Darkroom Fundraiser Gig Announced ft. Model Home, Guideless, Karleshia

Supporting your independent music community is the theme for this week, as it should be every week. Feather Shaw and Nick Vassar at Ōtautahi's Darkroom have been putting in literally more than a thousand hours of dedicated (and unpaid) mahi towards keep Canterbury gig culture alive, not just now but for the foreseeable future, helping shape the very necessary proposed PC21 Central City Noise Plan Change — which you can learn about in detail HERE.

The best way to keep local venues thriving in the meantime is of course by attending a gig, and Darkroom have organised a special fundraiser event to "celebrate PC21's progress and show some love for Darkroom" to boot, with ticket sales going towards "Darkroom and their ongoing advocacy work in pushing for this essential plan change." 

Model Home, Guideless and Karleshia are throwing their weight behind this crucial initiative, plus Darkroom are hosting free Artist Development Seminar - International Touring and Protecting Live Music - Pc21 Info Session And Submission Writing Party get-togethers the evening prior. We encourage you to do your bit and head along, here's the official lowdown...

Our local venue operators have been working with Christchurch City Council since 2022 towards updating the noise rules in our city. Progress is positive but slow going, and the best way to support our precious venues in the meantime, is simply by showing up to gigs, to help make sure they're still around when/if PC21 is finally officially implemented!

Ticket sales will go to support Darkroom and their ongoing advocacy work in pushing for this essential plan change. Feather and Nick have given over 1000 unpaid hours towards PC21 over the past few years while also holding down day jobs and managing the day to day operations of Darkroom. Now the duo have been invited to speak at a conference in Auckland in August to share their learnings with other venue operators from around the motu who may also be looking to lobby their own Councils for change to protect live music. A modest speaker fee is offered, but it's not enough to cover the cost of flights.

More about PC21:

The Christchurch City Council are proposing changes to the District Plan’s rules about noise in the Central City, particularly when it comes to live music, entertainment, and areas like St Asaph St, where there is a mix of both residential buildings & commercial businesses. The Council is currently seeking public feedback on the proposed Central City Noise Plan Change (PC21), and the responses from members of the public will be used to inform the outcome. The proposed changes of PC21 will help to protect live music as more housing is built near our precious venues. To be at this stage of the process is another huge milestone, after 4 years of hard work, but there is still quite a way to go. Come down, do your submission, see some local music, and support Darkroom by turning up now, and helping them get through Winter so they're still around when/if PC21 finally comes into effect!

Make your submission here: letstalk.ccc.govt.nz/PC21
Submissions close July 18th"

Protecting Live Music - Pc21 Info Session And Submission Writing Party
Wednesday 1st July - Darkroom, Christchurch (6pm, free)

Free Artist Development Seminar - International Touring
Wednesday 1st July - Darkroom, Christchurch (7pm, free)

Darkroom Fundraiser Gig
with Model Home, Guideless, Karleshia
Thursday 2nd July - Darkroom, Christchurch
Tickets on sale HERE via UTR

Listen to 'Leaky Home Simulator 2031' from Model Home's 2023 album ...And Nobody Made A Sound...