UK cities' influence on rave culture explored in new book, Out Of Space

A new book exploring the influence of various UK towns and cities on club and rave culture through the ’90s and beyond is to be published next month.

Out Of Space, by writer Jim Ottewill, is said to map “the key cities and towns where electronic music has thrived, it currently dances and the spaces it might be headed to next”, looking at key venues in cities such as London, Manchester and Sheffield during the explosion of rave culture, as well as more unusual locales like Todmorden and Coalville, which were home to famed venues and raves in the ’90s.

Additionally, the book will look at how urban landscapes have inspired and helped to nurture pirate radio, dance music festivals and soundsystem culture, and how new clubbing models are emerging to try to offset the spate of UK club closures going on in cities in recent years amid the drive to maximise real estate value.

There are words inside the book from a number of dance and club music figures from the past and present, including the likes of Norman Jay MBE, Josey Rebelle, Toddla T, OK Williams, Graeme Park and Ministry Of Sound’s Justin Berkmann.

Speaking about the book, author Ottewill said: “‘Out of Space’ explores the relationship between our cities and club culture, how it has evolved and the future. A key question I’ve asked artists, DJs, promoters and club owners is whether a place can still influence the sound that comes from it. Or has the internet and online world blown up any of these distinctions?”

The book, which will be published as a paperback and ebook on 7th July via Velocity Press, is available for pre-order here.

Out Of Space follows on from a recent photobook which aimed to capture the rise of acid house and UK rave during the second so-called summer of love of 1988.