Many bemoan the closure of official music venues around Sydney. Taking to social media to lament about the swinging cranes hovering above us like overlords of a progress that isn’t inclusive. But the music is still playing, there are still stages and pub corners housing good shit, you just need to know where to look. Paradise Daily Records and Sexy Romance Records have been plying Sydney with a whole heap of DIY, punk, wonky disco and a whole heap of other mangled genres that escape aural classification for ages and their roster of acts are occupying alternative venues like the Marrickville bowlo or the Portugal Madeira club most weekends. Flogging casettes, digital downloads and vinyl mostly, the labels are less about commerce and more about quality and community. And, you can sample a showing of what they're all about this weekend.
Romance in Paradise is a two-day two-venue festival presenting a flotilla of 21 local and interstate favourites from or chosen by the independent labels. Buy a two-day ticket for $35, or grab a $20 ticket for the day/venue/line-up of your choice. Grieve for closed music spaces sure, but why not give your personage to existing gigs while you do it.
Click through the Dates & times tab to see who's playing where when.