PARTY OVER LOCKDOWN

Over the summer, I would normally fill up my calendar with events, festivals, holidays. It’s the only time I can have a rest from the real world. Not having to do work or think about all the pressures life brings onto me as I have got older. The thought of dressing up in the most outrageous and vibrant outfits that I wouldn’t have the confidence to wear on a casual day whilst drinking an obscene amount of booze in the sunshine is addictive.

Lockdown has been an inconvenience for us event lovers. The build-up, waiting for summer to come round. It has always been one of the things getting me through the rest of the year.

I was one of the lucky people that stayed with my housemates over lockdown. It’s what’s kept me sane. DIY pub crawls around the house, dressing up for a festival live stream, themed parties – we have done it all. And hearing people post on Twitter is how much they need a festival or an event in their life has hit me with a realisation.

How much partying and letting loose is a part of everyone’s life. That’s why I wanted to explore the different ways people have celebrated music over lockdown. The new ways and old ways. The approach people have taken to reconnect through music. From Zoom parties and socially distanced events to house parties and illegal raves.

It all has been happening whether we like it or not. And if someone told me last year that a socially distanced event would be a thing, I wouldn’t believe them in a million years. Maybe that’s the best we can get at the minute and we need to enjoy it. At the end of the day, we never really know what’s around the corner.

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Editor's Letter After having a few conversations with different people, I discovered that everyone has been doing their own thing, some completely not bothered about what has been happening in the world and some full to the brim with anxiety. That’s why gathering these experiences and opinions of what really has been going on and compiling it in an edgy and fun publication was really important to me. To really get the feel of each experience and see if the new ways are just the same as the old ones and document that to the future generation. To see if the sense of music changed throughout the last few months that no one really expected.

The experiences and memories we have with our friends is the most sacred thing. Everyone has them. Everyone wants to relive them (that is kind of possible through your Snapchat Memories - not as good though) It’s no secret that even during the pandemic, with all the warnings, restrictions, and rules, parties have still been happening. But why do people do it?

It’s not just what we want to see, it’s how we want to feel. To feel that sense of escapism and have fun again.

The pandemic has caused a clear divide in the society of what should happen in terms of the dance music culture and events. One side thinks we should not have music events going ahead due to the possibility of transmission and rise of cases causing uncertainty for those who are high risk. But the other side believes we need to reopen society to revitalise the economy again, live with the risk, and enjoy life again.

Over the summer, pubs and nightclubs were open with the implementation of certain rules such as social distancing, maximising 6 people to a table, wearing masks when entering the venue and leaving the table with the addition of the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme, allowing individuals to purchase food and drinks with up to 50% discount to help restore the economy again.

This opportunity quickly stopped after the public thought everything was going back to some form of normality.

Since then, the UK government have been strict and a bit all over the place (by that I mean a lot) by shutting nightclubs, pubs, and restaurants again, even going as far and banning background music in pubs in Scotland where certain venues are open, leaving us back to the same place we were back in March 2020.

wtf is going on???

Such events and restrictions have caused confusion and frustration after people made their best efforts to socialise through social media and party over Zoom as well as attending socially distanced events for several months until that opportunity got taken away, eventually leading to a rise of illegal raves and house parties.

Meanwhile, while we deal with all the chaos in the UK, New Zealand has been applauded for the way the country has dealt with the virus, lifting all Coronavirus restrictions back in early June 2020 after reporting no active cases and allowing the public to party and gather in large crowds for festivals and music events.

This is why I included 8 stories, all with different experiences on partying throughout lockdown. It’s important to explore people’s experiences and gather their opinions even if it might be controversial, but what’s a story without some form of controversy.

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"The industry is going to have to find ways for festivals and events to carry on or it will be in serious trouble"

I went to see Big Miz in Manchester, which was a socially distanced event.

There were roughly about 50 people in the full event. The location was like a backyard with a stage and people were in groups of 2-6. We all had our own little pen and we could only leave if we were going to get a drink or go to the toilet. When we were in our pens, we didn’t need masks, but we did when getting a drink or going to the toilet. It wasn’t as good as going to a normal event but it’s definitely the best of a bad situation and if you go with a good set of friends.

I was excited to go because I haven’t been to see any big DJ or gone to a proper event in ages. Also being from Scotland, music is banned here so was good to see some live music.

