Helter Skelter (rave music promoter)

Energy '97
Genre	Electronica
Location(s)	Turweston Aerodrome in Northamptonshire
Years active	1988-present
Attendance	18,000

Helter Skelter are one of the longest running dance music promoters in the UK. They are one of the few remaining rave music brands who promote early underground styles of electronic dance music, as opposed to the more mainstream house clubs that followed during the 1990s.

The Helter Skelter organization was founded in September 1989 - in the midst of the Acid House party era - by David Pratley & his wife Penny. They were inspired by the early Acid Bungalow clubs such as "Codys" and "Lava", and the M25 motorway "Orbital" raves such as the Sunrise events. Helter Skelter's first event was an illegal outdoor rave but subsequent nights have been held in nightclubs.

After this, Helter Skelter began hosting events at the 3,000 capacity Sanctuary Music Arena in Milton Keynes; following the lead taken by fellow rave promoters Dreamscape. Helter Skelter's events in Milton Keynes underwent an expansion in the mid-nineties, using the roller rink adjacent to The Sanctuary, expanding the capacity to 8,000. Between the two arenas, an outdoor complex was created, which featured a SONY PlayStation zone, free fairground rides, cafés and other types of recreational facilities.

The success of the double-arena parties prompted the Helter Skelter team to organize - Energy '97 - The Carnival of Dance. The Energy '97 festival took place at Turweston Aerodrome in Northamptonshire (now the site of the Gatecrasher Summer Sound System festivals). The festival sold out, attracting 18,000 revelers in all. With 10 huge marquees featuring genres of dance music ranging from Drum and Bass, to Techno, to House Music, to Hardcore. The event had 85 of the UK's very best artists, DJ's & MC's and was the biggest and best Helter Skelter to date.

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