A subculture is a group of people often considered groundbreaking. Think: beats, mods, hippies, punks, goths and grangers. What happens when a subculture stops being cool or a new one comes along that really isn't bringing anything to the table except anti-social behaviour?

Rave used to be cool. It was even considered innovative 20 years ago when bands like Happy Mondays and New Order mixed indie and electronic elements, played by acid house DJs at venues like The Hacienda, Manchester. In more recent years it - and it’s legion of dedicated followers - has fallen from grace, losing its place in popular culture. Although, the Klaxons did manage to revive it for a short time by creating ‘nu rave’ but this was an ironic joke that got way out of hand. There has always been an obvious connection between rave and drugs but, seriously, can happy hardcore ever be aurally endured without prior consumption of multiple psychoactive stimulants?

Lads are mostly known for their trashy lifestyle and aggressive behaviour. Unlike punks they're not dissenting against conformity. They have no music to contribute. Their uniform of runners, football shorts, polo shirts and narrow baseball caps isn't likely to inspire designers to come a-running with thoughts of recreation.

At Utopia Festival - a huge, almost unadvertised legal rave born in Glenworth Valley fifteen years ago - I find them united. These days Utopia has migrated from its rural setting into Sydney’s inner western suburbs. Dancing to 180bpm techno, happy hardcore smacked out their heads. This is a teenage wasteland I can only hope my future kids will never venture into. Ironically, the strict door policy reads: ‘No Lads or Lad Clothing. Example - Stripped polo shirts or skin Baseball caps’.

Photos and words by Henning Kirkeby