I don't normally write comments, uncomfortable. But I just wanted to say thank you for sharing this. I am an ex club dj, and 50-something ex-raver. Stopped djing professionally 10 yrs ago. Like you, its my first love. I miss it so much. you get left behind. It's so good to read your words about it. Thank you!
Annie, thank you for sharing your words, and for having the agency and desire to create the raving space you have in Before Midnight.
I hesitated in sharing this but here goes…having worked in and partied in London’s clubs throughout my teens & 20’s, I suffered a catastrophic health event, after a weekend of clubbing, that almost killed me.
For the 15+ years since, the clubbing environment has been a place that triggers trauma in me so I’ve avoid it. Until a friend took me to Before Midnight. These events have subsequently played a huge role in my healing journey. I have found joy on the dance floor again. I’m not sure I can find the words to explain how grateful I am to you for this.
In a few weeks I will celebrate my 47th birthday, in my hometown of Brixton, in my fav venue the Academy, with you doing what you do best. And no doubt I will cry tears of gratitude while I dance. Thank you thank you thank you. Gemma x
oh Gemma! wow. I'm so sorry that happened to you but so so happy that you found us. Wishing you the most amazing night in Brixton. thanks so much for your message I will treasure it x
Love love loved this. I was at your Before Midnight gig on Saturday night in Manchester and had such a good time. I haven’t been clubbing in years and it was so so good. Great crowd, great vibe, everyone up for it, Andy ace tunes.
Love this post! It brings back many happy memories of buying soul records in that Farnborough car park with you - and that started my love of soul music that’s had me programming Smooth for almost twenty years.
Great that your DJ journey is still strong - keep doing what you’re doing x
Fantastic read! What a journey! My friends and I were at AMP in Printworks, March 2020. The final rave before the world shut down. You played ‘Prayer’ by Prospa as your final song and we’ll never forget how important that moment and memory was in helping us get through the pandemic. I get goosebumps thinking about closing my eyes and putting my arms up in my basement flat during Covid, pretending I was back at Printworks in the middle of that sweaty dance floor and screaming THIS SONG IS MY PRAYER, I GIVE TO ONLY YOUUUUU 🙌🏻🙌🏻 Thanks for that moment Annie. Will live with us forever xx
I loved reading this, thank you! I was there in Islington on 20 May 2022 not knowing what to wear or even that it was a rave (I wore platform heels and a smart jumpsuit 😆) and now I can’t stop going clubbing, I love it - at 47! Which brings so much joy into my life & my friends too. So, a massive thank you.
Hiya Annie, I absolutely loved listening to this . I was lucky enough to be a teenager when raves started and have so many memories . House music and dancing remains a constant for me and happiness thank you for sharing and sparking lots of memories
Hey Annie, I've seen you play a couple of times and loved every minute of your sets. I bumped into you just before you jumped into the ski-trackor thingy after your 2 x postponed due to COViD set at Snowboxx festival, it was a surreal experience especially after all the lockdowns etc. I do miss you playing in our kitchen every Friday, and getting the odd shout out. The Knights of the Jaguar you played on Radio 1 was the perfect ending. All the best, Good Gary.
I was quite lucky to find that the small town I’d moved to (from Brighton) to settle down and hopefully have kids, turned out to have lots of other (older) people, some parents, who want to continue dancing. 40th and now 50th parties have happened. Friends with decks in kitchens… one even bought a glitter ball for it :) helps to have my old mate and dancing partner nearby as well plus we have two brilliant small venues nearby - going optimo and David holmes in next few weeks! BM on Saturday was my third and utterly joyous as ever. !
I love this so much. I’ve been to two BM gigs - with family, with friends. So good to go out and experience it all again. So many memories of clubbing in the late 90s, I wasn’t ready to let go of it yet!
Thank you for sharing, before midnight reignited my love for clubbing. That feeling of collectiveness and no judgement is something I wish we could bottle up. I’ve been to 3 of these nights and each time I stand in the room looking around at the joy on peoples faces. Wondering where they spent there days dancing, raising their arms in the air and hugging everyone around them 🤣.
As 44 year old woman who has made some huge changes the last few years what youve writen is so relatable (well not the djing … that was just in my dreams!). Finding a way to flex and pivot a career around caring responsibilities, being a woman and knowing you can enjoy it is something we all need to learn.
And just to say Dancing on my own, by Robin reduced me and friends to tears in Manchester last year. It means a lot ❤️
oh Nicole. I love this so much. Thank you for coming back to BM again and again. That means a lot. I'm so glad you are getting what you need from the parties xx
Loved this read, thanks for sharing. I can totally relate to the complex feelings of holding tight to your passion while navigating the ever changing journey of life, motherhood and aging. I especially connected with your thoughts on making your passion work for you when your lifestyle changed. That’s the beauty of it all, being empowered to make a change and having the confidence to take a risk. Good on you for making it happen!
I also enjoyed reading about your time in Belfast, I first came to Belfast from Canada in 1999 when I was 19 as well, spent many a good night in Shine and various house parties around South Belfast, perhaps we shared space, ya never know! I’m 46 now and still here, love this city 💚
This is a really lovely piece. Honestly, to be able to take people out of their normal thoughts and lives for a few hours using music is such a magical skill. My first proper rave was aged 16 or 17, in Bagley's in Kings Cross, and my latest one was aged 40, at Before Midnight. I'm so glad events like that exist to scratch the raving itch now when the all-nighters feel more difficult to arrange (and justify?). That said, I'm off to Berlin this weekend. Wish me luck...
I don't normally write comments, uncomfortable. But I just wanted to say thank you for sharing this. I am an ex club dj, and 50-something ex-raver. Stopped djing professionally 10 yrs ago. Like you, its my first love. I miss it so much. you get left behind. It's so good to read your words about it. Thank you!
