The forgotten era of rave - How the summer of ‘89 shaped dance music.

The UK’s notorious rave scene represents some of the most prolific parties in dance music history. The scene took over the world in the late 80’s/ early 90’s and ever since it’s evolved in more ways than one. 

The summer of 1989 was the hottest recorded summer in over 300 years; as the second summer of love was beginning, young people all over the UK had turned their back on all inhibitions and an explosion of youth culture was beginning. 

That summer youths were partying hard in undisclosed locations hidden away from authority. The likes of abandoned warehouses, forests and fields were home to the most iconic parties in UK dance music history. Pure music generated pure love among ravers and the escapsism was perhaps what made the illegal parties so thrilling for young people. That year - the iconic era of illegal raves were born. 

(My Dad - 1989)

Acid house first came to fruition in Chicago, USA. The futuristic sound of 120bpm quickly became the perfect soundtrack for ravers across the Atlantic in party islands such as Ibiza. British DJ’s brought the sound over to the UK, birthing UK rave culture and sparking a youth rebellion movement against norms inflicted by Thatcherism. A term comprising the policies the Conservative party leader Margaret Thatcher, had introduced to the UK at the time.

Thatcher and her party were celebrating their tenth year in power in 1989. The economy in London was booming, the rich were getting richer but many youths further a field felt institutionalised by Thatcher's Government. As acid house was beginning to infiltrate british streets, youth culture were going crazy for it and used the illegal raves as a route of escapism from the restraints of society. 

This era contrived a movement for young people to express themselves away from the prying eyes of authority. Self expression in the form of baggy clothing, wild dance moves and music that united thousands of ravers in packed crowds allowed young people to challenge convention. The availability of cheap psychedelics that were going unregulated by police were all contributors to allow youths to turn their back on the rat race for that summer of 1989. 

(My Dad and his mates raving somewhere in the world)

Pirate radio stations such as Sunrise FM, signified that the music scene was evolving into something much greater than what was being heard on the likes of BBC Ones ‘Top of the pops’. Due to the growing media attention and mystery that illegal raves had captured, Police interest was beginning to disrupt the rave scene. Roadblocks and drug searches were now being carried out at raves which ultimately just made promoters and ravers alike more determined to avoid the law. Sunrise FM would disclose the locations of illegal raves so police wouldn’t catch on and decoy lorries suspected to be carrying event equipment would be sent out to deter police from finding the real location. 

(My Mum and Dad looking very proud of their cassette collection)

For old Skool ravers, the summer of ‘89 meant something so much more than just the chance to escape for a weekend. The feeling that illegal raves brought was chaotic and thrilling and ultimately birthed a light of positivity and openness among people from all walks of life. A generation comparable to hippies, ravers would live freely and on the move - following the music from city to city. 

The fall of the illegal party as ravers knew it inevitably came. In section 63 of the 1994 Criminal Justice Act it had strictly forbidden ‘suspicious’ activity and large unauthorised gatherings. Although protests in the capital were done to make a statement little could be done to revert the law. 

Although a bitter end to the then ‘heyday’ of illegal raves, the parties that took place over those five years pushed dance music into the mainstream. Over thirty years have passed since the ‘second summer of love’ but the carefree attitude of youths has inspired generations today and will for many music lovers to come. 

Inspired by Mum, Dad and their epic parties x