The Black Wreath is in danger! After fifteen years of building the ONLY dedicated live music hub in Central Australia, its at risk of immediate sale. We're asking for your help to save the venue and the live music scene in remote Australia!

For aspiring musicians growing up in Alice Springs, opportunities were dismal: 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 launched The Black Wreath label, creating a platform for remote artists to reach the world. A few years later, we moved out of the backyard and into a warehouse. 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 disadvantaged bands in the country, creating opportunites where there were none. There is nothing else like it for 1,500kms.

The next goal was to make Mparntwe / Alice Springs a touring destination for bands. Australia's first ever heavy music campout festival, BLACKEN, launched in 2013. A three night event set in the stunning natural amphitheater of Inteye-Arrkwe / Ross River Resort. It's grown to become one the most revered events on the national circuit and now attracts bands and visitors from all around the world!

The Black Wreath delivers events all year round, keeping the local scene alive and thriving. Last year over 400 artists from 10 different countries performed right here in the most remote music scene on Earth! We toured regional bands to the Opera House and took international bands to Uluru. The Black Wreath now sustains an entire industry, but it's a constant battle against the challenges of our location and isolation. 

The Black Wreath has become an icon of Australian heavy metal and a regional arts success story. After fifteen years, it's still completely DIY and volunteer run!

Problem: 

The Black Wreath is in danger of shutting down. We've been notified the property has been listed for imminent sale. Inspired by the massive community achievement behind saving The Tote, we're giving it our best shot! We have to, there's oo much at stake. The Black Wreath is the lifeblood of the desert! If it disappears, it will be devastating to our community and even more so for countless remote communities across the lands. So we're asking for your help to save it!

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. Thanks to you all, we're almost halfway there in under three weeks! But it's still a long way to go. If we can sell just 1,000 life memberships at $1,000 each, we will reach our goal. We only have 525 left to go! We can do this, and with your help, we will do this!

We are being supported by bands all around Australia, who will be performing simultaneously on the last day of the campaign: Win or lose, we will end with a massive party right across the country!

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

Tickets are being sold only through Oztix: BLACKEN FOREVER - Nationwide Festival - SEPTEMBER 12 

It's a huge task, but we CAN pull this off as we suported by the most passionate community on Earth!

Thank you for your support. We will never forget your generosity.

Long Live The Black Wreath!

You can download posters for printing and for social media here

SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN AND REAP THE REWARDS:

We are working on 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)

Exclusive limited editon vinyl releases: Live at Blacken Open Air 2025 and 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. Members get cheap entry to all Wreath gigs, priority access to early bird tickets, your name eternally on the wall inside The Black Wreath!

What our friends in the media have covered so far!

Iconic outback metal venue The Black Wreath fights for survival by Jacquelin Robson

"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 one million dollar goal, we will deliver Blacken Open Air X: SOLAR. That's what we do best! The rest of the money will go toward the venue purchase.