It definitely didn’t feel like a normal event because there were tight rules and restrictions. But I would definitely go again because the music was decent and if you are with a good group it doesn’t really matter that you can’t interact with other people.

the 6 enforcing of social distancing because at the end of the day, they are safer than house parties and illegal raves.

With illegal raves and parties, I think it really depends on the number.

With 300 people at a rave, it only takes one person who doesn’t know they have COVID to come and spread it but I feel like if you’re having a party with your friends and it’d about 20 max, I don’t think it’s as bad. When it was summer, cases were pretty low but now cases are much higher getting closer to winter, so I don’t think it’s the best thing to do.

The industry is going to have to find ways for festivals and events to carry on or it will be in serious trouble. I think DJ events should be allowed, with the enforcing of social distancing because, at the end of the day, they are safer than house parties and illegal raves.

I went to Grey’s Club in Newcastle to see my mates who were playing on the decks. There was about 40 people in total with tables of 6 people all spaced at 2metres.

I felt safe attending it, masks were required to be worn when you wanted to leave the table to go to the toilet, so it wasn’t the same as a normal event but it was still good. I would probably attend another one as they ensured everyone’s safety was a top priority and it was well organised.

One thing I will say is we need to socialise and get out. It’s what keeps our mental health at peak condition, this lockdown is no good for no one and the number of people that have passed away due to mental health is scary. You see and hear it all the time on social media, everyone is saying the same thing especially people our age. There’s nothing better than being around your mates and having a good time, it takes your mind off everything. Without social interaction and freedom, it’s really hard to try and stay positive at times.

"Without social interaction and freedom, it's really hard to try and stay positive at times."

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"The police did come but I wasnt too bothered at all, dont want to be wasting my young years sitting in the gaff"

I have attended a few raves and parties, but the most memorable one I attended was this one on a Friday night, might as well, illegal house parties are on the rise anyway. There were about 50 people all in one basement and then spread across the house. It was a normal Uni student house and there was a basement with lots of graffiti on the walls. At the start of the night, my housemate was mortal and smashed my window in and I think that was another reason why I attended the party.

We were in a bad mood. I wasn’t too bothered about it purely because I feel like everyone is getting sick of the virus, wasting valuable Uni years.

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I didn’t feel guilty. The police did come but I wasn’t too bothered at all, don’t want to be wasting my young years sitting in the gaff.

I think if there was an illegal rave right at the start, like the one in Manchester when someone got stabbed, I don’t think you should be attending those but now that lockdown has been a bit eased and the government is going back on their word, I feel like no one really is taking them seriously and they have an alibi and hate students so fuck them. I can do what I want.

I didn’t know it was going to a big party to be fair, I just thought it was going to be a little gathering. it was a house of 7 and they all invited a few people, so it got quite big, about 25 in total. It was in a house in Jesmond, they made a boiler room set and had a DJ in the middle of the floor.

I didn’t feel too bad attending as I am not going around and seeing any vulnerable people or going home to my family and neither are my friends.

Also, I wanted to get out of the house for my own mental health. I think as young people we need to go out and live and be social. Although, I did feel very guilty when the police turned up.

We got told to hide so me and my mate with this other guy hid in the locked bathroom. We told everyone else to hide but they didn’t go in a locked room. I was actually pretty scared, as I thought I was going to get found and be in even more trouble plus I couldn’t really afford the fine. Then the boy was sick all over the bathroom while the police were banging on the door, but we managed to stay quiet and got away with it. I had to stay overnight there as we were all worried that the police would see me leave. I don’t think I could go to an illegal rave with thousands of people, I would go to a party where I know the people or my friends know them, but I think the illegal raves are crazy and as much as I would love to go to a rave I think that’s way too much.

"I think as young people we need to go out and live and be social"

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"its a lot easier to denounce someone for going rather than understanding certain peoples reasons for going."

A friend I know hosted a rave in the basement of an abandoned warehouse and COVID cases were relatively ‘relaxed’.

There was around 400ish people and at this point, it was late September, everyone and everything was more laissez-faire with COVID so there was less of a guilt element to it. I didn’t feel unbothered but it’s hard to measure the impact of your actions regarding anything (even non-COVID) 12

I do think illegal raves during this climate are admittedly a bad thing.

The space we went to was still pretty socially distanced due to the scale of the property. I know a few people who went who needed the social aspect of it. I think it’s a lot easier to denounce someone for going rather than understanding certain people’s reasons for going.

