Rave Culture: A New Era (2025)

Doc'n Roll Film Festival is returning to Amsterdam, with an electrifying lineup of Dutch film premieres celebrating the legendary stories behind the music.

Late 80s. In an England suffocated by unemployment and Margaret Thatcher’s policies, a generation found refuge and a voice in music. In abandoned factories and secret fields, underground raves were born - explosions of light and sound where thousands of youth escaped social oppression to the rhythm of a new musical genre: breakbeat. Fusing the raw intensity of Detroit techno, the warmth of Chicago house, and the energy of New York hip hop, breakbeat shattered all the rules. Syncopated rhythms, powerful basslines, and limitless production fueled by samplers and synthesizers gave birth to a sound that was not just danced to - it was an act of rebellion. The scene eventually evolved into jungle, which later became known as drum and bass.

This documentary is an electrifying journey into the heart of the rave revolution, from the first illegal beats in England to its global explosion. Through never-before-seen archival footage, interviews with pioneers like The Prodigy, Orbital and DJ Hype, and a soundtrack that still resonates today, this documentary unveils the story of a movement that transformed music, culture, and the very essence of nightlife.

Melkweg often hosts different types of programmes at the same time, such as concerts, club nights and films. Please note that there may occasionally be some noise pollution from other programmes during the screening.