DiY soundsystem is a DJ collective that formed around 1989 in Nottingham. Whilst being well known for kick starting the free party scene in the midlands, DiY also put on some serious club nights including Bounce, Serve Chilled, the Doghouse and Sponge. On the streets of early nineties Nottingham, in the run up to the weekend, the one question on everyone’s lips would be:
Got tickets for Bounce?
We’re really pleased to host another recording from the DiY archives (there are more to come). If you were there or thereabouts please say hello.









{ 48 comments… read them below or add one }
nice one, just dropping into my itunes now.
Simon lived in the flat next door to my mate in Notts, so I got to know him quite well. I even DJ’d at one event of theirs when Mark Farina and Larry Heard came over.
Cheers
Scott
Had the pleasure of playing B2B with Simon DK at one of Notingham’s bigger HouseParties, orginised with the help of myself and others from a lesser known collective that existed around the mid 90’s in Nottinghams Underground Scene. Respect to Mr DK.
this just brings back so many thoughts of bounce and partys all over the place and meeting some great people.miss them times alot.dk…….well what can you say he was the dad .always will be.
DJ Jack!!! honestly those were the nites, the site parties and bounce, big love to you all, dont ever forget am so happy i was there with youall xxxxxbiglove
I’m trying to find a DJ who hung around with that lot called Peter Pan – I don’t know his real name does anyone remember him?
Dj Emma!!, all of them to be honest, many a lost night had in the middle of quarries, dance factorie and the garvey centre, Still got loads of flyers kicking around somewhere and some old tapes of digs and woosh etc.
You lot gave me so many happy memories that I can remember and possibly even better experiences that I cant.
Thanks for these, straight on to the ipod
Well what can I say people,Absolute Quality.I travelled a long way to come up to Bounce,from bmth ,was worth every mile.Cant believe I found this,Thanks for the Dayz .Quality.Absolute.
The anticipation of the night was what this was all about, knowing what was going to happen. The DiY were something special and so were the crowd my I add. My first taste was at Venus, Nottingham at about 15 years old when my elder brother helped get me in. Been all over the country to see them and always came home with the feeling that I had shared in something truly unique.
Oh, Great days and crazy nights! Used to have hair back then, gives me goose bumps just remembering all the great times we all had. Wonderfull sound system beautifull people, truly unique! Valerio, that you Jez?
Anyone got the track id for the song @ 19-20 minutes in the first part?
Never came to any Bounce parties myself but came to some wonderful DiY outdoor do’s and played a few of their tapes until they wore out
There are a couple of entries on my site about DiY, feel free to add your own recollections here: http://freepartypeople.wordpress.com/category/diy/
And here’s another Simon DK mix- New Year’s Eve 92/93, it’s on my site too, feel free to grab it:
Side A: http://www.mediafire.com/?zndyikxhkg7
Side B: http://www.mediafire.com/?l49uiv2uka5
Thanks for the music. I had the great fortune to be in Nottingham from 89 to 93. DIY – without question the best nights out of all time. Bounce at Venus, then at the Dance Factory. Who will ever forget the final Bounce at the Dance Factory followed by the after party at Square Dance Studios? What about the nights at Sponge? Or the boat parties on the Severn? In fact what about all the after parties?
I’ll never forget the free parties in the quarries , Breedon or Laxton or up and down the countryside. I’ll never forget the generosity of Rick, Pete, Harry, Barbara. DK, Jack, Damien, Mothball (could he do speakers or what?) who said if you can make out to San Francisco we’ll look out for you. I made it and they were true to their word. Everyone who was a part of that scene knew they were experiencing something special. Wonderful people plus truly outstanding music made something fantastic, it was just beautiful.
Me and my mates still go on about it to this day (much to the annoyance of anyone who missed out) because we are adamant it should never be forgotten. Big love to anyone who was there.
sharing the love..xxxx
happy memories..
Great times!
This is a mindless advertisment for a book all about those times (free parties, dance factory, castlemorton etc.) If you want a copy let me know or go to: http://www.secreteden.webeden.co.uk/
the main character is Peter Pan (no relation).
I remember queing and trying to get into bounce every other week, when i was fifteen, i only ever got into bounce once what a fuckin night… never managed to get in again so went to Breeze at staircase down the road every other week, great days, great people, party people. went to all the Diy gigs at the Garvey, Rockerderos, and later at the bomb and alot of outdoor gigs which always the best.
