Punishment for Partying: Is the law killing free parties? :: Wessex Scene Online

Punishment for Partying: Is the law killing free parties?

23rd March 2007
Clare Saxon

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Jan 08 - Gig: Bloc Party at Alexandra Palace
Feb 10 - Bloc Party: The Pavillion, Plymouth
Jan 09 - Mixmag Xmas Party: Justice, Egg
Mar 07 - Cassete Tapes Saved: Please Will
May 07 - The F(r)action Family Party

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Having partied for the last five years on mountains, in meadows, , quarries, forests, barns and warehouses, I have seen a change in the free party scene that began around 2005.

Although the crews and organisers make sure parties are far from locals, try their hardest to keep on public land, are strict on vandalism and always clear up every trace of their existence, the ravers have always been seen as the enemy.

The law has continually fought with the party goers, introducing new hurdles at every turn in stopping the raves happening, even going as far as arresting people for attempting to enter a party site even before the land and rig has been issued with the appropriate paperwork. This is accepted as fair because after all, these parties are illegal, there is drug use (although only as much as on the club scenes) and they sometimes happen on private land.

But in the summer of 2005, one particular soundsystem which continually set up on The Ridgeway, an old track which stretches across beautiful open spaces and three counties, was in big trouble. The owner was given an ASBO, the first of its kind to be given to an illegal party organiser. This meant that he could not put on the events, nor be seen at one. Although this did eventually keep this rig on the quiet, it didn’t stop the others - they just found better venues in counties with friendlier police. It also encouraged the soundsystems to stick together, with massive multi-rigs and teknivals becoming slightly more frequent due to the wavering illusion that there is safety in numbers. But once the first ASBO was given, of course they became more frequent, and many of the rig owners have now been forced into hiding and into the clubs.

This means that the soundsystems hold regular nights at local clubs. Although ravers do complain that club entry fees, mean door staff, sleazy men, overpriced drinks and the constrictions that led them to free parties in the first place are off putting, they are starting to see the benefits of these nights. On top of the same vibrant crowds and energetic and underground music and djs the nights contain, there is also the bonus of the systems actually making some money. This means they can work on building bigger and better quality sounding stacks, instead of constantly trying to buy their equipment back off the police.

It doesn’t just have to be clubs that reap the positive vibes and cutting edge music of the illegal rave scenes though. At the end of last summer I was able to attend a wonderful little free party on private land. But this was completely at the kind permission of the land owner. The party took place on a mountain in South Wales, less than a mile away from the spot where a party had been broken up by angry police baring bloody batons, shields and no numbers on their shoulders, just a few months previously.

There has been loop holes and dead ends for the music loving crowds, who prefer dancing and socialising in sunsets and buttercups rather than sweaty clubs but alas it seems the scene is slowly dwindling.

There are new doorways opening to soundsystem owners now though, as well as persisting with the old ways. Just remember the old saying: Don’t let the B*rstards grind you down.