Melbourne punk has flourished from cult DIY spaces like One Year and The Bank
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13.11.2019

Melbourne punk has flourished from cult DIY spaces like One Year and The Bank

Gregor
Words by Morgan Mangan

Do it yourself.

Punk revolves around a do it yourself ethos, from DIY recording to record releases and tours, but one of the most vital elements has always been DIY spaces. These often hold gigs, art shows, studios, and hang-out spots.

This attitude stems from distrust for major labels and people in the music industry and, in the hardcore scene of the ‘80s, bands being banned from playing certain venues. DIY spaces allow the punk scene to flourish despite outside forces of money and control, working towards a self-reliant and anti-corporate community.

In 1980 New York, a crucial hardcore spot was 171A. What had been an abandoned glass store was transformed into a recording studio, practice space and illegal club.

“171A was very important. It was like a social club for bands, it was a studio; the Bad Brains lived there,” cited Harley Flanagan of Cro-Mags.

Luckily, in recent times, many music venues, especially in Melbourne, have offered a refuge for musicians and punters alike. But there remains something special about a space that falls outside of the ‘certified venue’ category.

When visiting a new city, DIY spaces can introduce you to communities which often go unnoticed by visitors. In Seattle, it takes merely talking to record store staff to be pointed in the direction of Black Lodge, referred to as a “punk goldmine for Seattle bands” by local label Youth Riot Records. The space often hosts all-ages shows with no alcohol and is run by volunteers, featuring local and touring bands.

Another major player in the Seattle DIY punk scene is Werewolf Vacation, a house-turned-event space with house rules outlawing sexism, transphobia, and sexual harassment. A shift from the ‘80s hardcore scene, DIY venues these days often ensure a safe space that protects its community members.

Closer to home, The Bank located in Preston functioned as a music venue, artist space, and recording studio. Starting in 2011, The Bank had been home to many of Melbourne’s favourite acts, such as RVG and Gregor.

A glimpse of this can be found on The Bank-released compilation record, Bank Records 2011-2016, featuring a “chronological short of the history of The Bank”. The record was released in 2017, the same year that The Bank came to an end.

There was also One Year, Johnston Street’s hidden music refuge which up until the end of 2019, provided a platform for many of Melbourne’s premier music talents. From its exterior, the venue was innocuous and inconspicuous, yet inside it was energetic and invigorating.

DIY spaces will continue to pop up within creative communities everywhere; in warehouses and homes – the possibilities are endless. They are vital to a community, created by the people, for the people. A safe place where creativity can flourish.

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