October 26 2026 | Written by Antonia Vlad
Mega Mega is Romford’s Suburban Sound Revolution, a new, immersive exhibition that explores a decisive decade in electronic music and club culture in east London. It opens on 29 October and runs until 20 December at Atik Nightclub.
The exhibition is dedicated to revealing Romford’s role as a pioneering force in the birth of UK breakbeat hardcore. It also explores how friendships and creative networks forged a distinctive sound that laid the foundations for jungle and drum ‘n’ bass, as well as shaping the course of UK dance music. Throughout the 90s, dance music evolved from a niche underground scene into an internationally renowned movement. During this time, DJs, producers, promoters, artists, pirate radio stations and record shops in the lesser-known Essex town of Romford were at the forefront of an influential cultural export that helped shape electronic music globally.
Katherine Green, curator of Mega Mega, said: “What interests me is just how much the young people of Romford created within a 10-year period, all within a fairly small area, connected through friendships and collaborations. It’s a reminder of why young people need space and support to get together.”
Green added: “I hope people come away proud of what was created here, and with a sense of how much UK culture owes to creative communities like this one.” The initiative is also in partnership with Havering London. David Shearing from Havering London said: “Havering’s club culture shaped a generation, and Mega Mega makes sure that legacy is celebrated and preserved.”
The exhibition will also explore the impact this era continues to have on artists through film, art and sound, with new commissions from Rosie Strickland, James Tuitt and Sophia Olaniyan. Experience the visual language that defined an entire movement and discover the designers who pioneered it.
Tickets for Mega Mega are now available.