Swindon’s music scene will be returning to the pre-digital era for one afternoon when DJ Faydz hosts a unique, old-school dance event where audience members are asked not bring their smartphones.

Back To Now will see the former Brunel Rooms resident, also known as Steve, play a four-hour 1988 acid house to 1992 rave set.

A rave DJ and event promoter for nearly 28 years, Steve was inspired by his own experience in organising the event. It will be held in the ballroom of the 20 At The Kings hotel in Wood Street on Sunday, May 5 from 2-6pm.

“I’ve noticed a massive change since I originally started DJ-ing,” he said.

Steve says audiences today are preoccupied with their phones, getting pictures or videos for social media, adding: “Their minds are somewhere else and not where they actually are.”

Looking back at a pre-digital music industry, Steve highlighted how in order to listen to specific music, you often had to attend concert to hear it.

“It made the music more special – the music captured its own magic. And when you were there, you were in the moment with no distractions.”

By comparison the DJ considers “today’s throwaway music” that can be heard repeatedly, to be different.

“Music is now so much more accessible, and that has some benefits. But it takes away something from it.”

However, Steve stressed that Back To Now isn’t “about trying to recreate the past”.

“The aim is to re-establish that connection between people and music again, so that everyone is in the moment,” he said.

Only 100 tickets are available and the afternoon will not be recorded. The DJ is planning to play a rare record, with no digital copies available online and so attending will be the only way to hear it.

Having ditched his own smartphone in 2017, Steve is keen to emphasise their addictive nature.

He said: “I noticed how much it had been distracting me and also having a negative impact on my own mental health and wellbeing.”

The number of monthly smartphone users is projected to reach 53.96 million individuals in the UK by 2022, according to Statista.

“Smartphones in general have really become so intrusive into people lives now, particularly family life,” said Steve.

“In a way, as much as we’ve moved forward with technology, as humans we aren’t progressing ourselves. We’re actually more disconnected socially.”

A percentage of the afternoons profits and all money raised from the raffle will be donated to the Swindon mental health and wellbeing charity, IPSUM.

Based in Milton Road, Steve chose the charity because they provide music therapy to patients, including providing access to a recording studio.

“It’s great that people who are feeling isolated and lonely, or whatever situation they are in, can go in there," he said. "Music has really helped me in my life when I’ve come up against problems, it’s a great thing to get in involved in.”

Plans for similar events in the future include a small festival, held specifically without smartphones.

Steve said: “I would love to do something outdoors, in a field – to take it back to the early days. But it’s small steps, we’ll see how this goes.”