We’ve seen all the documentaries on this list, and they’re all worth watching. Perfect for all-day hangovers on the couch. Let’s get stuck in!
1. Mensa Lord of the Rave
This is an old ‘90s rave doco about a former nightclub called ‘Sterns’ in West Sussex, UK. The club was largely promoted through flyers and word of mouth, attracting coach loads of partygoers from all over the country and even European visitors before closing in 1993.
The nights were led by a guy called Mensa and promoted by ‘In-Ter-Dance’, which you’ll hear more about in the doco. The 90-minute film was produced & directed by David Kenny in 2014, although it resurfaced on YouTube in 2023. Well worth getting settled in for!
2. The Summer Of Rave 1989
One of our personal favourites, this BBC documentary from 2006 discusses the development of rave culture in the UK during the summer of 1989. Not one to miss!
Transcript from the video: ‘’Great British summers may not come often but when they do people all across the nation start shedding not only their clothes but their inhibitions too and if summertime is party time the scorcher which was the summer of 1989 was one long party from beginning to end. 1989 saw young people were turning their backs on the rat race and throwing themselves into a hedonistic rush of new music and new drugs.’’
3. High Tech Soul: The Creation of Techno Music
Released in 2006, High Tech Soul explores the birth of techno in Detroit and the city’s cultural and economic backdrop that helped shape the sound. It’s a great companion to our history of techno article, putting faces and first-hand accounts to one of electronic music’s most important origin stories.
The 64-minute documentary centres on Detroit pioneers Juan Atkins, Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson, alongside interviews with Jeff Mills, Carl Craig, Richie Hawtin, Eddie Fowlkes and many others. Well worth a watch if you want to understand why techno and Detroit are so closely connected.
4. The Art of The DJ
This 80-minute documentary follows Steve Lawler’s journey through UK underground dance music, tracing his path from early club gigs to an international DJ career spanning several decades.
Released in 2015, The Art of the DJ also features contributions from Carl Cox, Darren Hughes, Danny Whittle, Ben Turner and others, alongside Lawler’s friends and family.
5. How The Warehouse Project changed clubbing forever
This 12-minute film about The Warehouse Project (Manchester, UK) takes an intimate journey through the iconic clubbing brand’s history so far, beginning with its early inception at Boddingtons Brewery in 2006 to the legendary underground car park on Store Street, right up until the present day at the 10,000 capacity Depot Mayfield.
6. Carl Cox 24/7
This 60-minute documentary follows Carl Cox both behind the decks and away from them, offering a closer look at the life and career of one of dance music’s most recognisable DJs.
Alongside footage from his life on the road, Carl Cox 24/7 looks back at a career stretching from the early UK rave scene to his rise as a major international DJ.
7. In The Que: Celebrating the Que Club
Last up, this 34-minute doco explores the 30-year history of Birmingham’s legendary Que Club (UK). The venue was a former Methodist Church with seven rooms and a main area where club nights such as Cream, House of God and Atomic Jam were held.
The club first opened its doors in 1989, hosting the likes of Underworld, Run-DMC, Blur, Pulp and Primal Scream, with DJs Carl Cox, Pete Tong and Paul Oakenfold also playing at the venue. Again, well worth a watch! (released 2023).
This post was reviewed by Dale Ashworth.
