…a collective soundsystem
Back in 1993 a small group of students from Leicester started babble collective soundsytem, inspired by the likes of Smokescreen and legendary midlands deep house proponents DiY. They borrowed as much money as they could from friends and relatives and invested in a small secondhand soundsystem. By 1994 babble had become a firm favourite with an enthusiastic Leicester crowd, and over the next few years the collective staged sell out nights at (amongst other places) the Mud Club, Luxor (now Industria) and the Fan Club, and all-night events at Starlite 2001. dj’s playing from the collective back then include Long Jon, Peter Pan & Jay, often joined by guests from Smokescreen.
Babble has always been run as a non-profit making organisation, with any proceeds from nights going towards repayment of the original loans, maintenance of equipment and (very occasionally!) acquisition of new sound and lighting equipment used to enhance the nights. The collective is still going strong, consisting of a nucleus of very hard working individuals (supported by various people who contribute less frequently), most of whom now have to fit work for the collective around full time jobs. More assistance is always welcome, the only requirement being some form of contribution to staging safe, friendly and most of all fun events in and around Leicester.
Whenever possible babble try to put something back into the community, and occasionally work with local schools, providing sound equipment for special events. Back in 2000 babble djs gave their services to help raise money for Oxfam at a charity night held to support the Kosovan refugees. For many years they regularly appeared at Leicester Caribbean Carnival.
In 1999 the collective travelled to Hungary to perform at a three day event staged on the line of totality for the solar eclipse.
The naughties saw babble djs playing at clubs as far away as the Czech Republic and closer to home at the legendary Smokescreen nights at the Future in Derby, SugarCubes (Lincoln), Pulse at the Havana (Derby) and NMMB (Sheffield). Venues for babble nights during that time included the White Room, Starlite, the Y theatre, the Chapel and the notorious Worcester boat parties. Collaborations with Trancemission followed under the double trouble banner, first at Leicester Square (with the fabulous pool room) and latterly Soho on Halford St.
The tour of Leicester venues continued in the 2010’s, with nights held at Lock 42, Sumo on Braunstone Gate and most recently Boxxed.
2 replies on “About babble”
We love everything you do, proper crew ??????????????
Sick af, really inspiring story, i honestly want to do something similar with the now abandoned Starlite 2001 club, i want to restore it but don’t have the funds to currently, i really want to restore it looking back on it’s history, big up the babble crew.