Zürich's Mikro Offspace set to host new Spiral Tribe exhibition

An exhibition documenting Spiral Tribe's (SP23) history and effect on the free pary movement is set to open at Mikro Offspace, Zürich.

The 9-week long exhibition starts on October 13 and will, just like its parties, run 24/7, with guest appearances, Ableton workshops, documentary screenings, book premieres, talks, live sets and a full SP23 crew closing party on December 16 all lined up.

Spiral Tribe grew a reputation for their uncompromising response to the government crackdown on free festival and rave movements in 1990.

Originally beginning in London before moving out to the British countryside due to the growing size demands, the Spirals kept the free spirit of music alive with their incredible soundsystem.

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The tribe's popularity continued to grow as parties played out in the wild, but as their popularity grew so did their notoriety.

Authorities arrested 13 members of the Spiral Tribe in relation to their role in the legendary 1992 Castlemorton Common free festival, allegedly the largest illegal rave in the UK with an estimated 20,000 attendees. The infamous trial ran over four months and cost the government £4 million.

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Upon acquittal, the half of Spiral Tribe that managed to escape the police took their soundsystem and convoy of ex-military trucks to mainland Europe, where they continued to drum up support.

The collective became a free-party pioneer across Europe and America, where techno-punk identity met pagan culture. On top of that, a Spiral Community recording studio was set up.

Just like its free parties, the studio's door was always open and held mentorship programs by resident producers Crystal Distortion and 69DB.

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Numerous underground labels and vinyl distributors came out of the studios early creations and became an underground network under the name Network 23. The tribe reformed with several of the original members in 2011 to become SP23.

SP23, run as a worker's co-op, ran as a creative collective which organised grassroots and community projects as well as raves. In 2013, the collective made a return to the UK and threw a (legal!) night at Village Underground. To this day, the crew host parties across Europe and raise money for charitable causes.

Read further details of Mikro Offspace's Spiral Tribe exhibition on their Instagram below

Tibor Heskett is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow him on Twitter