Who was there?: New photobook celebrates the 'Orignal Ravers' of The Haçienda

Many would argue that the Haçienda played a central role in the UK dance music canon; famed as the "epicentre" of the Madchester movement, the nightclub is best remembered for its role in the popularisation of house and techno, its help in kickstarting the careers of 808 State, The Chemical Brothers, Happy Mondays, and placing the North West at the middle of the rave movement from its opening in 1982, until its closure in 1997.

While hundreds have testified to the club's design, remembered its legendary performances (see Madonna performing 'Holiday' and Laurent Garnier in 1990), and reflected on its raucous dancefloor, less has been said about the Haçienda's punters – the people who got stuck in, week in, week out, and made it the legendary venue it would be known as forever.

Thankfully, Peter J Walsh was on-hand, immersing himself within the legendary venue during its hey-day. With his new photobook Original Ravers, set to be published by the British Culture Archive later this month, the photographer has unearthed a series of 51 portraits capturing the "faces, fashions, and spirit" of the Haçienda's dancefloor.

Complete with tinnies, ciggies and seriously-backcombed barnets, the portraits paint a rare human view of the storied nightclub, showcasing the rebellious youth of the acid house movement. "They offer an intimate and vivid time capsule of the era, standing as a vital record of one of Britain’s most influential clubs and cultural movements," says the British Culture Archive's Paul Wright. "These images capture a pivotal moment when Manchester redefined the landscape of music, fashion, and youth identity."

Ahead of the release of Peter J Walsh's Original Ravers, we've selected a preview of some of the portraits that will feature in the book, check them out below. 

Peter J Walsh's Original Ravers is available to pre-order now via the British Culture Archive. 

Megan Townsend is Mixmag's Deputy Editor, follow her on Twitter