Talk ’90s to me How the Castlemorton rave changed festivals forever
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Oct 6, 2025 Filmmaker Aaron Trinder, director of the documentary 'Free Party: A Folk History,' dives into the wild world of the Castlemorton rave. He explains how this monumental event, uniting travelers and ravers, reshaped festivals and nightlife in the UK. With thrilling tales of unity amidst chaos and the profound impact of media coverage, Trinder reveals the cultural shifts that followed, including the legal repercussions that stifled free parties. He also reflects on how the spirit of Castlemorton lives on in modern festival culture and the ongoing fight for public assembly rights.
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Travellers Brought Infrastructure And Ethics
- Travellers brought 'leave no trace' ethics and infrastructure knowledge to free parties.
- Aaron Trinder notes ravers supplied numbers, money and the music while travellers provided practical know-how.
How People Found The Rave
- Word of Castlemorton spread by payphone taped messages and word-of-mouth 'Bush Telegraph' networks.
- Trinder admits he missed it and that FOMO later partly motivated his film.
A Crowd Of Every Type Dancing Together
- Archive footage showed Castlemorton united every social group on the dancefloor from travellers to posh local kids.
- Trinder found the sight of diverse crowds dancing under tarps the most striking image while compiling the film.
