Smokescreen Soundsystem was born in 1991, formed by a crew of like-minded individuals pushing for a better system beyond the everyday mainstream.

Between 1993 and 1995, Smokescreen became known as one of the busiest free party crews in the UK, hosting parties almost every weekend and playing an integral role in the All Systems Movement. This collective of sound systems came together to raise funds and awareness in opposition to the Tory government’s Criminal Justice Bill. This period saw the now-iconic London demonstrations, where Smokescreen teamed up with DIY, travelling en masse with full rigs and trucks to take over the streets.

Following a tour of mainland Europe, including delivering aid to war-torn Yugoslavia and hosting parties in cities like Ljubljana en route to Bosnia, the crew relocated to Nottingham in the mid-’90s. Journalist Mathew Collins (author of Altered State) travelled with the sound system to document the journey for i-D Magazine.

Around this time, Smokescreen formed a strong connection with Desert Storm, leading to appearances at major events such as the 1997 Czech Teknival, where they became the first sound system to introduce house music to the event — a moment that raised eyebrows but forged lasting international friendships that continue to this day.

Throughout the late ’90s, Smokescreen worked closely with other Nottingham sound systems including DIY, Desert Storm, Quadrant, Pulse and Samovar, linking up with Reclaim the Streets to organise large-scale demonstrations. One standout event saw Derby Road in Nottingham completely taken over for a day, with sound systems, dancing, and street art transforming the space.

In 1998, a lot of the crew went on to establish international DJ careers, regularly playing across all continents. Record labels such as Drop Music and Mobile Trax were also created from within the crew, helping to shape the wider international House music scene.

The success of these projects saw Smokescreen DJs tour globally, building a reputation that extended far beyond the UK and even leading to the creation of a connected sound system in New Zealand.

Over three decades on, Smokescreen remains a tight and evolving collective, known for its inclusive spirit and consistent core of DJs and crew while continuing to welcome new people into the journey.

Smokescreen celebrates its 35th anniversary with a birthday party to remember, featuring the legendary Chicago DJ and producer Chez Damier. A UK and Czech Republic tour is also planned, alongside the now-legendary Campout festival. You can still catch the crew in action at their regular events at Brickworks in Nottingham.