DiY Sound System

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DiY Sound System
GenresHouse music

DiY Sound System, also known as the DiY Collective, was one of Britain's first house sound systems. The group "divided their activities between free parties and legal club nights, acting as a bridge between counter-culture and the mainstream".[1]

History[]

DiY was founded in Nottingham in 1989 as a reaction against the growing number of rave promoters whose bias was towards their own financial enrichment, rather than the joy of their party-goers. They wished to form a cohesive, collective, political front against the prevailing anti-rave legislation that was beginning to come into force at that time.[2] This became more marked around the time of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, with DiY playing a key role in the largest illegal rave ever put on at Castlemorton Common Festival prior to the Bill and a constant stream of illegal, outdoor parties (often at travellers' sites, quarries and disused airfields) all over the country.[3] Simon Reynolds wrote that DiY threw "free parties at abandoned airfields or on hilltops, drawing a mixed crowd of urban ravers and crusty road warriors".[4]

DiY also worked successfully in the realm of legitimate club nights, starting with their first night at the Kool Kat, Nottingham on Nov 23rd 1989 on Harry's 23rd birthday.[5] Their "Bounce" began at Venus, Nottingham in Feb 1991 and ran for five years at various clubs, including the legendary nights at the Dance Factory.[6] Bounce began to tour the country as well as being a staple of Nottingham's night life and at one point had a network of nights in Liverpool, Manchester, Hull, Sheffield, Bristol, Birmingham, Exeter and Bath.[citation needed]

The label put out releases from members of the DiY Collective, as well local artists including , Rhythm Plate and Charles Webster.[7]

DiY continue to hold occasional free parties, typically to celebrate a milestone date - on 19 September 2009, DiY celebrated their 20th birthday with a free party in near their home town of Nottingham, and on 23 August 2014, they their 25th (Silver) birthday with a free party held in a field in Leicestershire.[8]

On 3 October 2020, it was announced that Pete Birch (DJ Woosh aka the Peacuful Ones) had died from cancer.[9] Despite Covid restrictions, a wake was held in Nottingham and a ceremony was held at Prestwold Natural Burial Ground where he is interred. In May 2021 a birch tree was planted on his grave.[citation needed]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ ed. Low M. and Barnett C., (2004) Spaces of Democracy: Geographical Perspectives on Citizenship, Participation and Representation, SAGE Publications, ISBN 0-7619-4734-5
  2. ^ Scott Oliver (20 August 2014). "The Raving Crew Who Were Named 'The Most Dangerous People in the UK'". Vice.
  3. ^ "DIY: Can-do Attitude!". DJ Mag. 4 November 2014.
  4. ^ Reynolds, S., 1998, Energy Flash, Picador, ISBN 0-5712-8914-2
  5. ^ Collin, Matthew (1997). Altered State. UK: Serpent's Tail. p. 197. ISBN 1-85242-604-7.
  6. ^ Collin, Matthew (1997). Altered State. UK: Serpent's Tail. p. 198. ISBN 1-85242-604-7.
  7. ^ "20 years of DiY Soundsystem". Beatportal. Archived from the original on 19 March 2013.
  8. ^ "Doing it for DiY". Left Lion. 27 August 2014.
  9. ^ "Pete 'Woosh' Birch on the History of DiY Soundsystem". Left Lion. 3 October 2020.

External links[]

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