25 Years of UK Garage

The Language of Film

Dec 5

'25 Years of UK Garage' takes a look back at the UK garage scene paying homage to the DJ's, MC's and producers who made it happen. With interviews from the breaking artists at the time, the documentary charts the success of the UK garage scene from its fledgling beginnings to its hedonistic peak followed by its downfall, before making a surprising festival comeback attracting new crowds both young and old.

Taking us through some of the history are Terry Stone and Jason Kaye, the masterminds behind Garage Nation (a spin-off of their One Nation rave events), who became major players in putting on garage events during the '90's and 00's. Their knack for finding the top talent such as the chart topping So Solid Crew along with booking the best venues put them front and centre of the UK garage scene.

With its sound coming from US garage and hip hop mixed with the UK jungle and drum and base, UK garage was finding its audience on the radio through the likes of one of its earliest proponents DJ EZ. Tracking back to the pirate radio stations such as Supreme FM and Delight FM, the interviewees explain how by setting up these DIY stations they risked everything i.e. their records and equipment, if caught by the DTI (Department for Trade and Industry). The relationship between the pirate radio stations, the rave events, flyers, dubplates (the promo records played at events) and tape packs from the MC's and DJ's was fundamental in how this electronic dance music scene blew up in London.

Now considered Old Skool, UK Garage scene at the time was one of the biggest music scenes to happen in London and UK with its hedonistic party atmosphere mix of girls, designer clothes (Versace, Moschino, Patrick Cox), designer drugs and champagne. Through a healthy competition between the DJs and MCs they pushed themselves to new highs and these ground breaking times seemed to culminate in the euphoric take-over of the holiday party island of Ayia Napa. Terry and his team took the Garage Nation brand, bringing over the DJs and there is much joy taken in reminiscing about the parties on the island. By then garage had become mainstream with a number 1 track in the charts, "Do you really like it?", and the unmistakable line from MC DT "We're loving it, loving it, loving it." But the euphoria couldn't last forever and the good vibes were getting overshadowed by overzealous punters, gangsters and violence, which was getting too much for the locals and the local police, who wanted their sleepy fishing town in the Mediterranean back.

There was a similar pattern happening in the UK with the gangs getting more violent, with more stabbings and more shootings. The garage scene was getting a bad reputation and the government and police were putting pressure on the venues who were reluctant to book garage acts in case they lost their licences.

Bookings were on the decline but enter James Shadimehr, a young 19 year old student, who'd picked up the event bug putting on under 18 discos. He buys the Garage Nation brand with the support from his family and after many dark days and years, including a pandemic lockdown, he managed to re-energise the Garage Nation brand and re-invent it not just as a club night but a festival with 10,000 party goers, bringing back the halcyon days.

Directed by Terry Stone and Richard Turner "25 Years of UK Garage" is a nostalgic look back at a highly influential music scene in the UK. Amongst the pioneering DJs, MCs (mostly the So Solid Crew representatives and Heartless Crew) and producers there are several well-known faces in the music industry including Ms Dynamite, MC Harvey, Lisa Maffia and Dane Bowers plus a special guest, impromptu performance from boxer Anthony Joshua.

What's interesting is seeing this social cross-section of London's youth culture at that time and hearing about the journeys they went on. Some of the conversations are quite unfiltered as they nostalgically reminisce about their triumphs as well as their misdemeanours including one DJ commenting "Clubland has always been a bit naughty no matter what era you were from."

What's entertaining is seeing the difference in styles between the old skool proprietors of Garage Nation, Terry Stone and Jason Kaye side by side with the new younger generation proprietor of James Shadimehr, who seem like chalk and cheese in their approaches but aim to have an equally big impact on UK Garage.

It's not the slickest production with some quite random edits. Surprisingly the music takes a back seat for the most part and doesn't get a proper airing until the end credits probably due to budgetary restrictions.