"something I will never forget as it was such a laugh and I made some really good memories"

The illegal rave I attended had around 150 people in it. I wanted to go because a lot of my friends were going and I thought it’d be a thrill and a way to spend time with friends, have a good time. I had never been to an illegal rave and thought it’d be fun, which it was. It was located in Gateshead in a field hidden in some bushes with a set of decks and two large luminous yellow poles which glowed in the dark.

I didn’t feel guilty about attending the rave I thought it was really fun, exciting and something I will never forget as it was such a laugh and made some really good memories. I don’t really have any regrets or guilt.

I know a lot of people think it is selfish going, however personally I think illegal raves are even funnier than normal raves cause it’s so exciting even though there is a pandemic going on.

There were a few moments I remember like when the power tripped and everyone was laughing and screaming on in the dark in the middle of nowhere, and eventually getting the power back on. I just remember having a really good time with my friends and laughing over nothing.

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"All I remember from the first lockdown is just sitting alone in my room getting drunk..."

I attended a listening party for Lady Gaga’s new album that came out back in May 2020. It was just like a normal Zoom call. It worked by us all connecting to it and then I played the audio through my laptop which then played through everyone else’s.

I’d originally planned to go down to London to visit my brother and have a listening party with him but obviously couldn’t do that anymore, so me him and some of his friends waited to listen to it and listened together. There were about 9 of us. I enjoyed it and because of the circumstances, it was the best option for us all to be able to hear together for the first time, although it would be preferred to do something in person.

I think I would attend another one if that was the only option for me again.

I personally feel fine about illegal parties. Young people obviously still want to see friends and have fun and the only people they’re really putting at ‘risk’ are each other especially if they are living together in a student house, which most of my friends do. I know It wouldn’t be great for my well-being, being fully isolated for a month, so would rather break the rules and be able to see friends. I don’t see an issue with it.

All I remember from the first lockdown is just sitting alone in my room getting drunk, doing zoom calls, and doing a ridiculous amount of online shopping to make up for the fact I couldn’t go out.

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As people are desperate for some normality back in their lives, partying has been the way forward for some people over lockdown. The sense of not being able to leave the house for months unexpectedly has made us all conscious of how valuable shared experiences really are. The change in how people communicate has rapidly changed. This pandemic has bought people closer together and gave them a taste of connection and company through the new digital age – Zoom. Just like for Emma*, who finished her second year of University back when the first lockdown happened in March. Our normal summer would consist of festivals and drunk summer nights, who would have thought some could only enjoy it through Zoom?

People’s concern for their families’ health and their own has been the top priority whilst the cases have been rising, a second national lockdown has been put in place and more parties have been occurring. The people attending parties are never really sure of the ins and outs of everyone’s life when most of the time it’s to keep someone close to them safe and sound. Emma’s* grandad has vascular dementia. That’s enough for someone to want to abide by the rules.

“I tend to do stuff with my boyfriend, scott, just us two. We like to call it zoom date nights, but we have done halloween parties and birthday parties through it with his friends as they are all in scotland.”

The real world for people who have been following lockdown rules as tightly as they could since the beginning has been enraging. Snapchat stories are filled with gatherings. Articles full of people fined for house parties.

Individuals partying abroad. Emma* mentioned that as a student who has been following government guidelines, the reality of students getting the blame for the rise in cases on social media has been real. No one needs that stress and pressure surrounding their life, especially during a pandemic.

Is that why so many people have been letting loose and rebelling against the rules? Is that why people have given up on Zoom, with the realisation that the digital age is nowhere near as good enough as seeing people in person?

Maybe a pandemic is what took people to realise what’s most important.

When the most important thing at the moment is spending time with your favourite people to keep you sane during this erratic time, not only a 4-hour distance has been in the way for Emma* but restrictions such as the travel ban, meaning she hasn’t really been able to see her boyfriend. “I would prefer to see him in person but Zoom is better than a phone call.”

The sad truth is that this has been the case for many. And although Zoom has been helpful in at least being able to keep in touch, nothing can replace seeing each other in person.

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“I THINK ANYONE WHO BREAKS THE LAW NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND WHO THEY ARE AFFECTING… IT’S ALL WELL AND GOOD SAYING IT DOESN’T AFFECT YOU WHEN IT REALLY AFFECTS SOMEONE ELSE.”

*name has been changed

Katie Loboda FA6015 Fashion Communication Northumbria University