Lee Pennington: Riffraff, Community and the Evolution of an Underground Institution

Founded by DJ and producer Lee Pennington, the event has become synonymous with the region’s creative spirit: intimate and uncompromisingly real.

When The Night Bazaar caught up with Lee a couple of years ago, he reflected fondly on “20 years where I’ve had some of the best times and I really hope we’ve given the people of Teesside some of their best ever times.” 

Today, that legacy continues and evolves with riffraff celebrating 22 years with a new incarnation as a multi-venue street party, bringing together the old guard and the next wave of electronic artists under one roof (or rather, several).

Talking about the latest evolution riffraff, Lee explains how the concept has grown from humble beginnings into something truly unique.

“It’s a five-venue street rave with nine rooms along one Victorian street in Middlesbrough,” he says. “It started as the best house party you never had about 120 people in one little bar with a Function One system and now, we’ve just taken over the next bar, and the next, until it became a full street event.” Instead of just a party, the celebration is more like a festival condensed into the intimacy of a local neighbourhood.

“You get your wristband, you can move between venues and discover whatever vibe you’re into, live bands with an electronic edge, deep progressive, tough techno, UK tech house,” he says. “It’s multi-genre, but all connected under that riffraff energy.”

While the format has evolved, the ethos remains pure riffraff. No pretension, no hierarchy, just a shared love of underground music and togetherness.

“It’s cheeky, it’s underground, it’s more of a community,” Lee explains. “You’ll see everyone from 18-year-olds to 60-year-olds on the dancefloor. That’s what it’s about, people from all walks of life coming together.”

That sense of inclusion and local pride runs deep through everything riffraff does. From the start, riffraff supported homegrown DJs, producers, and collectives, something Lee has doubled down on in recent years.

“I made a promise to myself when I was younger that when I got into a position to change things, I would,” he says. “In Teesside, we’re all working together now, riffraff, Mode, Technopia, we call each other up before setting dates. It’s about keeping the scene healthy.”

This collaborative spirit echoes what Lee admired about Berlin’s underground when he was coming up: a network of artists supporting one another instead of competing. “If you let the punters think there’s rivalry, fine,” he laughs, “but behind the scenes, you work together. Everyone wins.”

Riffraff’s enduring relevance lies in how it bridges generations. While the nostalgia of the 1990s and 2000s rave scene still pulses through its DNA, it’s the younger artists who are pushing things forward.

“The scene in Middlesbrough is really healthy right now,” Lee says proudly. “You’ve got kids from Teesside setting up labels, getting releases on Glasgow Underground, Defected Records and headlining fabric. They come round with their new tracks and ask for feedback. It’s completely different from how it used to be, the walls are down.”

He’s just as passionate about the spaces where those young talents get their start. “Supporting small venues is everything,” he says. “That’s where artists cut their teeth. We’ve lost too many of them over the years, but they’re where the magic happens.”

Even with new technology and social media reshaping club culture, riffraff keeps things refreshingly human.

“We’ve had a ban on phones for six years now,” Lee smiles. “We put stickers over the cameras. It’s not about filming yourself; it’s about letting go and being in the moment.” It’s part of the reason the parties consistently sell out before the lineup is even revealed. “We never announce headliners until after tickets have gone,” Lee says. “People trust us, they know it’s going to be a good party.”

Beyond the decks, Lee has spent years teaching music production and mentoring emerging artists. A former college lecturer, he also worked as an online coach for Mixmasters, helping aspiring producers develop their sound and confidence. “Seeing people go from sending you a rough demo to getting signed is amazing,” he says. “It’s the same energy as riffraff, giving people an outlet and pushing creativity.”

Now running riffraff alongside his partner Meg, who brings a sharp business edge to the operation, Lee is determined to take the brand to new heights and perhaps, back to where much of his career flourished: Ibiza.

“Meg’s got a business degree and she said, let’s run this properly and see how far we can take it,” he says. “I was a resident at The Zoo Project for 16 years, so it’d be fantastic to take riffraff back to Ibiza one day. The world’s our oyster now.”

From its tongue-in-cheek Fawlty Towers-inspired name to its enduring Teesside roots, riffraff remains one of the UK’s most authentic underground institutions, proof that the best parties are still built on heart, humour, and community. As Lee Pennington puts it:

“If we can give people a place to belong, to dance, to forget life for a bit, that’s everything. That’s what riffraff has always been about.”

For more information on riffraff’s 22nd birthday party and for tickets head HERE.