Inside Echo Chamber: A secret rave, a DM and a hidden location

Imagine experiencing a mini festival-like event with one Instagram DM. 

Enter Echo Chamber. 

It’s the closest I have ever come to experiencing that quintessential 90s rave culture. A mix of dirt under your nails, bass rattling through trees, and strangers sharing water like a ritual that makes you feel like you’ve entered a dream-state. 

Previously, Echo Chamber has hosted events in a number of inconspicuous places, from underground in sewers to the middle of forests, each event takes on a different theme. On this night, I danced under the sea with mermaids, men in shirtless tuxedos, and a rogue SpongeBob by a beach reserve. 

As the night goes on, in the back of my mind, I’m thinking, who is running this and how have they pulled this off?

It’s endearing to see something is running at such a high calibre through community donations, and to do it continuously, I’ve built lore in my head that it might be a nepo baby who can take the risk.

In order to access the event, you have to obtain a secret digital invitation. A measure to vet and ensure the location is only revealed to approved attendees.

This confidential hyperlink also provides more details about the event, like step-by-step travel guides, recommended essential items, house rules and did I mention this is BYO? 

So, why do they have to remain so anonymous?

Originally, in the 80s, Black and Queer people found refuge in these spaces to resist and dissolve the oppression felt from the outside world. Raves have always been anti-establishment and therefore under constant threat of closure.

So with this in mind, it makes sense why events like this rely on anonymity and community funding to continue running. 

With resources already difficult to access, and a community that built itself from nothing, Echo Chamber feels like a feral miracle. 

And in a city where we’re losing venues, it’s inspiring to see a recurring nightlife scene maintain its own lifeline despite all the odds. 

P.S. if you know of any raves, please direct your information directly to me…for research x