In community halls across Western Sydney, young people are headbanging, crowdsurfing and forming mosh pits.
Scenes like this have become rarer since the COVID-19 pandemic dealt a devastating blow to Sydney’s music industry and under 18 events.
But for the last two-and-a-half years, Varun Mahadevan and McKenzie Ward have been trying to keep the heavy metal all-ages music scene alive.
All-ages events give young people the opportunity to enjoy heavy metal music. (Supplied: Your Locals/Ryan Depares)
Varun said the industry thrived in Western Sydney 10 to 20 years ago when he was a teenager and bands played in community centres, but declined from 2018 onward because of alcohol and venue pressures.
“We just wanted to go back to its [all-ages heavy metal] roots and go back to people connecting with people … and we’re having a blast and we know that the kids are having a blast,” Varun said.
“Having access to that at such a young age is so important to make sure that these kids feel that sense of pride in the community that they may not have had access to otherwise.
“In the community centre, there’s no barricade, the crowd’s right in front of the artists, there’s pool noodles around, there’s snags in the kitchen.”
Sometimes young children attend the all-ages events. (Supplied: Your Locals/Ryan Depares)
Attendees at the duo’s Your Locals events range from less than six months to 70 years old.
“You do see a lot of parents with toddlers on their backs, some of the toddlers headbang along to it, some of them just had a little nap,” McKenzie said.
“Older people love to just stand there and kind of reminisce.”
They regularly see more than 100 people coming through the doors.
“Families are able to come to shows and see bands that toured the world on the same floor that they might have been trying to vote in the previous election,” Varun said.’Freedom’ for youth
Des is the lead vocalist for Wicked Envy. (Supplied: Emma Mees)
Vocalist and keyboardist Des Hancock fronts “dark metal core” rock band, Wicked Envy, which is influenced by old and new metal, from Bullet for My Valentine to Linkin Park.
“I use fake blood on stage. I love the theatrics because I’m a music theatre performer as well,” she said.
“I get in the crowd and have a little dance, headbang, do the circle pit thing.”
Des describes the high octane Wicked Envy band as dark metal core. (ABC News: Emma Mees)
Wicked Envy does not perform many all-ages events, but Des said the Western Sydney scene was better than it was pre-COVID when there “weren’t many opportunities for the youngsters”.
The band played at a “packed” all-ages Your Locals event at a Seven Hills community club in 2024.
“They [the young people] have freedom, they can be themselves, just enjoy live music in a safe environment,” she said.
The popularity of metal music has risen in recent years, Des says. (ABC News: Emma Mees)
Des said the appetite for heavy metal all-ages events was growing, but the genre was “not as accepted”.
She has tried to organise shows in Central Sydney, but found it difficult because of 18-plus age limit.
Domino effect
Since they started their venture, Varun and McKenzie said they had noticed other DIY heavy metal music events popping up in Western Sydney.
“We’ve had lots of people contacting us asking, ‘How do I make this happen?'” Varun said.
“And also, we’ve had kids run their own shows directly influenced by this and they’ve been asking us for help on just how to run it and all that.”
Crowdsurfing sometimes happens at the events. (Supplied: Your Locals/Ryan Depares)
The shows are mostly self-funded, costing more than $2,000 each.
Under 12s can get in without a ticket, but others have to pay so the group can continue to put on events.
In mid-February, the NSW government announced proposed legislation to revitalise Sydney’s live music scene with support for all-ages events.
Varun and McKenzie said it could positively impact Sydney, but only if it helped those who really needed it, rather than the usual promoters.
“We’re glad that there are those big events because those solid events are what sort of helped the scene and helped the community, but at the same time, it’s been the indies that really drive it forward,” Varun said.
A resurgence
Paul Murphy says he would like to see more all-ages heavy metal events in Sydney. (ABC News: Jak Rowland)
Paul Murphy, who manages Utopia Records in Sydney’s CBD, grew up in the 70s listening to Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple, courtesy of his older brother.
He has worked in record stores since 1989 and has seen the evolution of heavy metal music in Sydney.
Paul Murphy says not many all-ages metal events exist anymore. (ABC News: Jak Rowland)
In the late 90s and 2000s, Utopia Records hosted free all-ages events featuring bands such as Fear Factory, Agent Orange and The Hanging Tree.
They stopped in 2008 due to rising costs and security requirements.
“On Saturday afternoons, they would usually have two or three bands so people would go downstairs while they were shopping and just watch,” he said.
“Frank Iero from My Chemical Romance was a really successful one. He actually had 700 people turn up, so he actually had to perform twice.”
Paul Murphy says there is an appetite for all-ages metal events in Western Sydney. (ABC News: Jak Rowland)
He said there has been a “resurgence” of young kids getting into metal music during the last 10 years.
“On every single tour post, especially when the shows are at pubs, it’s like, ‘Man, my 14-year-old kid really wants to see this band. I got to see Iron Maiden when I was 15. Why can’t my son see Machine Head now?'” he said.
“I believe due to red tape of all types, mainly insurance and security, it’s not a financially viable thing to do.”