“I felt it before I heard it!”: 800-person illegal rave shut down in South Wales

An illegal rave attended by around 800 people was shut down by police in Port Talbot, South Wales over the weekend after locals complained of noise.

The unlicensed event took place on Saturday (October 18) at a hill farm near the village of Croeserw, and raged on through the early hours of Sunday morning, locals have claimed.

According to Farmers Weekly, farm owner Helen Howells said the event resembled a “festival” with three lorries parked on the site, each “blasting music”. 

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Locals told Wales Online that noise from the party travelled as far as Aberdare, over 20 miles away; "It sounded like a hardcore techno rave,” one local said.

Another local claimed: "It started just after midnight, I felt it before I heard it! The noise drove us nuts for hours and the dog was barking like crazy.”

South Wales Police said that over 800 people were in attendance, travelling from as far as Bristol and London. Authorities attended the site, where they attempted to “safely disperse” attendees.

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"Enquiries are on-going in relation to any criminal offences which may have been committed,” a spokesperson for South Wales Police told Wales Online.

Speaking to Farmers Weekly, land owner Helen Howells claims that livestock was injured during the illegal rave, and one of three wind turbines on the farm was damaged. “Running a hill farm is tough enough,” she said. “The cost will be huge.” 

Howells said she is now cleaning up the farm, reporting that old cars, tents, chairs, and NOS canisters are littered across the land. Police are currently investigating the unlicensed event.

[Via Farmers Weekly & Wales Online]

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Associate Digital Editor, follow her on Twitter