Anti Fade Records Explained
Anti Fade Records is a record label run by Billy Gardner based in Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
The first release for the record label was a limited edition C30 cassette by The Bonniwells titled "Sunny Brick" in 2011, and they have since put out over 80 releases, with Henry Rollins said to be a fan.[1] Gardner told Beat Magazine that the impetus for creating the label was to release a compilation album he was curating called New Centre of the Universe Vol. 1. The album was released in 2012 and featured tracks by Dick Diver, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, The Murlocs, Hierophants, UV Race, and The Frowning Clouds.[2]
Since its incarnation Anti Fade has released records by Parsnip, Primo!, Alien Nosejob, Bananagun, Vintage Crop, and Civic, which has led to the label gaining a strong local popularity, with Geelong's Forte called them "one of Australia’s best-loved independent labels...[and] Australia’s best export for garage, punk, shoegaze and psych".[3]
The label also hosts their annual Jerk Fest, held at the Barwon Club Hotel in Geelong since 2015,[4] [5] and has curated events for Melbourne Music Week.[6]
In 2020 the label expanded into coloured vinyl releases for the first time, which were eagerly bought up by fans.[7] The following year Anti Fade's headquarters – Billy Gardner's home – was damaged in a fire.[8] A fundraiser T-shirt was released, and the label continued to put out new releases, although Gardner noted that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria meant 2021 could see fewer releases from Anti Fade, with bands unable to play together or record.
Notes and References
- Web site: gimmiezine. 2020-01-14. Billy Gardner of Anti Fade Records: “I feel very blessed that all of my talented friends let me release their stuff.”. 2021-12-11. Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie Zine. en-GB.
- News: Billy. August. 28 January 2021. Beloved Melbourne label Anti Fade are bringing two nights of punk to Max Watt's. en-AU. Beat Magazine. 13 December 2021.
- Web site: 2021-04-22. Anti Fade Records launch fundraiser tees following a fire that ravaged their HQ. 2021-12-11. Forte Magazine. en-AU.
- Web site: 2021-02-22. Jerkfest drops huge lineup of local acts, celebrating the best in underground punk and alternative music. 2021-12-11. Forte Magazine. en-AU.
- News: Gallagher. Alex. 22 February 2021. Bananagun, Parsnip and more announced for Jerk Fest 6.5 lineup. en-AU. NME. 13 December 2021.
- Web site: French. Ricky. 27 January 2021. Punk, Techno and Outdoor Gigs: Melbourne Music Week Extends Its Summer Program. live. 2021-12-11. Broadsheet. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20210127041144/https://www.broadsheet.com.au/melbourne/entertainment/article/melbourne_music_week_summer_program . 2021-01-27 .
- Web site: Gaunt. James. 2 August 2021. Music in a pandemic. live. 2021-12-11. The City Journal. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20210802040304/http://thecityjournal.net/arts-and-culture/music-in-a-pandemic/ . 2021-08-02 .
- Web site: Bruce. Jasper. 20 April 2021. Anti Fade Records' headquarters damaged in fire. live. 2021-12-11. NME. en-AU. https://web.archive.org/web/20210420004549/https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/anti-fade-records-headquarters-damaged-in-fire-2923733 . 2021-04-20 .
