Free party culture
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Category: Other Chat
Forum Name: Roots n Culture Forum
Forum Description: Talk about speaker box with other sounds here
URL: https://forum.speakerplans.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=108688
Printed Date: 26 March 2026 at 5:30pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.08 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Free party culture
Posted By: BigSoundNorthWest
Subject: Free party culture
Date Posted: 01 September 2024 at 2:19pm
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With the situation in lots of clubs now being that they baulk at huge rigs, or several speaker stacks etc, does anyone here think that reggae sound culture may move towards the 90s rave / free party model of rocking upto a field or factory and doing a free party? Whilst the two scenes are similar, they also have some differences but I'm surprised it's not as prevalent in 2024. |
Replies:
Posted By: levyte357-
Date Posted: 02 September 2024 at 12:25pm
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Many "Roots/Reggae" sounds, play mostly in Event halls, Sports halls, where they can cover 500 people with 4x Scoops, up to 3000 people, with 8x Scoops. I did this with a mate and his system for years. We never once played in a club, and hosted David Rodigan, many times. https://youtu.be/XhkHYLqDzrU?si=Ytm9qmLzQ5uXIirz" rel="nofollow - https://youtu.be/XhkHYLqDzrU?si=Ytm9qmLzQ5uXIirz ------------- Global Depopulation - Alive and Killing. |
Posted By: BigSoundNorthWest
Date Posted: 03 September 2024 at 8:45am
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I understand that, im in my 40s mate, Not really what i mean Levyte ;)
I meant "venues" as in the same places you mentioned rather than actual clubs. Give me Shaka at B Rec, or Mark Iration at West Indian, University of Dub etc Over any nightclub anytime.so yeah I know where they do and have historically taken place.... I'm just wondering if it'd ever follow the free party model. Turning up and squatting warehouses, or a forest. You always see loads playing dnb, techno etc. But barely any reggae freeparties. |
Posted By: BigSoundNorthWest
Date Posted: 03 September 2024 at 8:47am
| I just use "club" as a coverall for anywhere that would consider letting me put 4plus scoops in there ;) |
Posted By: snowflake
Date Posted: 03 September 2024 at 12:24pm
Only dub free parties I ever went to was Port Meadow in Oxford in the nineties. |
BigSoundNorthWest wrote:Posted By: woody2
Date Posted: 03 September 2024 at 8:16pm
This put a stop to it.... https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1994/33/section/63" rel="nofollow - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1994/33/section/63
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Posted By: fat_brstd
Date Posted: 05 September 2024 at 2:50am
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I think that you are unlikely to get it in the UK now as the Roots/Dub scene is quite far from the Free Party scene. Back in the day sounds like Negusa Negast definitely did Free Parties and played reggae/roots/dub but the new generation just aren't into like people were in the 90's, the scenes have diverged too much. You definitely do get some reggae related stuff getting played alongside the tekno, trance, DnB & dubstep, the old "Reggae in the Morning" still sings true. In other countries (where its not necessarily illegal to put on a free party) it happens a lot more. Certainly in Aus we have quite a few regular free party events playing roots, I do 1 or 2 a year with my rig and there is a boxing day free party in a park that has been running for 10+ years now. Roots also gets a shoe in at the big multiriggers (although the last one did get shutdown by the cops before it began) with at least 1 rig playing dub of some kind whilst the others stick to Tekno, DnB etc. ------------- Melbournes Rootical Warrior Roots - Dub - Steppers http://www.facebook.com/adrians.wall" rel="nofollow - facebook page |
Posted By: BigSoundNorthWest
Date Posted: 05 September 2024 at 9:10am
Riiiiiiiight. So, since 94, when said bill came in, there's been NO free parties in the UK?? ok mate. The similar bill a few yrs ago also hasn't stopped it.
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Posted By: BigSoundNorthWest
Date Posted: 05 September 2024 at 9:17am
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Certainly agree there fat_bstrd, I suppose the scenes themselves are different, I just think the model of taking a rig outside and doing a reggae session is a good one. The CJA 94, OR POA 23 certainly has hindered things, but, folks have been putting rigs in fields after 94, and won't stop now.
