Basslines & Borderlines: How Underground Rave Cultures Differ in America and Europe 🎶

Guest Writer

July 2, 2025

Basslines & Borderlines: How Underground Rave Cultures Differ in America and Europe 🎶

Written by: Ayva Redler

Music unites us all—from Berlin to Brooklyn, empty warehouses have been transformed into safe havens for dance music lovers of every kind. The underground rave scene has long been a sanctuary for the misfits, creatives, queers, outcasts, and visionaries—a place to escape the world above and just be free.

It all began in Europe in the 1980s, amid Cold War tension, economic instability, and rising political unrest. A counterculture was born. Fueled by the rise of acid house, psychedelic drugs, and a thirst for liberation, ravers across Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands gathered to resist societal pressure and discover the transformative power of music. But these weren’t just parties—they were movements. Spaces of radical freedom, inclusivity, and expression where LGBTQ+ communities and marginalized people were welcomed with open arms. One of the most iconic eras came with the fall of the Berlin Wall, which left behind a post-industrial cityscape of abandoned buildings and empty power plants. These forgotten structures became the cradle of Berlin’s gritty, industrial techno. A sound born from chaos. A sound of resistance. Artists like The Chemical Brothers and many others pioneered this sonic rebellion, embedding the values of anti-establishment freedom deep into the DNA of European rave culture. Flash forward into the 2000s, underground DIY events began to spill into larger venues and structured festivals, spreading the influence of Europe’s underground across the world. Raving, once a subversive act, became a household word—echoing through skate parks, college dorms, and dance floors from London to Lisbon. Europeans began an everlasting operation, letting the underground share its influence worldwide.

Across the pond, Detroit and Chicago were laying down the foundations of their own movement. These cities—often overlooked—birthed some of the most essential elements of rave culture: Gritty industrial clubs that started as DIY, let DJs such as DJ Pierre, and Frankie Knuckles shine in the early 90s. These barren yet beautiful places allowed for maximum creative freedom, and DJs spawned left and right, sharing their sound to the masses thus bringing fame and recognition to the amazing music and talent that was brewing in the dark. Across the globe during this time, EDM was evolutionizing and fairly shaped rave/edm culture for what we know it as. Out West, in Los Angeles, the underground began to mutate. In 1992, Pasquale Rotella threw his first event in an empty LA warehouse. That spark would eventually become Insomniac Events, one of the world’s largest EDM promoters. In 1995, he launched Nocturnal Wonderland, laying the foundation for major festivals like EDC (Electric Daisy Carnival). What started underground had now become massive, with the U.S. developing a highly commercialized, festival-driven scene.

Today, the rave world is more popular than ever. But key differences still define the underground on both continents. Europe’s scene remains steeped in tradition. Berlin, Amsterdam, and London prioritize genres like acid techno, gabber, hardstyle, and drum & bass. Many European clubs are

community-driven, with strict no-photo policies and inclusive door policies that keep the focus on music and atmosphere. In contrast, the United States leans more into genres like dubstep aka brostep, house, jungle, and experimental bass. America’s rave culture is often centered around

massive festivals, glitzy production, and PLUR-driven branding—thanks in large part to Insomniac’s impact through the 2010s. Still, the American underground persists. In Los Angeles, renegade warehouse parties light up the outskirts of downtown with secret lineups and raw energy. New York City maintains a vibrant DIY scene through collectives, popup events, and micro clubs that prioritize inclusion and sonic exploration. These scenes still hold tight to the roots—resistance to mainstream, celebration of diversity, and respect for the dance floor.

P.L.U. R. Which stands for peace, love, unity, and respect, is an acronym that we all know and love, but it would not be here without the underground. It has become a code of ethics to us all in the community. The legends of the underground in Europe and then in America, aligned their morals to be all inclusive, respecting whoever enters the door, bringing peace and uniting all in a safe space to share the music. This is what the underground is all about. As long as there are empty rooms, flashing strobes, pounding basslines, and people who believe in music as a movement—the underground will never die.

Current Underground Collectives in the US: