The award-winning interactive event, part of the Belfast XR Festival, will take attendees on a journey back to the heart of the 1989 Acid House movement. The experience, directed by Darren Emerson, co-founder of East City Films, brings the era of illegal raves and electronic dance music to life.

As Darren Emerson shared, “The experience is set specifically on one night in 1989, when illegal raves were happening up and down the UK every weekend”. The event immerses visitors in a pivotal moment in dance music culture, at a time when the Acid House movement was emerging as a reaction to political and economic changes in the UK.

According to the co-founder, the Acid House scene was shaped by Thatcher-era policies that left a generation without a strong sense of community or cultural identity. “Out of that comes this scene fueled by new electronic music from Chicago and Detroit, the emergence of Ecstasy, and the reclaiming of abandoned industrial spaces.”

In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats offers a multi-sensory experience, combining visual elements with iconic rave music, such as Chime by Orbital and Energy Flash by Joey Beltram. The VR journey allows attendees to step into the world of rave promoters, police officers, pirate radio stations, and underground partygoers.

Darren Emerson noted that the experience is not just about the music, but about the culture that shaped it. “Dance music represents a culture and an idea, rather than just the mechanics of the music itself,” he explained, adding that “It’s about freedom, adventure, and finding your community”.

The immersive event has already received positive reactions globally, with many attendees leaving with a renewed understanding of VR’s potential. As he stated, “Most people come in with little idea of what a VR rave might be, but they leave with a completely changed perception of what VR can be in the future”.

With rave culture making a comeback, In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats offers a unique opportunity for both old fans and new generations to experience the essence of the iconic Acid House movement in an innovative way.