The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act was passed into UK law in November 1994. Infamous for targeting events that played music “wholly or predominantly...
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Features
1st May 1994 was the first big London protest against the looming Criminal Justice Bill, the piece of legislation that first proscribed a genre of music — rave music, “wholly or predominantly categorised by the emission of a succession of repetitive beats” — in law. Despite widespread demonstrations at what was seen as draconian power-grabs by the UK authorities, the Bill became law later in 1994. Here, Harold Heath looks back at the reaction from the dance music community at the time, and the Act’s lasting impact on the rave scene today
Music
Recognise is DJ Mag's monthly mix series, introducing artists we love that are bursting onto the global electronic music circuit. This month, London-based Hyperdub affiliate...
Raw beats and sub-low rumbles mixed with sugary melodies are DJ Q's calling card.
Ten years ago, DJ Q released his first 12”, 'Love Like This'. The track was a bassline stomper, a grimy slab of sub-low and brutal...
A guide to dance music's pre-rave past...
We've drafted in Greg Wilson, the former electro-funk pioneer, nowadays a leading figure in the global disco/re-edits movement and respected commentator on dance music and...
Features
Ria Hylton reports on some of the best performances from this year’s EXIT festival in Novi Sad, Serbia, including ANNA b2b Sama’ Abdulhadi, Denis Sulta, Budino, Honey Dijon and Jamiie b2b Kristin Velvet
Leftroom boss Matt Tolfrey on taking his album on the road
Leftroom may be over five years old now, serving as a sturdy source of techno and stripped back house during the latter part of the...
Features
On Cue is our flagship mix series, celebrating the pivotal DJs and producers whose influence has shaped the world of electronic music, both in their...
London-born DJ and producer Ross, better known as Rossko, had his first brush with authentic, UK rave sounds younger than most. He was 11 years...
DJ Mag delves into the history of dance culture’s Woodstock...
In 1992 there was a festival in the UK that changed the course of dance music history. A culmination of the acid house explosion, it...
Boisterous beats in the bodacious Bahamas on Groove Cruise
"Good morning, Groove Cruisers! We've arrived in sunny Bahamas, so it's time to wake up, shake off that hangover, get sexy and head to the...
News
The London promoters and label take over three stages at Manchester's Depot Mayfield in November
Features
Lifting the vocals from Jah Screechy’s reggae standard 'Walk & Skank’, SL2’s‘On A Ragga Tip’ surfed the hardcore rave wave at the turn of the 1990s before crossing over to bring breakbeats and bass into the pop charts. The track has transcended genres and styles to stand alone as an enduring dance classic. Joe Roberts calls up Slipmatt, aka Matt Nelson — the ’S’ in SL2 — to learn its story
News
The gathering flouted France’s 5,000-person cap on live events
An illegal rave in the French region of Lozère attracted nearly 10,000 people last weekend, before being shut down, and temporarily locked down, by authorities. ...
Bank Holiday hoedown in Leeds
Despite weather reports not looking too bright for May’s first bank holiday, the excitement ahead of Back to Basics Saturday afternoon offering to Leeds’ three...
Features
Though arguably most prominent in the ’90s, free parties and illegal raves have never gone away. Despite the increased surveillance from authorities, passionate DJs and sound systems continue to throw events in a similar way that they always have, looking to create a sense of community and an alternative to the commodified dance mainstream. Dave Jenkins heads to a free party, and speaks to some of the illegal rave scene’s advocates about why they keep the fire burning
The knob-free touch controller from Livid
It's impossible to review any kind of DJ or studio controller without chucking in a few ‘Inbetweeners’-style knob-gags, so you can imagine my distress when this reviewer first unwrapped Livid's Base, an entirely touch-sensitive USB MIDI controller. Were they so desperate to be taken seriously that they'd deprive a lonely studio soul of his one puerile release? Actually no, there's a very good reason to go knob-free. Join me on a session of tender touching to find out...