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Crawlspace

Not-quite defunct label based out of an Auckland record store that put out several limited edition underground releases in the 90s and early 00s. One compilation of this material (Fit for Kings) was actually issued on well-known US indie Drunken Fish.

Since the closure of the Crawlspace record store, Crawlspace have been limited to short one-off 7″ releases and casually distribution through mail-order and the K-road market. Truly worth visiting, the market is the place to go to find one-off Snapper and Victor Dimisich Band 7″s, and a variety of abstract low run vinyl releases and even imports.

Castrol's Garage, 2015

Castrol’s Garage

Short-lived pizza restaurant, bar and live music venue, on the corner site of the long running and beloved Gordon Smith and Son’s Fruiterers. The venue side of the bar was a little on the shallow side and with doors opening to an outside courtyard on the busy revitalized post-Earthquake Victoria street, it wasn’t long before the venue encountered noise complaints.

Crime Front

A decrepit old wooden villa on Kilmore Street occupied primarily by Michael Boulden (who used the space as a recording studio / video editing office) and professional musician Simon Nunn, whilst other musicians (including The Pickups /  Terror of the Deeps William Daymond) came and went over the years – taking advantage of the 6 rooms and ridiculously cheap $200 rent.

Harbour Light Theatre

The Harbour Light Theatre was thought to have been designed by J.S. and M. J. Guthrie and purpose-built as a picture house and theatre for the Lyttelton Picture Company. It could seat 550 people in both stalls and circle. The front of the building was two storeys high, with a mezzanine floor, and two decorative brick towers topped with spherical domes on either side. The entry was framed by large Tuscan columns, with quoin stones on the corners of the building. The material of the building was mostly brick with a stucco finish on the facade painted white in the “California style”. The entrance featured an art nouveau style etching of a pattern above the verandah roof.

The DB Gladstone Christchurch

Gladstone Hotel

The Gladstone has the doubtful distinction of being the last hotel in Christchurch to host a post mortem. The examination was carried out in July of 1901 by a Dr. William Diamond, who told the coroner that there was extreme difficulty working in such cramped and unsuitable quarters as those provided by a hotel and he sincerely hoped that something would be done about it soon. His wish was granted, for on that very day the eminent architect Mr. S Hurst-Seager, designer of the new morgue, had handed the keys to the completed building to the City Council.

The Log Cabin, Christchurch

The Log Cabin

Old and dilapidated wooden villa on Madras Street that functioned as a rather excellent venue for house parties and all-age events for a few years prior to the Canterbury Earthquakes in 2010 / 2011.

Occupied by a variety of individuals connected to Christchurch live music, student radio (RDU) and all-ages (Red Panda) scenes, the house was opened up for day time shows on the front-lawn or in the living room.

Live music at Space Academy, Christchurch

Space Academy

Multi-use space on St Asaph Street, opposite the established Darkroom bar. With Doki Hair Saloon at the front, and running during the day as Kadett Cafe, Space Academy is a lively, spacious live music venue and bar from 4pm – 11pm every Tuesday till Saturday.

Fuse Youth Cafe

Location: 25 Wakefield Ave, Sumner Current Status: Running! Active as a live music venue: 2001 – Bookings: Email Fuse Website: Fuse Website Capacity: Around 80? Fuse Youth Cafe is Christian-focused Youth Centre in Sumner that regularly hosts events for teens and even… Read More »Fuse Youth Cafe

High Tension House

Biography Hamish Noonan’s underground and experimental tape (and the occasional lathe-cut 7″) label from the late 90’s that featured projects from the likes of Nick Hodgson (as a member of Montessori), Charles Horn, (the late) Richard Neave and other Post-Corpus… Read More »High Tension House

Fast Food

auckland rock’n’roll label and revivalist restocker. lots of top notch kiwi rock from the past 50 years, mostly with a harder, ‘real’ and underground feel.compilation discographypicks in bold christmas on the rock [2003 FFCD-001] rock’n’roll is my only salvation [2004… Read More »Fast Food

Rockstar Clothing

Location: 299 Selwyn Street, Spreydon Current Status: Demolished post-earthquake Active as a live music venue: 2000’s Bar Manager: Andrew ‘Ox’ O’Connell Capacity: About 20 All-Ages: Yes Notorious local rock’n’roll vocalist and Downhill Mountain Bike clothing entrepreneur Andrew ‘Ox’ O’Connell ran… Read More »Rockstar Clothing

Hip Singles

dick drivers hip singles comprised of driver on vocals, murray couling, rob guy, martin morris and steve ward. Discography picks in bold ‘this is goodbye’/’after the part’ 7″ single [hip singles] rn play up [1983 hip singles HITD006]

Onset/Offset

Tiny Christchurch-based label initiated by Campbell McLay, that put out cassette (and some vinyl) releases from the likes of the Bottletops and the Riptoids, and continues to release Ritchie Venus’s many cdr releases (Venus aka Michael Braithwaite is involved in… Read More »Onset/Offset