SP23 is a creative collective of musicians, DJs and artists that specialises in the performance of live electronic dance music. The origins of the collaboration goes back twenty years when the crew toured Europe, and beyond, with the Spiral Tribe Sound System. SP23 was one of the many record label names associated with the sound system’s mobile recording studio (housed in a showman’s circus trailer). Then, SP23 was one of the early pioneers of live electronic dance music. Now, in 2012, eight of the original sound system members have reconnected and formed the SP23 of today.
A LITTLE HISTORY
In 1990 Spiral Tribe staged all-night unlicensed dance events in London. This was at a time when the government were enforcing legislation to eradicate the free festival and rave movements from Britain. The Spirals quickly got a reputation for their no-compromise policy of keeping the free spirit of music alive – and kicking.
Within a few months the number of people attending the parties was enormous and finding secret inner-city venues big enough proved difficult. And so it was, in the summer of 1991, the Spiral Tribe collective burst out of the confines of London and into the British countryside.
Playing out in the wilds, under the stars, Spiral Tribe became a symbol of resistance to the old hierarchies of oppression and exploitation. But as their popularity continued to grow so too did the authorities determination to hunt them down and silence their rebellious tune.
Though several of the Spirals were arrested on charges of conspiring to organise the Castlemorton Common free festival, the sound system escaped into mainland Europe. There, the ever-growing convoy of ex-military trucks continued to drum up a huge underground following culminating in the founding of the world-wide Teknival movement.