Regular readers and those with long memories will remember that earlier this year, I launched my PhD research project, which focuses on rural and coastal rave culture in East Anglia over a 30-year period (1989-2019). Since well over six months has passed since then, I thought it might be useful to post an update on progress.

First of all, you can find my original post launching the research, and calling for people to come forward and take part in the project, here. Back then, I was launching stage one of the research: an online survey for those who have attended pay-raves and free parties in East Anglia at any point since the late 1980s.

The response to the survey was well beyond my expectations. Almost 220 people submitted completed surveys, providing huge amounts of information about rave culture in the East of England – as well as their own cherished memories, information on historic soundsystems and rave promotion crews, and basic details of various places they’d been to dance in the region.

I want to put on record my thanks at this point to those who took time to fill in the survey and share their stories. I appreciate every single contribution and without this kind of response, it would be very difficult to be able to piece together an accurate history of rave and free party activity in East Anglia.

Extra special thanks go to those who indicated that they would be willing to be interviewed in the second stage of the research. In this stage, I will conduct what researchers call ‘semi-structured’ interviews with selected participants. They’re ‘semi-structured’ because every interviewee will answer some general questions, with the rest being specific to their personal experiences and journey through free party and pay-rave culture (I.E they will be based on what they wrote in the online survey). These interviews will begin shortly and continue throughout the first few months of 2026.

I was particularly blown away by the volume of people who indicated that they would be willing to be interviewed. Well over 150 survey respondents (a clear majority) ticked this box. That’s great, but also meant I had to spend extra time going through responses to select those to take part (as much as I’d like to invite everyone for interview, there is not enough time to do that – sadly selection is part of the process).

Shortly, those selected for interview will receive an email updating them on the project and asking them to clarify whether they are still willing to be interviewed. Answer yes, and I’ll schedule an interview at a time of their choosing. These particpants will also receive a link to an information sheet which should answer any questions they may have about the interview stage and how their data (that’s basically their answers, in the form of recordings and transcriptions) will be handled and stored securely.

It is worth reiterating at this point that interviews will be conducted online via Zoom, with audio-only calls. All interviewees will remain anonymous and will be referred to in the finished research by a unique ‘participant number’. These correspond to the order in which survey responses were received. It’s standard academic practice in research projects like this.

I would also like to thank those who took time to email me with additional information, either after filling in the survey, or following the end of the online survey period. As I said above, I appreciate every contribution. After all, I am honoured to be trusted with your stories, memories and a cultural history that is personal to all those who created, participated in, and sustained it over decades.

I am more than happy to answer any questions people may have about the research or the forthcoming interviews – just drop me a line via the contact page here.