The inaugural Independent Music Exchange, a two-day indie record label market, is taking place on Saturday 28 October and Sunday 29 October 2023 at Masaya Reception in Thornbury as part of The Eighty-Six festival.
Proudly part of The Eighty-Six festival, the Independent Music Exchange is the first of its kind in Australia – a free, all-ages event that welcomes Australia’s diverse independent record labels to connect directly with the fans and followers that keep them inspired and afloat. The event also aims to foster community between like-minded risk-taking labels, encouraging collaboration and the sharing of ideas and experience. Often toiling away in the shadows without music industry support, many of these labels are responsible for some of Australia’s most exciting and successful exports.
Independent Music Exchange vendors include:
Albert’s Basement • Altered States Tapes • Animals Dancing • Anti Fade • Bedroom Suck • Butter Sessions • Chapter Music • Cheersquad • College Of Knowledge • Companion • Cooking Vinyl Australia • Cool Death • Domestic La La • Domino • Dot Dash • Efficient Space • Elations • Finders Keepers [UK] • Fresh Hold • Good Company • Good Morning Tapes • Holiday Maker • Hopestreet • It • KGLW [King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard] • La Sape • Love Above • Love Police • Lulu’s Sonic Disc Club • Moontown • Music In Exile • N&J Blueberries [HTRK] • Northside • ONO • Our Golden Friend • Pointer • Poison City • Ramble • Remote Control • Research • Rice Is Nice • Snail Editions • Sorcerer • Southern Exposure • Spoilsport • The Mushroom Group • The Roundtable • Tiny Town • UNFD • Vessel • Wax’o Paradiso
Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Michael Kucyk, Independent Music Exchange co-founder explains; “The Independent Music Exchange celebrates the inspiring record labels that have established themselves from grassroots, operating on their own terms while disregarding any rule books, the mainstream and the industry at large. This is an opportunity for our peers to share their successes and failures, while casually hanging out with our compatible audiences. We’ve long watched similar events happening aboard with envy and are proud to finally offer our unique version with the support of The Eighty-Six.”
From homespun hobby projects to globally established stables, the Independent Music Exchange will spotlight imprints of all sizes that remain loyal to physical product in the digital world. With more than 50 indie labels setting up shop, punters have an unmissable opportunity to pick up vinyl, cassettes, merch, zines, test pressings, posters, warehouse finds, artist signed items and other limited editions directly from these friendly operators.
The Independent Music Exchange has been conceived by DIY label owners and long-time independent music devotees Michael Kucyk (Efficient Space), Maryos Syawish (Butter Sessions/Research Records) and Corey Kikos (Butter Sessions).
Entry is limited to the venue’s capacity, working on a first-in, first-served basis. The Independent Music Exchange and The Eighty-Six has been made possible with support from the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria and in partnership with Darebin City Council.
Sign up here for a free digital ticket to attend the Independent Music Exchange (as well as The Eighty-Six’s Super Saturday and 1800 Street Party events). Check out the rest of the The Eighty-Six here.
