UK house and free party scene pioneer Pete 'Woosh' Birch has died

Pete Birch, AKA Pete Woosh, died this month from cancer.

He was a founding member of Nottingham’s DiY Soundsystem, a crucial element in the UK’s pioneering free party scene going back to 1989. He also helped run their labels, Strictly 4 Groovers and DiY Discs, in the ’90s, and was one half of the DJ duo Digs & Woosh.

As Big Shot Mag reports, Birch was diagnosed with head and neck cancer in 2015. Last year, he started the 52 Card Trick project, a series of weekly releases each featuring three tracks from various producers, with proceeds going towards cancer charities.

For more on Birch’s history in the UK dance music scene, read his January 2020 piece for LeftLion about DiY Soundsystem.

Listen to a 2016 set from Birch.

A number of dance music figures have paid tribute to Birch on Twitter.