​New exhibition documenting ‘80s-’90s club culture lands in Liverpool

A new exhibition chronicling Liverpool club culture through the ‘80s and ‘90s has opened up at the city’s Open Eye Gallery.

Rave On is described as a celebration of “the legacy and lasting impact of rave culture in Liverpool throughout the 1980s and 90s”, on show now through until March 9.

The exhibition – curated by writer, curator, and DJ Ezra McConachie with support from the Museum of Youth Culture – features photography, memorabilia, flyers, and film spanning two decades, from the acid house era to “legendary nights in Quadrant Park”.

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Rave On collects the work of local photographers and punters following a call for submissions last year, as well as the work of Liverpool scene photographer Mark McNulty.

“From early house records played at The State, Bold Street back rooms, Sefton Park raves and the very first Earthbeat,” says McConachie. “Rave On uplifts the stories, emotions and memories of a whole generation of people who lived through this period.”

The exhibition highlights “the importance of youth culture” and the cultural movement that came with the burgeoning rave scene at the time, through 1987 to 1999.

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Rave On also features a film curated by Ezra McConachie and Sam Batley, One Day At A Time Boys, where residents of an addiction recovery facility speak about the impact of Liverpool’s rave scene.

“Club culture is something in many ways which lives beyond the boundary of what can be preserved or documented, and yet is so formative and to many, an essential outlet for the body and mind,” says exhibition assistant curator Bronwyn Andrews.

The exhibition opened at Open Eye Gallery’s Atrium Space on February 6, and will continue to be displayed both digitally and in person until March 19. Find out more here.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Assistant Editor, follow her on Twitter