Emerging from Nottingham in the summer of 1989, DiY were one of the first house sound systems in the UK. Merging the anarchic lineage of the free festival scene, the cultural and political anger of bands like Crass with the new, irresistible electronic pulse of acid house, they bridged the idealistic void left by the moral implosion of the commercial rave scene.
From Castlemorton to the Café del Mar, the DiY sound and DJs became internationally renowned and beneath their banners of liberty, collectivism and untrammelled hedonism achieved an underground cult status that endures to this day. Having celebrated their thirtieth anniversary in 2019, DiY continues to challenge the idea that dance music is apolitical and to celebrate the ideology of liberation through fun.
Written by Harry Harrison, one of DiY’s founding members, Dreaming in Yellow traces their origins back to early formative experiences, describing in detail the seminal clubs, parties, festivals and records that forged the collective. Dreaming in Yellow is an attempt to distil the story of DiY’s tumultuous existence and the remarkably eclectic, outrageous and occasionally deranged story of them doing it themselves.
To celebrate the launch of the book, publishers Velocity Press are hosting a special after-party at The Social featuring original DiY DJs Grace Sands (fka Digs) and Jack plus Dave Brooks (Spirit Wrestlers) and Richie Jones (Strictly4Groovers)