Bedlam

Free tekno sound founded in Dalston, east London in 1992, after running house parties across London from 1990. Played breakbeat hardcore at Castlemorton Common in 1992.

Status

Legacy

Town

Dalston · map

Music

Techno and free party

Venues: Castlemorton Common, 1992

Official pages and contacts

• Ohms Not Bombs crew page

Photos

Photos of Bedlam are held at these collections and features. They belong to their photographers, so we link to them rather than copy them.

• DJ Mag: Castlemorton

More London sound systems

• Aba Shanti-ILondon
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  London. Notting Hill Carnival resident since 1993; run by Joseph “Aba” Smith. Falasha Recordings label.

• Admiral BaileyEast London
  Legacy

  London. The Bailey family’s original sound, which Mikey Dread and Jah T turned into Channel One in 1979.

• Admiral KenHackney
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  Hackney and Peckham, 1960s–70s. Ken Edwards, club owner; played the Four Aces and was resident at the Bouncing Ball, Peckham.

• Alpha & OmegaLondon
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  London/Plymouth dub act (Christine Woodbridge and John Sprosen). Better known as a band than a sound system.

• Boom-Shacka-LackaLondon
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  The Disciples (Russ D and brother Lol). Built their sound in 1991; Boom-Shacka-Lacka label from 1993.

• Channel OneEast London
  Still playing

  London. Started 1979 by Mikey Dread and Jah T from their father’s Admiral Bailey sound. Carnival since 1983.

• ChickenEast London
  Legacy

  East London, 1960s. One of the first UK operators, alongside Duke Vin, Count Shelly and Count Suckle.

• Count ShellyHackney
  Legacy

  Hackney. Ephraim Barrett; resident at the 31 Club, Harlesden and the Four Aces. Count Shelly and Third World labels. Died 2020.

Similar sounds elsewhere

• Circus WarpUK (area not recorded)
  Legacy

  Early-1990s free-party sound that played breakbeat hardcore at Castlemorton Common in 1992 alongside Spiral Tribe, DiY and Bedlam.

• DiY Sound SystemNottingham
  Legacy

  Nottingham collective formed in 1989 by Harry Harrison, Rick "Digs" Down, Simon "DK" Smith and Pete "Woosh" Birch. Played house music at free parties from 1990 and ran…

• Exodus CollectiveMarsh Farm, Luton
  Legacy

  Luton (Marsh Farm). Free-party collective 1992–2000; later reformed as Leviticus.

• Pineapple TribeGuildford
  Legacy

  Woking and Guildford free-party trance crew from 1994; later at Carnival and Glastonbury.

Entry added 2026-10-07 · last reviewed 7 October 2026. Something wrong? Send a correction.