Sloss City Festival Responds To Criticism From Birmingham EDM Community

The Sloss City Festival, a new EDM event set to take place at Birmingham’s historic Sloss Furnaces on September 18, 2026, has faced criticism from the city’s EDM community. The festival, announced in January, has been met with controversy over its tagline "Birmingham Isn’t Borning Anymore" and its marketing materials. Critics argue that the tagline is insulting to the city and its music scene, while others question the festival’s transparency regarding compensation for local DJs and the clarity of its sponsorship arrangements.

Birmingham-based artist Artsen published a social media campaign titled "Sloss Fest Is Boring," highlighting these concerns. In response to the criticism, Sloss City Festival issued a lengthy statement clarifying its goals and intentions. The festival organizers emphasized that they are a community-driven event, with all key stakeholders being local to Birmingham.

They acknowledged the criticism and promised to listen, learn, and make improvements, including being more intentional in their representation of the city’s diverse music community and clarifying their compensation structure for local artists. Sloss City also stated that while sponsorships play a significant role, ticket sales and audience support are essential for the festival’s success, and they remain committed to creating an inclusive, welcoming event for both artists and attendees.