Blacken declares it will be back

By BRIAN GIFFIN

BLACKEN Open Air has declared its intent to return in May of 2027.

Australia’s most remote and unique boutique festival has called out to fans and supporters through Instagram for suggestions on the next event.

The call comes a little after the organisers’ announcement in late March that the future of the festival’s HQ, an entertainment venue, record label and youth safe space called The Black Wreath, is in doubt.

The Black Wreath’s statement, posted on socials, explained that the building has been listed for sale, with rewards-based crowd funding and a tax-deductible fundraiser being organised to save the operation. The post ended with the hope that victory would be celebrated at Blacken Open Air next year.

Blacken Open Air began in 2013 as a festival called Blacken the Earth at Alice Springs RSL, with King Parrot headlining a mostly-local line-up. In the years since, the festival has expanded to a three-day outdoor event featuring a carefully-curated collection of national, international and Territorian metal, punk and rock acts that have included Amyl and the Sniffers, Revocation, Frenzal Rhomb, Earthless, Psycroptic, Cosmic Psychos, Blood Duster and more. The Black Wreath has served as the event’s organiser as well as a label, management and distro service for Territorian artists such as Southeast Desert Metal, Snakes, Miazma and Jeremy Whiskey.