A new VR experience is coming to London this summer, allowing users to relive ‘80s acid house raves.
Announced as part of the Barbican’s cross-arts program ‘Frequencies: The Sounds That Shape Us’, the new multiplayer version of VR experience In Pursuit Of Repetitive Beats will “transport audiences on an electrifying journey back to 1989, where you and your friends must track down an illegal acid house party hidden on the outskirts of Coventry.”
The music documentary tells the story of promoters, police officers and rave-goers, and features a kick-ass soundtrack. “In Pursuit Of Repetitive Beats is a celebration of the transformative power of music and dance, showcasing how they unite communities and reshape society,” reads the listing.
The VR documentary first premiered in 2022 but this new version will allow groups of up to four people to experience it together.
“The goal of the project was to immerse audiences in the moments that characterised a night out in 1989, and allow them discover more about the people involved in organising, attending and policing those early unlicensed parties along the way,” director Darren Emerson told NME when the project first launched.
“Most of all I want people to have fun; to use VR to replicate the feeling of discovery and escapades that characterised the scene in those early days. If you experienced Acid House then the night we depict will be something you remember and carry with you. Ultimately, it’s about our universal desire, whatever our age, to feel connected to others, to have the support of a community and to celebrate and to dance together till dawn.”
In Pursuit Of Repetitive Beats will takeover The Pit from May 22 to August 3 2025 with tickets available now. Following the Barbican run, the national tour will continue to Testbed in Leeds in August, Warwick Arts Centre in September and Wales Millennium Centre Cardiff in October. Check out the details here.
In other news, Nintendo revealed more details about the Switch 2 yesterday (April 3) but fans aren’t happy about the price.
English (US) · 