Since its origin in the early to mid-90s, UK Garage or UKG has become one of the pioneering genres of electronic dance music. Having given rise to subgenres like 2-step and speed garage and with its long history, it goes without saying that there are documentaries tracing the origins of the genre. We take a look at five documentaries for both seasoned fans and new listeners if they’re interested in doing a deep dive into UK Garage.
Rewind 4Ever: The History of UK Garage
‘Rewind 4Ever: The History of UK Garage’ is a must-watch UK Garage music documentary. With worldwide demand, it was screened in the UK but also in Stockholm, Washington DC, and Dublin. It examines how the genre exploded, from the underground scene to thumping club nights. This 1-hour, 21-minute full-length documentary explores UK Garage extensively, proving itself as the ultimate UK Garage archive.
Watch Rewind 4Ever: The History of UK Garage on https://www.rewind4ever.co.uk/
25 Years of UK Garage
From director Terry Stone and Richard Turner comes ‘25 Years of UK Garage,’ a 100-minute documentary that “gives an insight into the stories of the DJ’s and MC’s from the UK Garage dance music scene over the past two and a half decades.” It features some of the most respected names in the genre, including MC Creed, North London’s UK Garage Heartless Crew, English DJ and MC garage duo Oxide & Neutrino, the iconic Ms. Dynamite, MC Bushkin, and British UK garage and hip hop collective So Solid Crew. ‘25 Years of UK Garage,’ which premiered at the Marbella Film Festival in 2022, is a celebration and exploration of how the genre came to be the global phenomenon it is today.
Stream 25 Years of UK Garage on Prime Video or rent it on Apple TV
Brandy & Coke
If you’re curious about the club events, fashion, raves, and sounds of UK Garage in its golden era, this documentary is for you! In addition to the hair-raising sets and mind-boggling tunes, what the UK Garage scene was like back in the day is beautifully captured in this documentary by Ewen Spencer, a photographer at many UKG gigs. “Rewind to the golden days of UK garage – and how it all fell apart. Ewen Spencer takes us back to a heady decade of underground pirate radio, Gucci loafers and nights out in Ayia Napa,” reads the description of the documentary.
Find the 22-minute UK Garage doc ‘Brandy & Coke’ at Dazed
Exploration of 90’s UK Garage with Martin ‘Liberty’ Larner and Matt ‘Jam’ Lamont
THUMP focuses on London in its first episode of The Art of the Party. The 4-minute, 53-second clip explores 90’s UK Garage with UK Garage pioneer and promoter Martin ‘Liberty’ Larner and celebrated DJ and pioneer Matt ‘Jam’ Lamont. They take a trip down memory lane and take UKG fans back to good ol’ days.
Watch Exploration of 90’s UK Garage with Martin ‘Liberty’ Larner and Matt ‘Jam’ Lamont on YouTube
Sun, Sea, and UKG
Boiler Room presents to you ‘Sun, Sea, and UKG,’ a 28-minute documentary film featuring key figures like Norris ‘Da Boss’ Windross, A.M. SNiPER, Megaman, MC Creed, DJ Spoony, Kele Le Roc, and more. The documentary taps big names for interviews and also includes never-before-seen footage. Dubbed as “the story of how Ayia Napa became the mecca for UK Garage in the late 90s”, ‘Sun, Sea, and UKG’ is not only a nostalgic film but is also a delightful watch to delve deeper into UK Garage.
‘Sun, Sea, and UKG’ is available on YouTube
How One Man Changed the Sound of UK Garage
‘How One Man Changed the Sound of UK Garage’ sees Andy Ward in conversation with Wookie – one of the key figures in UK Garage. The 1-hour, 46-minute video gives you an intimate look at Wookie’s illuminating career, the “highs and lows in this game,” the difficulties he has faced and lots more!
“Wookie will openly admit that he doesn’t consider himself a founding father of the UK Garage movement (despite what certain write ups may say). What he will tell you, though, is that he categorically changed the sound of the music, taking what used to be a predominantly light and happy vibe and took it to a deeper/darker realm than it had ever been before, changing the scene forever. In this conversation we’ll find out about his Soul II Soul connections and the pressures and heartbreaks he has had in the industry and in life,” reads the description of the recording.
Stream How One Man Changed the Sound of UK Garage on YouTube
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