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Posted By: fat_brstd
Date Posted: 06 September 2024 at 2:23am
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I think that Roots sounds setting up outside tends to be a carnival style thing rather than a free party thing, whilst the outcome is similar, culturally they are very different things. ------------- Melbournes Rootical Warrior Roots - Dub - Steppers http://www.facebook.com/adrians.wall" rel="nofollow - facebook page |
Posted By: monkeypuzzle
Date Posted: 06 September 2024 at 8:05am
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Whilst the changes in law haven’t stopped free party culture, there was a point before the CJA when it was possible to run a private party on private land with the land owners permission and no licence without any legal bother from the bill. Now it’s pushed almost exclusively to dodgy and slightly inaccessible places. Most people going to a dub or reggae session aren’t the type of folks that fancy a grim warehouse or a a climb over some dry stone walls to get to the dance. Not stereotyping there but if’s how it is. I grew up in Hulme where anyone would just drag a rig out on a sunny day, be they crusties, punks, ravers or rastas. That all but disappeared after the CJA and wider society changes. ------------- blah blah blah blah blah...... |
Posted By: BigSoundNorthWest
Date Posted: 08 September 2024 at 9:52am
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On private land, it's STILL a private party. And still allowed. As long as u tell.em.its a private gathering.with 500 of your closest mates
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Posted By: BigSoundNorthWest
Date Posted: 08 September 2024 at 9:56am
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We have prob been the same parties Monkey, I'm only in Burnley go Mcr loads. Yeah that about dub crowds not being as much into warehouses n fields makes most sense. This all came from watching a video of RDK in Fordham Park in the 90s. Was an amazing session. One it had council permission but the vibe looked free party ish. Again, pre CJA so I suppose different. Thanks for all the feedback so far. |
Posted By: monkeypuzzle
Date Posted: 08 September 2024 at 1:04pm
Sadly this only works if you live n a fancy house out in Cheshire and drink with the local chief of police in your country boozer. Regardless of whether your event is on private land or not, if your event has “licensable activities” (music inc DJs, selling booze etc) you need a TENS application. Whilst this is very simple, it can still be objected to, be subject to a Saftey Advisory Group meeting and have special restrictions imposed. Even with the license, if the police feel like shutting it down there are many excuses that whilst not legit, are out of the reach of most folks legal expenses to fight after the fact. I’m sure many of us have friends out on the continent where parties are tolerated and in some cases even encouraged, it’s really sad that in the uk this idea that people should just be allowed to celebrate the fact they are alive and like to have a dance has to be subject to so much regulation, mostly under the guise of “keeping people safe” which there’s no doubt it does but sometimes it feels like it’s mostly just puts a knife in any idea of community cohesion. ------------- blah blah blah blah blah...... |
Posted By: BigSoundNorthWest
Date Posted: 08 September 2024 at 3:52pm
| Time to start building some OSB sui-scoops I guess.... |
Posted By: uiui
Date Posted: 03 February 2025 at 8:47pm
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In my opinion the question of the free culture or reggae culture depends a lot on the crew and his sound system. Activism is a founding pillar of the free party, and the very firsts sound system that posed illegally were reggae sound systems. I agree that today, lots of people goes to free parties and reggae (roots or dub) legal events to dance on the music instead of being part of an activist movement. However, some crew persist to engage the dancers in the movement by playing political messages during the party and in the infoline for instance. On the other hand in the reggae dub scene, which is more often organised as a legal event, the situation is pretty much the same. Some crew only pose their 4 scoops in a club / pub, put the music on and people dance. While other will stick to the movement and still "roast" the dubplates by singing / speaking over it with lots of activism following reggae sound system culture. I clearly think the reggae sound culture is compatible with free parties. But the reggae movement doesn't need it as it continues to exist and perform without the need of being illegal and losing the equipment everytime ^^ |
Posted By: BigSoundNorthWest
Date Posted: 14 February 2025 at 6:37pm
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I think that's a great answer uiui. I've always been a fan of.musical groups heavily involved in activism.. Underground Resistance the techno crew remind me same way. |