Campaign to keep lights on at Darkroom
To keep its doors open and stage lights on, Darkroom, a small live music venue in Christchurch, has launched a crowd funding campaign.
Its small stage had been silenced but the bills hadn’t stopped, said venue co-owner Nick Vassar.
Struggling to pay the rent, he said he was unsure if the venue, in a converted warehouse in the industrial end of St Asaph St, will again be able to open its doors post-Covid19.
Vassar, a member of surf rock band The Wendys who perform dressed as lifeguards, said his savings were quickly being ‘‘chewed through’’.
He was grateful for the Government wage subsidy and a temporary reduction in rent from a ‘‘supportive landlord’’ but said it wasn’t enough to keep the tiny venue going.
‘‘We’re now struggling to keep on top of rent and other ongoing bills such as monthly utilities, accounting and insurance payments,’’ said Vassar in a statement.
‘‘With the Boosted (crowd funding) campaign we hope to raise $10,000 to help cover up to three months of rent and utilities, which will hopefully see us through to the other side.’’
It is also launching a two-day livestream party – the Darkroom Social Distancing
Special – to coincide with the 20th New Zealand Music Month.
The online gig, to be livestreamed on Friday, May 1, and Saturday, May 2, will include 24 Christchurch bands performing back-to-back via Facebook and Boosted Live from 6pm until midnight each night.
Sited at The Archive, Darkroom was launched a decade ago and was the city’s first dedicated live music venue post-earthquake.
The venue has since become a music institution for both local and touring artists, and the likes of Marlon Williams and Mermaidens have graced its stage.
Importantly, it also offered a small but perfectly formed stage for rising local performers to hone their craft.
Vassar said Darkroom’s ethos actively encouraged diversity.
In the past decade the venue has hosted a diverse range of acts from sword swallowers and contortionists to comedians and contemporary art exhibitions.
But live music is its core business – offering a vital space to indie and punk bands as well as hip-hop, rock, electronica and metal acts.
Darkroom’s Boosted campaign is on now and runs during May.