phone-free concert? Would you be willing to lock away your phone for a more immersive experience? Share your thoughts in the comments below, Red Bird!