A message to Jasom who made a comment about the Breedon on the Hill gig, i have actually got that on tape because it was aired live on radio, i’ll try and get it uploaded. I have also got the bombdrop party on tape which was held at clipston woods cotgrave. and loads of old diy tapes, ill try and get the all uploaded..
Free the party people D.i.Y
Craig (Nottingham)
Craig, if you can do that you’ll be doing a massive service for a lot of FPP! THANK YOU!
Craig, that would be amazing! Go on son…
hey all, i was very lucky to have been around the diy thing right thru, i hope everyones well, time moves on as it rightly should but the memories stay forever, thanks for the downloads, dk’s a superstar !!!… paul
thanks for these, great memories. first caught up with DiY at castlemorton when getting a bit tired and disillusioned with rave scene. truly blissed out and soulful. what followed was some special times, who can forget cotgrave (would love to get a copy of that tape?), splosh boat parties, smokescreen….
respect to all that were there and all i had the great fortune to meet and share the experience
increase the peace
I went to many diy parties in many locations including free outdoor and organised club nights ( Bounce) these were some of the best times i ever had. one of the most memorable was at a friend called pauls flat above the bookies in hyson green nottingham (jack played) was awesome. can anyone else remember this went on for a few days. was also at Breedon on the hill and oakham. why cant i get any of these mixes to downkoad would desperately love to hear some quality old skool deep house as lost all my music in divorve. keep the faith. Peace x
DIY , New Years Eve, Amsterdam..
…and it was a trip..
Was that Wolfman in Hyson Green Top nutter hows Pete Glugg from site?
Anyone got Castlemorton Tapes?
join this face book group, theres loads a downloads there proper old skool DiY , and Breedons there as well http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=47795148671#/group.php?gid=35753881067
also check this out http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=cdb8f44be06ede43ab1eab3e9fa335ca3a86d932907f52f2
and this DiY facebook group
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=47795148671#/group.php?gid=5151798698
hope this helps everyone, it certainly brought back some great memories for me….theres hours worth of mixes here…enjoy!!!!
Respect to the DIY collective…..
Check out the Splosh! facebook page on http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=53114541050
flyers, photos and mixtapes of those heady boat party days with the DIY collective and the Smokies…… some mad photos of digs and whoosh in fancy dress……
this is great – many thanks indeed Craig
Well what can i say just got back from a smokescreen party in derby haven’t been out for a while was top night as for diy have loved them from early 90s i travelled from Bournemouth to all over and fair play to the nottingham free partys!!!!!
anyone know the name of the last track on the first of these mixes (DiY Simon DK Bounce 92 Pt1 )?
Or even better has anyone got a complete trck listing.
I must know so that I can download it, play it out and re-live the migic of bounce.
last track on DK bounce pt1 is Gat Decor – Passion
http://www.discogs.com/Gat-Decor-Passion/master/36328
thankyou noka… you’ve just saved me from banging my head against a brick wall after shazaam told me it was fortran 5… I’m a little impatient I think.
now… btw, do you know what the first track is?
Ed
eh up…fond memories of sponge in leicester…especially with andy weatherall…religious experience almost…also the garvey centre…the bomb..the arches in sheffield…ect..ect…anything going on these days..i`m up for some messin a boot…
Cannot believe I stumbled across this – what a find!!
DIY at the Bomb was such a massive part of my time in Nottingham – still love that deep house music… Brings it all back….
oh yes dance factory always remember bounce,the partys at tilt wernt bad either diy always doin a afterparty some where local i remember one party where i think ozeric tentacles were playin up stairs in a free hous party pure madness good old days lol.peace
Its not all over… DiY 20th aniversary party tomorrow night September 19th 2009. Full Crew in full effect on permission land under a big marquee in a field in the beautiful countryside all night and all day: DJ’s :- Digs and Woosh, DK, Jack, Emma, Pezz, Vertigo and others also with a little bit of the Spicy Cafe Image machine in a field in the midlands. All party people unite and make it massive. This may probably be the last time ever to experience the full DiY effect in the free sense just like the old days. You know it makes sense to do it yourself so just do it. Location details check the Face Book site. Its ON!! xx
Wow… what a way to celebrate 20 years of DiY = top party!!!
sound system sounded proper amazing, such a great night / dawn / day
90 – 93..Best Time of my life.. I think it was a golden era for loads of us… so many memories.. so much excitement and how much did Bounce Rock..Wot about Crazy acidic tuesday nights at Serve chilled..Gives me butterflies just to think about it now. Hope our kids can have something like that..Woz we da lucky ones? Cheers Rik , pete, Deaks, Moffball, Jules, Jack, Emma,Harry, Cliffy,Pez and anyone else that help bring it all together.
