DARK DAYS BRIGHT NIGHTS

DARK DAYS BRIGHT NIGHTS: Pageninetynine, Portrayal of Guilt, Thou, Young Widows to headline Richmond festival's inaugural lineup; 3-day passes on sale now

Virginia-based labels Persistent Vision Records and Yr Screaming Youth announce the inception of Dark Days Bright Nights, a new music festival in Richmond. 

Scheduled for September 13-15, 2024 at The Broadberry, the fest's inaugural lineup boasts screamo godfathers Pageninetynine, blackened hardcore favorites Portrayal of Guilt, sludge kings Thou, noise rockers Young Widows, and many more bands from Richmond and beyond, representing a spectrum of punk, hardcore, and metal.

Some of the many other standouts include the mighty Kowloon Walled City, along with up-and-comers such as Tijuana crust collective Habak, blackgazers Infant Island, ex-Majority Rule outfit NØ MAN, screamo torchbearers Massa Nera, post-hardcore powerhouse Porcelain, and industrial-metal punks Prisoner (whose new album, Putrid | Obsolete, dropped last month on Persistent Vision Records, and earned rave reviews.)

In addition to hosting a slew of crucial artists of the present day, Dark Days Bright Nights will also feature reunion sets by three bands that have not graced a stage in many years: Pygmy Lush, The Red Scare, and Kilara (members of Avail, City of Caterpillar).

The complete lineup is as follows (in alphabetical order):

Fórn
.GIF from God
Goetia
Habak
Infant Island
Kilara
Kowloon Walled City
Lagrimas

Listless
Massa Nera
NØ MAN
Northeast Regional
Pageninetynine
Porcelain
Portrayal of Guilt
Prisoner

Private Hell
Pygmy Lush
Quiet Fear
Respire
The Red Scare
Thou
Young Widows
+ more TBA

Three-day passes are available now at an advance price of $115. A limited number of individual day tickets will be available in June. Purchase three-day passes here: https://bit.ly/DarkDaysBrightNights9-13

Paul Hansbarger, owner of Persistent Vision Records, describes how Richmond's already-thriving DIY music scene inspired him to start the festival:

"Richmond has an incredibly vibrant and prolific scene for punk, hardcore, metal and other independent/alternative music. There's no question about that. It’s more active than it’s ever been, not to mention having a more diverse, inclusive and younger scene. I've been going to shows here since 2000 and I don't think I've ever witnessed such a wildly active and supportive scene. If anything, we are trying to add something to an already flourishing scene. I feel like there has been an absence of a fest here in Richmond for a while, and we wanted a way to showcase many of the amazing bands from here, alongside a curated lineup of out-of-town bands. We wanted some of the DIY spirit of the house and basement shows that have been such a big part of our lives, but presented on a slightly bigger stage that could accommodate out-of-town visitors, and have an opportunity to share with them a bit of a Richmond experience."

Mike Taylor, owner of Yr Screaming Youth and guitarist of Pageninetynine, adds:

"A big inspiration for me, putting on a fest located in Richmond, is that it has that old Richmond feel. An understated magic. The feeling of finding out about a show in the middle of the day that you had no idea about, showing up to it and being absolutely annihilated by some touring band you’ve never heard of, playing a basement somewhere like it was the last night on earth. The city has a rich, storied past with so many bands who’ve influenced me so much in my life and I guess I want to give that back a little. My hope is that we can make a memory of a lifetime for some young kid at our fest."

Hansbarger's and Taylor's shared vision is no surprise, given that the two have been connected for more than 20 years. "I've been a fan of Mike's band Pageninetynine since first hearing their demo during my senior year of high school in 1999," says Hansbarger. After moving to Richmond for college, Hansbarger started his first label, Perpetual Motion Machine, and his very first release for that label was Pageninetynine's last – a split seven-inch with Circle Takes the Square in 2002.

Launching his new label, Persistent Vision Records, in 2022, Hansbarger was still inspired by what Taylor and his comrades in Pageninetynine had created, and as he began formulating the idea for Dark Days Bright Nights last year, Taylor was his first choice for a collaborator. He states: 

"When I started seriously considering doing a label again, I initially thought about just focusing on reissues. I also knew that there were active, contemporary bands cut from the same cloth as Pageninetynine, who were underrepresented in the overall punk/hardcore community, making incredibly explosive and equally profound music. I envisioned the possibility of a label that could stand with one foot in the past, and one in the future, looking at the rich history of all the bands and old heads I knew from the old days, and to the future of this vibrant scene of new, up and coming bands. Persistent Vision is my attempt at trying to document that. Now, with Dark Days Bright Nights, we aim to bring that same spirit to the stage."

Follow Dark Days Bright Nights, here: https://www.instagram.com/darkdaysbrightnightsva

Photo of Pageninetynine, by Reid Haithcock