The U.K. Free Party/'Illegal' Rave Scene - A Quick Glimpse
The U.K. Free Party/'Illegal' Rave Scene - A Quick Glimpse
From the late 80's to this very day the U.K. free party scene has been home to individuals from all colors and creeds - people who wish to be free from condemnation and the grip of centralised authorities who've gradually, over the years, hijacked control over what constitutes a 'legal gathering/party'. Due to the influx of free parties from the late 1980s to early 90's, the U.K. government introduced the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act which aimed to prevent "gathering(s) on land in the open air of 20 or more persons (whether or not trespassers) at which amplified music is played during the night (with or without intermissions), which by reason of its loudness and the duration and time at which it is played, is likely to cause serious distress to the inhabitants of the locality." This act gave permission for police forces to violently break up these parties, even those responsibly located away from residential areas.
Oldskool/Piano House, Techno, Jungletechno, Hard Trance,, Hardstyle, Breakbeat, and Drum & Bass were just a few among an array of genres that would fire from the wall of speakers. Depending on which crew is organising the party, they're normally free of charge. Most organisers will only ask for donations, referred to as 'a pound for the sound' on which the majority would be more than happy to contribute. If you ever needed a particular substance all you have to do is shout for it. If violence erupts and the organisers spot it, they'll more than likely switch the music off until the situation is resolved. If someone is reported going around scamming or stealing from people, the same thing would likely occur. The outcome and the way in which these situations resolve themselves will of course vary between counties, but compared to if the same situation were to happen at a licensed nightclub, the free party scene deals with it a lot more peacefully due to its community vibe - if anything the most violence occurs when agents of the state roll in geared up for a brawl.
My personal experience from attending free parties from around 2000 - 2012 is what taught me the exact meaning of individual liberty. I didn't know it as that term at the time but I believe that myself and every other human being yearns and seeks it throughout life whether they're conscious of it or not, and seeking this is a threat to any centralised authority that aims to maintain their own liberty at the cost of everyone else's. Why else would a group of people want to coerce upon those who act peacefully?
Below I've attached images from various U.K. free parties from the early - mid 2000 era and a video titled 'BRAINS KAN......part of the story'. It features Brains Kan's Hard Trance track 'Propaganda' dubbed over footage from their parties. They were one of the most well-known free party crews within the U.K. free party scene and thrived from 1998 up until 2007.
Ah, the cheesy quavers. I did like Torpedo Town and the second Stonehenge, but then it got horrible. Some tribes disintegrated into rows over drugs and women, some like the Spirals emigrated and the dead hand of Rupert Murdoch and his familiar the Maggie came to be.
Your picture are of a later time, these are a home counties rave, is that right? The filth look a lot more organised than in my day.
Yep the photos above are from 2003 - 2012. Early 2000 was around the time I discovered the scene.
That poster made me smile. The energy of free parties has had to move as the Uk is now locked down and you need a license to even play a cd in a charity shop these days! Thanks for sharing!