Some of the most memorable nites i ever had were at Bounce and the Sponge party’s in leicester. One perticular Diy doo was NYE – we drove from Notts to Bath in Fog u couldnt see 2inch’s infront of the car for. Amazing party with a circus top – i think – or was that the very good blotters?!
Smokescreen party’s were the bomb – fond fond memories. So gutted i missed the last big Diy Birf’day party but Bournemouth is a tad far now days for a night out. Still made it to the Wharehouse party just recently which exceeded expectations and will most definately come up for round two.
Cheers guys for some of the most amazing music i’v ever herd in my life – HAPPY DAYZ :0)
Katya (Bournemouth) Mwah x
DiY took their Bounce ethic all over the UK in 91/92 and i saw them many times then in the S-West leading up to and including Castlemorton. My fave DJ of the collective was Simon DK and in Sept 92 i asked him if he and the crew would play for me if i got a night going in Plymouth. 4 Weeks later i became a promoter & Cultural Vibes was born and went on to re-write clubbing in the S-West. The whole DiY gang made monthly forays to Plymouth throughout 93 and helped vibes to 2,500 people a week and into the DJ mag top ten clubs for well over a year. Even Terry Farley came down !! No DiY, no Cultural Vibes ! PERIOD. Best days of my life and thanks to all of you !
hi – i’m writing a feature on 20 years of DiY for Faithfanzine/Strobelight Honey mag
if anyone can expand on any of thse stories that would be amazing… please drop me an email at info@peghq.co.uk if you can share any memories, anecdotes, tunes, memories, or photos!
thanks loads
jane fitz x
ps respect for sharing this mix too!
After a break of several years I happened to catch up with the Smokies 17th Birthday party 7/11/09 – thankfully nothing has changed. The free party scene is still alive, kicking and out there.
Big BIG thanks to Craig Glover – man you put a tear in an old ravers eye, posting mixes of stuff I though I would never hear again.
Peace and Love all
thanks for the mp3s, and the comments bring back so many memories.
Diy was my religion for years(89/90 – 93 – moved to manchester) the music,people /nights in general where beautiful. bounce, sponge and smokescreen the free parties at elshem quarry, morton, sherwood rise etc and if i remember sherwood forest(I can remember coming round dancing with a guy with a huge red spanner in my face!!). can remember one night waiting for an after party at the garvy was in some wharehouse in st annes dancing for hours to a tape!!! (obviously we where just tired not to notice).
best times of my life, these guys where the punk of the rave generation.
I have an old DK tape from 1992. I cannot tell you how much this tape meant to me and my mates at the time. We listened to it over and over and that is despite the fact the quality was awful. It’s even worse now but I have digitised it. If anyone is interested in hearing it (despite it being bad quality) then I will put it up somewhere as an MP3. Great times – great music. Last time I went to a DIY night was the Marcus Garvey Centre in Nottingham. Was pleased to see on a recent trip to London a flyer for a 20 year party. Superb.
………………………………………..GooD TimeS………………………………………………
=]
yeah great times and more to come, its not a crew or a collective it is more like a religion-and a collective too….lol! who would ave thought that 20 years down the line all the fantastic support would still be there,the music we grew up with danced to,we made it played it recorded it lost it go trollyed to it, it soothed us,took us to far distant places and then brought us back again safely, the music fed us nurtured us tought us to groove and now the music lives through us, the music is us>
pleeeeeeeeeeeease do another DiY party! Anyone remember the acid house pool party at the Victoria Leisure Centre in ‘90?
Ive got butterflies in my stomach all these years later just remebering the crazy suspense before Bounce on a friday night. DK was really the master of trance and for me Emma for funk. Its even crazier hearing this tape and knowing I was there, weird, and who knows in what state! Love to all the underground wherever you are…