Discovering the Underground a look into the European Teknival scene Arianne Zajac
uropean culture is something Elation that is often thought of in reto high and lofty values
or messages peddled by the European Union to foster unity and cooperation across member states. Images of art galleries, inventors, and great discoverers all come to mind, but it can be forgotten that European culture emerges in many different guises. Trends within European culture cross borders and can feel like common knowledge to so many people, yet still fall under the radar for most. Teknivals are a unique aspect of European culture and a prime example of a cross-national underground. What are Teknivals? Not too dissimilar to a festival, they are large free parties in which anyone can participate; people can bring sound systems, play there as DJs, or simply just come to party. Teknivals can be found across the continent and are enjoyed by many, with each country forging their unique essence of what one is. Whether a teknival is illegal or not highly depends on a country’s laws, histories, and experiences but often there is not much which can prevent them from happening. Teknival is the combination of the words ‘tekno’ and ‘festival’ and characterising these events is Tekno itself; a fast, repetitive, and exciting music genre. Tekno has developed alongside the teknival movement which began in the early 90s and continues till today. Where are Teknivals Held? Teknivals have a rich history across many European countries, such as in Spain and Italy, but some of the most notable are in the United Kingdom, France, and the Czech Republic. The beginnings of the teknival scene began in the United King-
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dom. The movement grew out of the acid house raves of the late 80s, the travelling community, punk, and reggae sound system culture and ultimately morphed into its own subculture. As certain communities, such as the UK traveller community, became a target of political repression, these large parties became increasingly under fire from the police. The ‘legendary’ Castle Morton rave has been etched into history as the trigger for the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act. The gathering lasted a full week with 20,000-40,000 people attending. It made the national news and was ultimately debated in Parliament. The Criminal Justice Act made such outdoor parties illegal and has been criticised by many as draconian legislation. Since then, teknivals in the UK have been limited, in comparison to their European counterparts, however UK Tek has managed to carry on despite police repression.
“Teknivals can be found across the continent and are enjoyed by many, with each country forging their unique essence of what one is.” The French are often credited with truly forging teknivals into what they are with Frenchtek, also known as le teknival. Frenchtek has grown substantially over the past two decades with more than 100,000 people attending during peak years. The culture of political resistance that was inherent in the original forming of teknivals has not been lost during their development in Europe. Tekno Collectives in Fran-
ce often participate in protests and strikes and strongly oppose police brutality and repression. Currently, many French Tekno Collectives and their sound systems are protesting aspects of ‘lockdown’ which are perceived to be infringing on civil liberties.
“The movement grew out of the acid house raves of the late 80s, the travelling community, punk, and reggae sound system culture and ultimately morphed into its own subculture.”
