Buenos Aires electronic music ban may stop Kraftwerk playing there

Buenos Aires’ current ban on electronic music shows has put Kraftwerk’s upcoming show in Argentina’s capital at risk of being cancelled.

The city currently has a ban on large events where the main instrument is a “synthesizer or sampler” following six deaths at electronic music festival Time Warp earlier this year.

Promoters of the show, Move Concerts, are trying to argue that the Kraftwerk show should be considered a different type of event to Time Warp.

"They use synthesizers but the proposal has another format: a concert for all age groups lasting one-hour-and-a-half to two hours; and soft drinks are offered,” Concerts told Argentine newspaper Clarin.

“There will also be no alcoholic drinks served.”

70 per cent of tickets have already been sold for the 3D audiovisual show at Luna Park Stadium on November 23 after the promoters were given the go-ahead to sell tickets in July.

The Government Control Agency (AGC) then told promoters two weeks ago the event couldn’t go ahead.

A representative of AGC told Clarin that use of synthesizers and samplers upheld the ruling despite recognizing it wasn’t a dance music festival in the traditional sense.

"After Time Warp, Judge Lisandro Fastman's court ruling prohibited all electronic music festivals. Because of that, and despite the fact that they presented their paperwork with the required 30 days notice, we cannot authorize the permit," the representative said.

Move Concerts are currently waiting on a reply after submitting an appeal to the AGC and local court.