I'm so glad it resonated with you Kath. thanks for braving the comments section x
Annie, thank you for sharing your words, and for having the agency and desire to create the raving space you have in Before Midnight.
I hesitated in sharing this but here goes…having worked in and partied in London’s clubs throughout my teens & 20’s, I suffered a catastrophic health event, after a weekend of clubbing, that almost killed me.
For the 15+ years since, the clubbing environment has been a place that triggers trauma in me so I’ve avoid it. Until a friend took me to Before Midnight. These events have subsequently played a huge role in my healing journey. I have found joy on the dance floor again. I’m not sure I can find the words to explain how grateful I am to you for this.
In a few weeks I will celebrate my 47th birthday, in my hometown of Brixton, in my fav venue the Academy, with you doing what you do best. And no doubt I will cry tears of gratitude while I dance. Thank you thank you thank you. Gemma x
oh Gemma! wow. I'm so sorry that happened to you but so so happy that you found us. Wishing you the most amazing night in Brixton. thanks so much for your message I will treasure it x
Love love loved this. I was at your Before Midnight gig on Saturday night in Manchester and had such a good time. I haven’t been clubbing in years and it was so so good. Great crowd, great vibe, everyone up for it, Andy ace tunes.
This made me cry. Once a raver……. So glad you have curated your own space within the scene. Lots of love Annie x
Love this post! It brings back many happy memories of buying soul records in that Farnborough car park with you - and that started my love of soul music that’s had me programming Smooth for almost twenty years.
Great that your DJ journey is still strong - keep doing what you’re doing x
Fantastic read! What a journey! My friends and I were at AMP in Printworks, March 2020. The final rave before the world shut down. You played ‘Prayer’ by Prospa as your final song and we’ll never forget how important that moment and memory was in helping us get through the pandemic. I get goosebumps thinking about closing my eyes and putting my arms up in my basement flat during Covid, pretending I was back at Printworks in the middle of that sweaty dance floor and screaming THIS SONG IS MY PRAYER, I GIVE TO ONLY YOUUUUU 🙌🏻🙌🏻 Thanks for that moment Annie. Will live with us forever xx
what a memory! i remember that night so well xx
I loved reading this, thank you! I was there in Islington on 20 May 2022 not knowing what to wear or even that it was a rave (I wore platform heels and a smart jumpsuit 😆) and now I can’t stop going clubbing, I love it - at 47! Which brings so much joy into my life & my friends too. So, a massive thank you.
love this Lucy!! xx
Love this🖤, Annie Mac!
Hiya Annie, I absolutely loved listening to this . I was lucky enough to be a teenager when raves started and have so many memories . House music and dancing remains a constant for me and happiness thank you for sharing and sparking lots of memories
Hey Annie, I've seen you play a couple of times and loved every minute of your sets. I bumped into you just before you jumped into the ski-trackor thingy after your 2 x postponed due to COViD set at Snowboxx festival, it was a surreal experience especially after all the lockdowns etc. I do miss you playing in our kitchen every Friday, and getting the odd shout out. The Knights of the Jaguar you played on Radio 1 was the perfect ending. All the best, Good Gary.
thanks so much Gary xx
I was quite lucky to find that the small town I’d moved to (from Brighton) to settle down and hopefully have kids, turned out to have lots of other (older) people, some parents, who want to continue dancing. 40th and now 50th parties have happened. Friends with decks in kitchens… one even bought a glitter ball for it :) helps to have my old mate and dancing partner nearby as well plus we have two brilliant small venues nearby - going optimo and David holmes in next few weeks! BM on Saturday was my third and utterly joyous as ever. !
I love this so much. I’ve been to two BM gigs - with family, with friends. So good to go out and experience it all again. So many memories of clubbing in the late 90s, I wasn’t ready to let go of it yet!
Thank you for sharing, before midnight reignited my love for clubbing. That feeling of collectiveness and no judgement is something I wish we could bottle up. I’ve been to 3 of these nights and each time I stand in the room looking around at the joy on peoples faces. Wondering where they spent there days dancing, raising their arms in the air and hugging everyone around them 🤣.
As 44 year old woman who has made some huge changes the last few years what youve writen is so relatable (well not the djing … that was just in my dreams!). Finding a way to flex and pivot a career around caring responsibilities, being a woman and knowing you can enjoy it is something we all need to learn.
And just to say Dancing on my own, by Robin reduced me and friends to tears in Manchester last year. It means a lot ❤️
oh Nicole. I love this so much. Thank you for coming back to BM again and again. That means a lot. I'm so glad you are getting what you need from the parties xx
Loved this read, thanks for sharing. I can totally relate to the complex feelings of holding tight to your passion while navigating the ever changing journey of life, motherhood and aging. I especially connected with your thoughts on making your passion work for you when your lifestyle changed. That’s the beauty of it all, being empowered to make a change and having the confidence to take a risk. Good on you for making it happen!
I also enjoyed reading about your time in Belfast, I first came to Belfast from Canada in 1999 when I was 19 as well, spent many a good night in Shine and various house parties around South Belfast, perhaps we shared space, ya never know! I’m 46 now and still here, love this city 💚
This is a really lovely piece. Honestly, to be able to take people out of their normal thoughts and lives for a few hours using music is such a magical skill. My first proper rave was aged 16 or 17, in Bagley's in Kings Cross, and my latest one was aged 40, at Before Midnight. I'm so glad events like that exist to scratch the raving itch now when the all-nighters feel more difficult to arrange (and justify?). That said, I'm off to Berlin this weekend. Wish me luck...
Beautifully written Annie, so honest authentic and vulnerable - thanks for being a pioneer … and for taking us with you! Xx