The parties i like best are the ones with house rigs, partly cos they are usually fluffier, imho, and the vibe is crucial to a good party. This might sound odd to many, cos most of ya seem to be happier at the tougher end of the dance music spectrum, and house is often code for ‘handbag’. But house can’t really be handbag when its in the the middle of a field, cos slingbacks are simply not an option…:wink:

Some of ya (particularly youngsters and southerners!) may not know that the east midlands house/free party scene still potters along, semi-oblivious to whats goin on elsewhere. East Midlands house labels are recognised world wide, and have been important to recent dominant flavours (ie minimal and tech). Indeed, without the overseas interest, the labels would certainly have struggled to maintain the quantity and quality that exists here today.

The key fact to remember here, is that ‘back in the day’, when the much talked about Spiral Tribe parties were kicking off playing techno further south, DiY were rocking equally well attended parties in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire (and further north), but they were playing house music. This impacted local party heads so strongly the scene survives to this day.

imho, house is more ‘inclusive’ than more aggresive styles ie your granny (if she had a Bench top on!:groucho: ) could concievably dance to house at a free party, cos its roots are in disco.

Indeed, due to the relative ages and personal habits of some early free party adherents, i have seen thinning crowds at the end of some recent parties, take on the appearance of a ‘Saga’ sound system event! Not only could your granny dance, if you gave her a ‘dread’ wig, she’d actually look younger, and move better, than some of the regular party goers. ha ha ha. Zimmerside! :laugh_at:

I should emphasise that as on old git myself, i’m on dangerous ground here…

This early preference has endured in the east midlands area with DiY and then Smokescreen inspiring numerous sound systems across the country to play house, and creating the rather low key (compared to newer, ‘noisier’ styles!), and older, ‘house mafia’ that exists today.

Whilst the parties are less frequent and often smaller, and club nights are more common, the vibe endures (tho casualities are not unusual, sadly, and coke and ket seem to have marginalised xtc somewhat), and the music keeps on changin.

I think partyheads in the UK sometimes forget (or don’t realise) that us Brits have been leading global dance music culture for nearly 20 years now, and our free parties have been the inspiration to ravers worldwide. We shouldn’t underestimate the richness that has resulted, and the quality of our homegrown talent.

We are still one of the most creative places, for dance music, on the planet…:group_hug :group_hug :group_hug

PS I do love some other styles as well, but house was first…