Did You Rave in Romford? New Exhibition Wants Your Memories of the Town’s Legendary Club Scene.

22nd July 202622nd July 2026 Francesca Lilleystone 0 Comments Clubbing, Exhibition, Raves, Romford min read

If you danced the night away in Romford during the late 1980s or 1990s, spun records, broadcast on pirate radio or still have a box of old rave flyers tucked away in the loft, a brand-new project wants to hear from you.

A unique new artwork, housed inside a modified Volkswagen Golf, is coming to Romford this summer as part of MEGA MEGA, an ambitious exhibition celebrating the town’s rich electronic music and club culture history.

Created by artist Rosie Strickland, BOSH transforms the iconic Underworld track Born Slippy into an immersive audio experience using voices, sounds and memories collected from people across Romford. Visitors are invited to step inside the vehicle and become part of the artwork by sharing their own stories through The Party Line voicemail system, helping to create a living archive of the borough’s unforgettable nightlife.

The installation forms part of MEGA MEGA’s Collection Days, where former ravers, DJs, MCs, pirate radio broadcasters, club promoters, record collectors and anyone who experienced Romford’s vibrant nightlife are invited to help preserve a remarkable chapter of the town’s history.

The exhibition, MEGA MEGA: Romford’s Suburban Sound Revolution, opens in October 2026 and will celebrate the decade that saw Romford become a hotspot for rave, hardcore, jungle, drum & bass and UK garage. It will explore the people, places and sounds that helped shape an era remembered by thousands across Havering and beyond.

The organisers are now appealing for local people to bring along photographs, flyers, posters, cassette tapes, vinyl records, recordings, memorabilia and personal stories connected to Romford’s clubs, record shops, pirate radio stations and nightlife from the late 1980s and 1990s.

Importantly, contributors do not need to part with treasured keepsakes. Items can be digitised on the day and safely returned, allowing memories to be preserved without losing the originals.

Katherine Green, curator of MEGA MEGA, said:

“Many of the photographs, recordings, objects and memories that tell Romford’s music history remain in people’s lofts, cupboards and personal collections. These Collection Days are an opportunity to bring that history together, help shape the exhibition and ensure it is preserved for future generations. Whether you have a box of flyers, a cassette recording, a photograph or simply a story to tell, we’d love to hear from you.”

Whether you were behind the decks, broadcasting from a bedroom pirate radio station, working in a record shop, promoting club nights or simply dancing until dawn with friends, this is your chance to help tell Romford’s story.

If Romford’s rave years were part of your life, now is the time to share your memories and ensure they become part of the borough’s musical legacy forever.

MEGA MEGA Collection Days

📅 Wednesday 22 July
🕚 11am – 7pm

and

📅 Saturday 1 August
🕙 10am – 4pm

📍 Fairkytes Arts Centre
51 Fairkytes Avenue
Hornchurch
RM11 1AX

Bring Along:

Flyers
Posters
Photographs
Tickets
Tapes and recordings
Club memorabilia
Pirate radio material
Personal stories and memories

🎟️ Admission is free.

Whether you were a DJ, clubber, promoter, pirate radio broadcaster or simply have memories of Romford’s legendary nightlife, organisers would love to hear your story.