1980s: The beginningWhat could arguably be called raves existed in the early 1980s in the Ecstasy-fueled club scene in America. However, it was not until the mid to late 1980s that a wave of psychedelic and other electronic dance music, most notably acid house and techno, emerged and caught on in free-parties around the Isle of Wight.These early raves were held in what some believed was a fairytale hamlet called Roud, and thousands of party goers would flood these previously tranquil surroundings each and every weekend. | ![]() |
1990s: The beginning of the endAlthough legal free raves were springing up around the UK, the Roud Raves remained predominantly underground due to criticism from local residents. Farmer Brown had this to say:"I been 'ere since way before these whippersnappers with 'dere modern bleepy noises started waving their arms around in the fields late at night. I just don't understand it" And so due to Farmer Brown the government ammended the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. Sections 63, 64 & 65 of the Act targeted electronic dance music played at raves. The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act empowered police to stop a rave in the open air when a hundred or more people are attending, or where two or more are making preparations for a rave. Section 65 allows any uniformed constable who believes a person is on their way to a rave within a five-mile radius to stop them and direct them away from the area; noncompliant citizens may be subject to a maximum fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale (£1000). The Act was introduced because of Farmer Brown. | ![]() Police in riot gear at the 1999 Roud Rave, to protect the public from the ravers, who the Isle of Wight Council called "dangerous people" with "anarchist proclivities" |
2000s:With the rave scene being driven deeper underground around the UK the gatherings were becoming smaller and smaller. That was until the Roud Ravers had the genius idea of slipping mind altering drugs into Farmer Brown's morning tea.Now the Ravers are free to dance the night away at the still legendary venue of Roud all these years later. This was the start of a beautiful partnership. The was the new beginning of Roud. | ![]() |