REZ EVENT V 1996

REZ EVENT V 24.8.1996 – DVARCHIVES

Rezerection: The Event V, held in 1996 at the Royal Highland Showground in Edinburgh, was a thunderous celebration of Scotland’s rave culture at its peak. This wasn’t just a party—it was a full-blown sensory overload, thousands of ravers converging under one roof to lose themselves in a night of relentless beats, strobe-lit euphoria, and communal energy. The event was part of the legendary Rezerection series, masterminded by promoter Paul Ludford, and it brought together a staggering lineup of DJs and performers who defined the hardcore, techno, and trance scenes of the ’90s.

Cameras slung over our shoulders, we weaved through the crowd, capturing the sweat, the smiles, and the sheer chaos of the dancefloor. We partied just as hard as the ravers we filmed, all while making sure the footage kept rolling. Our work has since become a time capsule of the era, preserving the raw, unfiltered energy of Rezerection for future generations to relive.  We have managed to rescue a good few hours of the madness that was captured on the night.

The lineup for The Event V was stacked with heavyweights. Scottish legends like Marc Smith, Scott Brown, and the late Tom Wilson delivered blistering sets that had the crowd in a frenzy. International icons such as Lenny Dee, Joey Beltram, and Laurent Garnier brought their own flavors of hardcore and techno to the mix, while acts like Q-Tex, Suburban Delay, and Dream Frequency added a melodic edge to the night’s sonic journey. The event was a masterclass in production, with lighting technicians, sound engineers, and stage designers working in perfect sync to create an immersive rave experience.