Biography
The Glory Hole was the latest incantation of a popular low-rent Barbados Street space, occupied by musicians until it was condemned due to damaged received during the 2010 – 2011 Canterbury Earthquakes.
One of it’s earlier lives was as the headquarters of excellent local group Squirm. Dubbing the space Hex Central, it was a central communal point for band practices and house party shows and features in Bellbird Productions documentary on Squirm ‘Gone with the Weird’:
With the closure of the nearby Otautahi Social Centre as venue for Punk bands in 2009, the redubbed Glory Hole sprung up as a makeshift house-party venue, presumably thanks to the late Anna Bouwmeester, who is mentioned on PunkAs as a contact for the venue.
Local punk or hardcore bands such as Hatewanx, Yeti Smasher, Vorpal Blade, Abortion Bucket, and Black Forrest were regulars, but they also hosted quite a few touring punk outfits – any early show hosted Auckland groups God Bows to Math and BMX Rapists:
Sadly the Glory Hole didn’t survive of the Canterbury Earthquakes of 2010 and 2011; we’re immediately condemned and eventually knocked down and replaced.
Anna Bouwmeester eventually moved to Wellington; forming local group TVX. Sadly however, in 2018 Bouwmeester passed away at the age of 29. Tribute shows were held in her honor.
Details
Known as: Hex Central (1990’s), Glory Hole (2009 – 2011)
Location: 176 Barbados Street, Central Christchurch
Christchurch Central, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand
Current Status: Demolished post-earthquake, replaced by commercial buildings
Active as a live music venue: 1990’s, 2009 – 2011
History
2009: Space is redubbed The Glory Hole and starts hosting punk house-party shows
2010-2011: Damaged in the Christchurch Earthquake, condemned and torn down
Links
- Gone with the Weird (Bellbird Pictures documentary on Squirm)