Raving in the ’90s – Pills, acid, warehouse parties and more with author Kirk Field
Summary
Miranda Sawyer interviews author Kirk Field about his book *Rave New World*, detailing his accidental entry into the late-80s acid house scene as a bar provider and Mixmag reporter. Field recounts organizing the UK’s first legal raves, navigating police crackdowns, and the cultural shift from illegal parties to licensed events like Rain Dance. The episode explores the innocence of the era, the role of technology in rave logistics, and Field’s honest reflections on drug use and community.
Topics discussed
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Kirk Field's entry into the rave scene via mobile bar
Logistics of raves, police cat-and-mouse, and tabloid myths
Becoming a raving reporter for Mixmag and the sense of belonging
Sunrise raves, membership tickets, and celebrity attendees
Tony Colston-Hayes and the Freedom to Party movement
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Anecdotes: Shoe acid, wallpaper acid, and paparazzi mishaps
Writing the book: Honesty about drugs and innocent nostalgia
Rain Dance raves in Essex and the rise of licensed events
The economics of raving and the 'Love of Loaf' flyer disaster
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Competition, failed ventures, and the adventure of the 90s
Spinoza, crowd unity, and the threat to social gathering
Poetry: The 'Graver' and end-of-life rave care
Playlist picks, audiobook production, and Patreon merch
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