THE BLACK WREATH

Sitting on the industrial edge of Alice Springs, a local music venue spray-painted with the name The Black Wreath has steadily hit the right notes within the heavy metal scene.

WORDS JENNA HOARE
IMAGES OLIVER ECLIPSE

BEFORE THE BLACK Wreath became what it is today – music venue, record label, recording studio – there was Pirate, as he’s known locally, working behind the scenes to bring together a collection of people to make a vision happen.

“I grew up in Alice and we never had any resources or career pathways in music, especially in the heavy music scene,” Pirate says.

“We created a collective concept, and three bands decided to work together at the time and build a backyard studio and [we] recorded a first EP, and did a national launch for the label on 11.11.11.”

Backed by pure passion, Pirate says it was an exciting time filled with ambition, which led to a groundswell of energy and community support.

“We thought we’d do something unique, and we decided to a multi-cam livestream ... we live-streamed the broadcast of the launch into multiple venues all around the country that were holding events on the same night,” he says.

“We got good media attention from that because it was a national first.”

Five years after the hugely successful national launch of The Black Wreath label, a venue was established locally for everyone to come together.

“I’d been looking for a spot for a couple of years … I knew it was the one instantly – epic location in the industrial area and the layout was easy to visualise what we wanted to do,” Pirate says.

“We got a fence put in … and that basically gave us a second venue, doubled our footprint, and we can run an outdoor stage as well as an indoor stage.”

Recently undergoing extensive renovations – with easily offered help from the adoring community it serves – the venue has grown to host all sorts of events, with a lot of electronic music nights, heavy metal nights, punk nights, and queer nights.

“It’s a real cross-section of the community. Everyone kind of feels like home here and that’s what I’ve been nurturing,” Pirate says.

And where there's a space, there's also a place for new music, with the record label collaborating with bands throughout the Northern Territory and further afield.

Working with Southeast Desert Metal has seen a decade-long journey that began with performances at community and backyard shows that have evolved to include appearances in the biggest stadiums in the country.

“I love the diversity of the heavy music scene in the country. I’d love to see more people starting,” Pirate says.

If you've never been to a heavy metal night and want to check it out, Pirate reckons you should get on down.

“Our community is just so accepting and kind, and there’s so many theatrics in the way heavy metal is performed … you’ll walk away entertained, surprised, and inspired.”

INFO facebook.com/theblackwreath

^{Inset: Proud Dad. Pirate watches on at last month's Dead Centre Weekender}