Legendary Notts free-party collective DiY threw a 25th birthday at the weekend. At their expense. As ever. Then someone robbed them. LeftLion asks if you can help...
It was the best of times; it was the worst of times…
This weekend, Nottingham’s seminal, pioneering free-party collective DiY held a wee shindig out in a field near Tamworth to celebrate their 25th birthday. It was an absolute blinder – many veterans think it the best ever – as you’d expect when PhD partyologists do it ‘emselves. A thousand or so happy folk getting on with what they want to get on with.
Cookie, Chilly Phil, Jack, Digs and Woosh took us up, down, round and around, before a sublime set from Simon DK – dropping track after super-deep and emotive track – had nudged itself up into legendary territory when it was prematurely ended. A landowner happy to take a fee to hire the field, plus charging for parking and camping, suddenly got cold feet and invited the police along.
The music shut down early (8.30-ish), but the memories – fleeting, fuzzy moments of wordless, communal joy, when a sea of groove-induced grinning says it all. The memories will linger on well past the unfortunate, depressing episode that took place late on Sunday evening, when DiY’s hire van was crowbarred open and several items were stolen, including a £400 generator, a donations bucket containing upwards of £300, and worst of all two crates of records, many of which are literally irreplaceable. In addition, there will be costs incurred on the £600 insurance to the hire van. All deeply saddening.
If you’ve ever been to a DiY club night, bought one of their recordings, or, better yet, had one of the nights of your life at their free parties, then perhaps you might be minded to chip in what you can, too. If not, no bother.
The donations are already coming in. The community is rallying round folk who, over the years, have given a huge amount of bone-deep, life-defining pleasure to so many. Ever philosophical, the DiY crew will not allow bitterness to sully the weekend. Memories will not be soured.
It was the best of times – yes, it was the very best of times…
* Post-script: Nail's album auction raised £130, while David Bowen's images were sold for an astonishing £500. John Buckby of Schmoov! (first releases on DiY) auctioned the entire back catalogue of his Winding Roads label for £450. Bespoke paintings, flyer collections, mountaineering classes -- lots more has been chucked into the pot. To check on further bids, or offer items, visit here.
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