Anti Fade Records

ANTI FADE records
Founded2011 (2011)
FounderBilly Gardner
Genrerock
Country of originAustralia
LocationMelbourne
Official websiteantifaderecords.bandcamp.com
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Anti Fade Records.

Anti Fade Records is a record label run by Billy Gardner based in Geelong, Victoria, Australia.

The first release for the record label was a limited edition C30 cassette by The Bonniwells titled "Sunny Brick" in 2011, and they have since put out over 80 releases, with Henry Rollins said to be a fan.[1] Gardner told Beat Magazine that the impetus for creating the label was to release a compilation album he was curating called New Centre of the Universe Vol. 1. The album was released in 2012 and featured tracks by Dick Diver, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, The Murlocs, Hierophants, UV Race, and The Frowning Clouds.[2]

Since its incarnation Anti Fade has released records by Parsnip, Primo!, Alien Nosejob, Bananagun, Vintage Crop, and Civic, which has led to the label gaining a strong local popularity, with Geelong's Forte called them "one of Australia’s best-loved independent labels...[and] Australia’s best export for garage, punk, shoegaze and psych".[3]

The label also hosts their annual Jerk Fest, held at the Barwon Club Hotel in Geelong since 2015,[4][5] and has curated events for Melbourne Music Week.[6]

In 2020 the label expanded into coloured vinyl releases for the first time, which were eagerly bought up by fans.[7] The following year Anti Fade's headquarters – Billy Gardner's home – was damaged in a fire.[8] A fundraiser T-shirt was released,[3] and the label continued to put out new releases, although Gardner noted that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria meant 2021 could see fewer releases from Anti Fade, with bands unable to play together or record.[7]

  1. ^ gimmiezine (2020-01-14). "Billy Gardner of Anti Fade Records: "I feel very blessed that all of my talented friends let me release their stuff."". Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie Zine. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  2. ^ Billy, August (28 January 2021). "Beloved Melbourne label Anti Fade are bringing two nights of punk to Max Watt's". Beat Magazine. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Anti Fade Records launch fundraiser tees following a fire that ravaged their HQ". Forte Magazine. 2021-04-22. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  4. ^ "Jerkfest drops huge lineup of local acts, celebrating the best in underground punk and alternative music". Forte Magazine. 2021-02-22. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  5. ^ Gallagher, Alex (22 February 2021). "Bananagun, Parsnip and more announced for Jerk Fest 6.5 lineup". NME. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  6. ^ French, Ricky (27 January 2021). "Punk, Techno and Outdoor Gigs: Melbourne Music Week Extends Its Summer Program". Broadsheet. Archived from the original on 2021-01-27. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  7. ^ a b Gaunt, James (2 August 2021). "Music in a pandemic". The City Journal. Archived from the original on 2021-08-02. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  8. ^ Bruce, Jasper (20 April 2021). "Anti Fade Records' headquarters damaged in fire". NME. Archived from the original on 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2021-12-11.