D.I.Y Disco Culture

It's been building for a while now, probably since the early to mid 90's but sure as eggs is eggs there's a scene building that is beginning to reclaim dance music's original underground spirit as we approach the end of the decade.

Word of mouth parties are springing up all over the place utilizing spaces which range from restaurants to old boozers to rooms above pubs to basements, all lending a distinctly underground feel to what has become a much needed antidote as we witness the last remains of the post super club era finally battle it out for financial survival.

If we look at Danny Rampling's Shoom night as just one example. The night itself was built around those that were in the know, care being taken not to call it elitist more so if you were meant to find out about it you would with a little investigating or just plain luck of knowing someone that knew what was going on and where it was happening.

Just as long as you wore a smile, liked the company of others, felt a sense of community which many did and danced to music you had a passion for you were in.

Here's where the underground can differentiate itself from the overground to some degree as people looking for those qualities are now beginning to find music, places, people and environments where this all exists today.

OK, it didn't take too long before everything associated with Rampling's era blew up and expanded, partly due to a combination of the social climate at the time and a drug called ecstasy but comparisons between those initial building blocks and todays climate of political unease and financial unrest are looking increasingly similar day by day.

Moving off the comparatives mentioned and exploring instead what makes this version of a party appealing, consideration to music, crowd dynamic and venue should give a clearer picture as to the rise in popularity of these off piste D.I.Y club nights that are once again providing the energy and occasion that people may have found missing recently down at their local weekend hot spot.

A sense of community can go some of the way in explaining why even a night in a scout hut in Hastings can give a group of people that special something that has been surpassed by the survival focussed version of mainstream clubbing.

As the world moves on, information about these parties and gatherings including the djs that play at them is no longer a guarded secret, it's all out there on line for all to see and discover, sort of like an electronic old school local record retailer giving you the tip off just after you purchased a bag full of tunes over the counter.

A good starting point would be DJ History and Brownswood event and party forums.

Exciting times are here again, happy hunting.

Comments by Ali