Bez took to his Instagram to announce the release to fans, the post also supplied a snippet of the psychedelic video and track featuring the dancer and percussionist’s debut vocal performance.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bez (@bezmondays)

The new release is the first track in which includes a traditional vocal appearance from Bez and also features vocals from Firouzeh. Previously known for his maraca playing and famed interactive stage antics, it is exciting news for fans old and new to hear Bez take centre stage. The press release for the new track has provided the following description, “hypnotic homage to the glory days of acid house“.

The track seems to serve as a dedication to the Second Summer of Love, the cultural phenomenon which took the United Kingdom by storm within the late 1980s, most predominately the summer of 1988. The cultural wave saw the rise in popularity of acid house, electronic dance music and the rave scene, fuelled by certain drug influences such as MDMA, the psychedelic and hedonistic scene was particularly taken upon by the nation’s youth. With these factors mixed together, this new musical philosophy embodied itself within the ideologies of freedom, pleasure and indulgence.

It is this sense of freedom in which ‘Flying Bus’ sets out to embody and along with a nostalgic wish for the past, Bez, DJ Doorly and Firouzeh are determined to take the listener back to their youth, full of fun and parties. Bez’s vocal line tells the story of the iconic Glastonbury stage Flying Bus, which is said to be the most rambunctious and often the last to close with parties going on until the early morning and the inspiration behind the song’s title

The accompanying music video also keeps within these cultural themes, the video sees Bez play a colourful bus conductor with DJ Doorly as the magical Bus’s driver. Again, staying within the theme of the 1980’s cultural and music scene, a passenger seemingly dragged down by the burdens of corporate life is taken to the legendary nightclub and music venue, The Hacienda. The Hacienda became a vital part of the dance and rave scene within the 1980s, situated in Manchester, the club became an important role within the career of Happy Mondays and many other bands involved within the genre. The new release’s music video sees Bez and DJ Doorly work with fellow Manchester artists and animators, Friend Party Studios.

The description affixed to the new release’s promo and its music video gives the video’s storyboard and the emotions it aims to conveys: “An office worker’s day gets off to a bad start after being stung by a psychedelic bee, but things get even more trippy when the Flying Bus pulls up. Bus conductor Bez and bus driver Doorly take our hapless hero on an adventure like no other, as he discovers a world of trippy visuals and pure party excess, ending up on the dancefloor of the iconic Manchester club The Haçienda. There’s only one thing to do: free your mind and take a one-way ticket on the Flying Bus!”

The Bolton born cultural personality has provided the following statement concerning his recent collaboration, reinforcing the song’s musical and lyrical themes. “It was a brilliant work trip to Ibiza to collaborate with Doorly at his studio that created this tune, My Flying Bus stage at Glastonbury is really special to me and a great hangout for the hardcore party people. I’ve been missing it so much and this track conjures up that Flying Bus magic. The song is about that freedom you feel when you’re gathered with like-minded people. This is the first vocal track I’ve ever brought out and I’m nervous and excited at the same time. I hope people will get ‘on the bus’ and enjoy it, get lost in a moment in time, that’s the whole vibe!”

DJ Doorly has also spoken about the experience working with Bez and what fans can expect next from the duo. “Writing a track together with the legend Bez was a hell of a lot of fun, not sure if you’ve met him but he’s a bit of a character, We really bonded over our shared love for the transatlantic Acid House movement from the late 80s/early 90s. Our aim was to bring a slice of that magic coming out of Chicago and Manchester around that time, with a celebration of Bez’s bonkers Flying Bus party at Glastonbury. It all came together and it’s a real pleasure to have Bez on my Reptile Dysfunction label, you can expect more from us both this year.”

As well as the promise for even more material, Bez and DJ Doorly have been confirmed to embark on a tour jammed full of dates this Summer. Fans can now also catch Bez on YouTube, since the lockdown this year the performer has started a new career path as a fitness advisor. His courses and workshops can be found as online fitness videos on the channel Spoke TV, entitled ‘Get Buzzin’ With Bez‘.

Click here to purchase and stream the track.

Although the UK government awarded the music industry a £1.7b emergency fund after an eruption of protests from fans and musicians alike, it is unconfirmed whether this fund will accommodate electronic dance events, nightclubs, and music festivals. These beloved events kept the dance scene thriving across the country for decades before coronavirus paused life as we knew it.

So far, it does not appear that the government has recognised the importance of funding these music events in the same regard as the performing arts like live music or theatre. Fourtet, Caribou, and Thom Yorke, to name a few, have taken a stand against this by signing the #LetUsDance campaign today.

View this post on Instagram

#LetUsDance is an urgent plea for the UK Government to recognise that the dance music club and events sector must be protected and recognised as an important part of the nation’s art and culture in parity with the wider Live Music sector. The government narrative to-date on the allocation of this support has not included Dance music clubs, events, and festivals to receive funding from this package for the arts. Dance music clubs and festival culture are a vital part of British heritage as well as generating millions of pounds in revenue for the economy, it adds to the ever-growing nightlife tourism figures boasting 300 million visits a year across the UK. You can add your support by posting your favourite picture from a recent nightclub, festival or event with a note including the hash tag supporting its place within arts and culture.

A post shared by Fatboy Slim (@officialfatboyslim) on Jul 23, 2020 at 7:07am PDT

A follow up to the wider music industry initiative, #LetUsDance comes after the widely influential #LetTheMusicPlay campaign. Launched earlier this year, #LetTheMusicPlay is a bid to save the music industry from complete obliteration by Covid-19.

Some key industry players at the forefront of the #LetTheMusicPlay campaign include The Cure, Coldplay, Johnny Marr, and Nick Cave. Other industry giants that pledged their allegiance to the #LetTheMusicPlay campaign are The Rolling Stones, Dizzee Rascal, and Radiohead. This eclectic mix of artists banded together earlier this year to sign an open letter to Her Majesty’s government demanding instantaneous action to protect the music industry during the Coronavirus crisis.

Bristol-born dance music guru Roni Size also joined #LetUsDance today. Size urged the government to acknowledge the UK dance scene’s worth, financial and otherwise: “We call on the government to recognise this sector as a significant part of the nation’s art and culture, and ensure fair access to the support offered to the wider live music sector. Clubs are being forgotten and the discussion on festivals remains unclear. We need your help and support! I want to see you back on the dance floor soon.”

Association For Electronic Music (AFEM) spokesperson Greg Marshall recently spoke out regarding the dance music sector and the #LetUsDance campaign. Speaking out in a recent press release, Marshall relayed that: “Nightclubs and festivals are the beating heart of the UK dance scene; providing collective joy to millions of fans each year, providing employment and incomes for an interdependent network of hundreds of thousands of people while also contributing hundreds of millions to the economy.” 

However, David Martin, General Manager of the Featured Artists Coalition, relayed his worry for the future of the UK dance music scene. In a recent public statement, Martin said “as many as 38% of artists have fallen through the gaps between income support schemes and have received nothing for almost four months. Those that have had support will soon see that lifeline come to an end.” Artists and music lovers everywhere can only hold out hope that the dance scene won’t be disregarded in wake of the government’s music sector emergency fund.