New Liverpool community project launched to commemorate iconic Bootle nightclub Quadrant Park
Local people have been invited to share memories and artefacts that help commemorate the club
A community project, Queue Up and Dance, has been launched to commemorate the legendary British nightclub Quadrant Park, open between 1986 and 1991 in Bootle, just north of Liverpool.
Local people who went to the "Quaddie" have been invited to share memories and artefacts that relate to their time there to create a digital archive that immortalises the venue's rich history.
The first place in the UK to hold legal all-night raves (an accolade gained via a licensing loophole related to its previous use as a snooker hall), Quadrant Park played a pivotal role in the evolution of club culture by changing the way that British ravers experienced dance music – a legacy that is sometimes overshadowed by longer-running, better-known clubs such as The Haçienda,
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Despite its relatively brief heyday, the 2400-capacity venue hosted a number of notable DJs including N-Joi, Joey Beltram, Sasha and Laurent Garnier. Its grassroots, community-based roots make it an early example of DIY club culture, a vital part of the club's history that is being rightfully honoured by Queue Up and Dance.
Project organisers, Sefton Libraries, Rule of Threes Arts, Dave Evans and Melissa Kains, are asking the local community for any relevant ephemera they’d like to share – such as flyers, mix tapes, merchandise, ticket stubs and photographs – as well as taking recordings to build up an oral history of the club.
The archive builds upon the work of a vibrant Facebook community, Quadrant Park Reunions, that had already been collecting memories and resources to document the club.
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Alongside the digital archive, Queue Up and Dance is running a series of workshops in a variety of related skills such as journalism, risograph flyer printing, music production and DJing, aimed at young people living in the area.
The material from the workshops, as well as the digital archive, will eventually form an exhibition, set for display next year (date TBC).
Queue Up and Dance is being funded by Historic England's Everyday Heritage grant programme and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. It is an important, community-led project that spotlights working-class histories and celebrates the legacy of a club with a short life but an immense impact.
Check out the workshop programme or sign up to get involved here.
Meena Sears is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Instagram