A brief history of Harry Silent Disco Headphones
In the 10+ years of their existence, our Harry Silent Disco headphones have been an integral part of some of the biggest events in the world. We thought we’d share some love for our beloved Silent Disco headphones. After all, Harry does bring joy and unforgettable memories to hundreds of thousands of people every year.
Here are some of the feats that Harry has achieved, fundamentally changing the face of Silent Disco across the globe and revolutionising Silent Disco into what it is today.
2012 saw the Harry headphones make a huge impact (just so impression isn't repeated here and at the end) at the Isle of Wight Festival. As far as we know, this was the first time that rechargeable Silent Disco Headphones were used at a Silent Disco. It didn't take long for the headphones to 'woo' the crowds with their pulsing lights, super-comfortable headbands and sonorous sound. They couldn't have made a greater impression!
In 2013 the newly revamped dance village at Glastonbury spawned Silver Hayes and produced the perfect excuse for our attendance at Glastonbury. The Harry Silent Disco Headphones took to the iconic tent at Silver Hayes and gave dance lovers uncapped amounts of music until the (very) early hours of the morning. 2013, was just the start; In the years that followed our headphones would go on to offer crowds audio at Glastonbury’s Cinemageddon, crossing the likes of Johnny Depp introducing his indie cult film ‘The Libertine’ (2016) and Norman Cook (Fatboy Silm) providing a live soundtrack to film Ibiza (2019).
The year 2013 saw the birth of the original Silent Disco walking tours concept. Melbourne based performer David Naylor took to the streets as Guru Dudu to give play, love and laughter to engaging and stealing the hearts of those attending his unique events. Silent Disco tours rapidly grew in popularity, gathering the undying love of those in attendance and those that crossed it’s path.
Sub Audio Festival 2014 was hosted at Clapham Common Park and was the first Silent Disco festival of its kind. Featuring a Holi Paint Fight, Glitter Wrestling and Giant Ball Pool - it gave festival-goers the opportunity to don their Silent Disco Headphones and unleash their inner child - it was an absolute blast!
Dermot O’Leary raised over a whopping £1 million for Comic relief 2015 with his 24 hour danceathon. During this extraordinary 24 hour ‘non-stop’ rave, he donned a pair of Harry Silent Disco Headphones to keep him dancing ‘till the break of dawn.
Math-rock festival behemoth Arctangent, gets experimental and treats fans to a special intimate live full band Silent Disco set performed by British experimental electronica band Gallops. The set featured an encapsulating mix of the bands set whilst those who were curious, removed their headphones to sneak a peek of the natural sounds of the drums and twangs of unplugged guitars.
In 2018, 18,000 Harry Headphones were used at Boardmasters 2018 to create the largest Silent Disco in the UK and the world (at the time). The headphones created a sea of illumination amongst festival goers partying on the Cornish coast, giving birth to memorable moments such as 18,000 people chanting ‘Jeremy Corbyn’s’ name to the anthem of ‘7 Nation Army’; courtesy of an explosive set by DJ Dan of Propaganda (the UK’s biggest club night).
One week later (2018), a phenomenal 20,000 Silent Disco headphones were prepared and dispatched, their destination: the Netherlands. Their mission was to power the largest Silent Disco in the world at multi-genre alternative festival Lowlands. An impressive 8 Channels of audio transmitted to 20,000 music lovers across multiple venues fueled this Silent Disco spectacle.
Due to the long-lasting impression the Harry Headphones left on the festival goers who attended the epic 20,000 strong Silent Disco in 2018 at Lowlands Festival; the following year (2019) an extra 10,000 headphones were added to the lineup. The largest Silent Disco in the world now stands at an incredible 30,000 people.
2019 was an interesting year for our Harry Silent Disco Headphones, many talented event producers unleashed their creativity and used the headphones for a variety of events such as:
-Isle of Wight Festival 2019: Silent Disco teamed up with Singa karaoke app, to deliver night after night Silent Disco Karaoke entertainment hosted by the sensational drag queens from The Karaoke Hole in Dulwich.
-The Museum Of London Docklands 'Liquid Late': Visitors were treated to a short boat trip around West India Quay to celebrate the opening of the Secret Rivers exhibition. As part of an event called 'The Tale of the River Told', our headphones provided soundscapes and histories of the rivers of London.
-Tate Liverpool 'ART 360: After Dark': Harry Silent Disco Headphones were used to deliver an immersive and stimulating evening of live music and visual artistry. Each floor of the exhibition was set to a different Headphone channel with live guest musicians mixed with dramatic soundscapes providing sensory engagement with the art. Some spaces were lit entirely by the glow of the 'Harry' headphones. Music was provided by local (yet nationally renowned) bands and DJs complementing the creations that included works by Damien Hirst.
Performing at the Metropolis Studios in West London, Mercury Prize-nominated band ‘The Big Moon’ recorded their live performance directly to vinyl in front of an intimate audience for Record Store Day 2020. The carefully selected audience listened to the band's encapsulating performance through Harry Silent Disco Headphones in the live studio as the vinyl was being forged.
During the global pandemic Harry’s played an important role; their portability and wireless range allowed many to still offer fitness classes and entertainment events at safe distances. Social-distancing saw a resurgence in Drive-in events, in particular, Drive-in gigs as a source of live outdoors entertainment. Sound Level Events were the first to host the UK’s first Drive-in Gig at Hampshires Royal Victoria Country Park to an audience of 300 people.
As part of the second phase of the Governments Event Research Programme, Harry Silent Disco Headphones headed to the fields of Donington for Download’s Pilot Festival (the first festival in the UK since the pandemic hit). With a mass of 5,000 headphones, queues formed full of music lovers who had been deprived of live events for so long wanting a piece of the Silent Disco.
Silent Disco King returned to the coasts of Newquay for Boardmasters 2021 with 25,000 Harry Silent Disco Headphones, forming a awe-inspiring LED sea at the main stage of Boardmasters 2021. As Silent Disco King ft. Goatshed took on Propaganda for 2 epic nights of banging music forming the largest Silent Disco of 2021.
It’s no wonder that Harry’s have remained our best selling Silent Disco Headphone since the dawn of time.
If your interested in getting 'well aquainted' with Harry, take a look here to find out more or download 'A Brief History of Harry Silent Disco Headphones' here.
