Something for everyone at The Eighty-Six

Published on 16 October 2023

The Eighty-Six festival, running from October 23 to 31, highlights Darebin's thriving music scene along the 86-tram route.

Program Records in Thornbury – one of only three vinyl record pressing facilities in Australia – launched in 2020 to help homegrown bands and record labels get their music into the hands of their local fans, fast.

That’s why Director, Steve Lynch, is so excited that The Eighty-Six festival has come to town.

From October 23 to 31, venues all along High Street in Darebin – possibly the most densely concentrated strip of live music venues on the planet – will showcase Melbourne’s exciting music culture.

The festival promises something for everyone.

‘Super Saturday’ on October 28 is a free event taking over local bars, nightclubs, bowls clubs, record stores, bocce courts and beyond from the early AM through to sunrise.

There’s also the Independent Music Exchange, a free, two-day event for independent labels from across Australia to showcase vinyl, cassettes, merch, zines, test pressings, posters and more to music lovers.

Program Records is supporting the Independent Music Exchange by providing a discount to labels that are pressing records especially for the event.

Steve said it was exciting to see his vision for the business as “a place where you could get good records made in Australia, quickly”, now being able to support local bands and events like The Eighty-Six.

True to that vision, Program Records has pressed 10,000 records especially for the festival.

“I am excited for The Eighty-Six and the Independent Music Exchange. It’s been fun being involved,” Steve says.

“We’re helping out in a small way, trying to help people get records out for the event, but it’s been fun seeing projects come through, and it’s exciting.”

Steve says The Eighty-Six exemplifies Darebin’s unique nature as a creative city.

“We wanted to be in a creative, interesting area. And Thornbury has creative and industrial side-by-side, so it seemed like a good fit for us.”

Darebin Mayor Cr Julie Williams said The Eighty-Six showcases Darebin as the epicentre and ultimate destination for live music in Australia, and a diverse and inclusive city of artists and music lovers.

"What better place to bring together music makers and music lovers alike in this whole-community celebration that has something for everyone to enjoy,” Cr Williams said.

Part of an epic season of creative events taking place in Melbourne and regional Victoria this October, The Eighty-Six has been made possible with support from the Victorian Government, and in partnership with Darebin City Council.

For more information visit theeightysix.com.