Here at ech(((o)))es and dust we love independent, alternative and underground music. The reason you and I can enjoy the great music we do is because of the time and effort put in and the sacrifices made not only by the artists but those who support them, often at a loss. One of underground music’s vital institutions – Black Wire Records – is facing a difficult future. To find out more please take a couple of minutes to read this letter from Lachlan Dale of Art As Catharsis.
The importance of Black Wire Records to the Australian music community – how you can play a part.
What can be said about Sydney’s Black Wire Records? This not-for-profit record-store-come-performance-space has found it’s way into the hearts of countless musicians and members of the music-going public — and it’s done so in an astonishingly short amount of time.
In just under two and a half years Black Wire Records has established itself as an institution in the Australian underground music scene, hosting nights across such diverse styles as acoustic folk, post-rock, hardcore punk, experimental noise, extreme metal, and indie rock — yet somehow each crowd, each clique feels welcome inside it’s doors.
How can this be? Perhaps it’s the warmth and sage-like patience of owner/operator Tom Scott, who works tirelessly alongside a team of volunteers to keep the dream of a DIY, inclusive, respectful venue in Sydney’s inner city alive. Or perhaps it’s a product of the mutual respect granted when musicians are’t forced to feel like an unimportant, optional extra — a sort of quirky clown act to offset the cultural desolation laid by poker machines and alcohol.
In the past few years the venue has hosted performances the likes of Adrift for Days, Agonhymn, Beyond Terror Beyond Grace, Brazen Bull, Burning Love, Captain Cleanoff, Ceremony, Chinese Burns Unit, Dead China Doll, DEAD, Deathcage, Defektro, Encircling Sea, Ether Rag, Extortion, Fattura Della Morte, God God Dammit Dammit, Heirs, Hira Hira, I Exist, IDYLLS, Jamie Hay, Justice Yeldham, Life and Limb, Lo!, Looking Glass, Luca Brasi, Mere Women, Michael Crafter, Night Hag, Nuclear Summer, Nunchukka Superfly, Only Sleeping, Pure Evil Trio, Rosetta, Serious Beak, sleepmakeswaves, Slug Guts, Space Bong, Stolen Youth, Straightjacket Nation, Sweet Teeth, The Hard Ons, Totally Unicorn, Useless Children, Walls, We Lost the Sea, Yes, I’m Leaving — the list could go on.
As a musician, promoter and avid music-fan, I really cannot express my respect-for and endorsement-of Black Wire Records highly enough. A recent interview from Tom (link: https://bit.ly/RIy6p8) indicates the venue is facing some difficult challenges for the immediate future, so I have taken it upon myself to help raise donations for the longevity of Black Wire, and the good of the Australian music scene.
If you would like to donate to Black Wire Records, please send a donation via Paypal to mail(at)artascatharsis.com, and clearly mark “Black Wire Records” in the comments field.
The community response and support to date has already been overwhelming; I would love nothing more than for Black Wire to overcome this challenge, and come out the other side stronger than ever.
Lachlan R. Dale runs Art As Catharsis Records, writes for Metal Obsession and AusGrind, and plays in Serious Beak, Adrift for Days and Battle Pope.
– More information about donations for Black Wire Records: https://artascatharsiscom.fatcow.com/?p=393
– Black Wire Records: https://www.blackwirerecords.com
– Black Wire Records on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Black-Wire-Records/121882384537959?fref=ts
– Contact Tom of Black Wire: blackwirerecords@gmail.com
– Art As Cartharsis: https://www.artascatharsis.com
– Art As Catharsis on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artascatharsisrecords
Black Wire Records illustration by Lizzie Nagy.
