The Black Wreath is at a crossroads. After a decade of community building, the home of Live music in the Dead Centre of Australia is at risk. We're asking for help to save the venue and save live music in Central Australia!

For aspiring musicians growing up in Alice Springs, opportunities were dismal, particularaly for heavy bands: no studios, no rehearsal rooms, no dedicated music venues and touring bands rarely visited. After seeing a younger generation walking that same dead-end street, we decided to do something about it. We formed a collective united in the same goals. On 11.11.11 The Black Wreath was born. 

We started with a backyard studio built from scrap. We recorded band after band and released them on The Black Wreath label. This was our first step towards creating a platform for remote artists to reach a national audience. A few years later, we moved out of the backyard studio and into a warehouse in the industrial precinct. We've been building ever since. The Black Wreath has become the creative heart of Central Australia. It offers everything we missed out on growing up: rehearsal rooms, a recording studio, indoor and outdoor stages. It's a lifeline for some of the most remote artists in the country and a bridge to the world. There's nothing else like it for 1,500kms.

The next goal was to make Alice a touring destination for bands. Blacken Open Air was launched in 2013. Australia's first ever heavy music campout festival. A three night party set in the stunning natural amphitheater of Inteye-arrkwe. We now attract bands and visitors from all around the world!

The Black Wreath venue has enabled us to deliver events all year round. Last year we hosted over 400 artists from 10 different countries right here in the most remote music scene on Earth! We toured regional bands to the Opera House and international bands to Uluru. The Black Wreath now sustains a thriving industry, but it's a constant battle against the challenges of our location and isolation. 

Problem: 

The Black Wreath in danger of shutting down. We've been notified the property has been listed for sale. A few years ago there was a story about a venue called The Tote. Inspired by that massive community achievement, we're aiming to do something similar for The Black Wreath.

The Black Wreath is the lifeblood of the desert and people across Australia care a lot about Blacken Open Air. So we're using the festival's platform and asking our friends to help us share the message.

Solution: 

This is what the plan looks like: We've got one month to raise one million dollars to purchase the studio, place it in a trust and safeguard it for future generations. 

We will do this by pre-selling tickets to the ECLIPSE TRILOGY of upcoming BLACKEN festivals: 

• Blacken Open Air: SOLAR (ten year anniversary at Ross River Resort, 30 April - 3 May 2027)
• Blacken Open Air: LUNAR (taking Blacken to Victoria for the first time, NYE 2027/28)
• Blacken Open Air: ECLIPSE (beneath the Great Australasian total solar Eclipse, 20 - 24 July 2028)

We are also offering lifetime memberships and exclusive merchandise, including limited-pressing vinyl records of Blacken Open Air and Earthless Live at Uluru. 

If we can sell 1,000 life memberships at $1,000 each, we will reach our goal. 

We only have 575 left to go! Almost half way there!

We can do this, and with your help, we will do this!

We have the support of artists all around Australia, who will be performing simultaneously on the same date. 

BLACKEN FOREVER takes place in NT, VIC, SA, WA, NSW and QLD on Saturday September 12, 2026.

This is the final day of the fundraising drive and will end with a massive party right across the country.

It's a huge task, but we can do it as we are part of the greatest most passionate community on Earth!

Long Live The Black Wreath!

You can download posters for printing and for social media here

BELOW:

Festivals: Blacken Trilogy

Vinyl releases: Live at Blacken Open Air 2025, Earthless live at Uluru

T-shirts: Protect the Citadel by Tarek Dem, Blacken Forever by Rivan and Long Live The Black Wreath by Murder Ink

Life Membership: including stainless steel signet ring and phone wallet card

What our friends in the media have covered so far!

"RIFFS, RESISTANCE & REAL ESTATE" by Rosie Wild

"Campaign To Save THE BLACK WREATH Begins" by Dave Griffiths

"The Black Wreath Puts Out An SOS" by Brian Giffin

"Save The Black Wreath Campaign Picks Up Steam With Film Release" by Mary Varvaris

"Alice Springs live music venue, The Black Wreath, is up for sale" by Elsie Lange

"Blacken Forever Brings Australia’s Heavy Music Community Together To Save The Black Wreath" by Ned Tipper

"How You Can Support Australia's Most Isolated Metal Institution" by Paul 'Browny' Brown

"A CALL OUT FROM THE DEAD CENTRE OF AUSTRALIA" by Shane Pinnegar

"Cash drive to save Alice music icon" by Erwin Chlanda

One Million Goal

We will deliver all the rewards as first priority. When we raise the goal of one million, we will deliver three life-changing festivals. That's what we do best!  The rest of the money will go toward the venue purchase.