Interview by Kris Peters
Charity events are always special on the music calendar, with a plethora of worthy causes benefitting from the generosity and respect shown by many a band and punter. But when they are organised by people who have been afflected personally by the very condition they are drawing attention to, it becomes that bit more special.
Beyond The Darkness is one such event.
Organised by Jackie Green - who lost her husband to cancer in early 2022 - and her partner Dexx, Beyond The Darkness is in its second year after a successful first showcase event last year. While the concert aims to raise finances and awareness to benefit the GI Cancer Institute, it also shines light on illnesses and diseases of all kinds and the need for people in the community to ensure they keep abreast of potential dangers before it's too late.
To be held at the Back Room, Annerley on September 14, Beyond The Darkness will be headlined by local metal stars Engraved, with Sentiment, Void Matter, Krave, InEffigy and more all donating their time to spread the message and love.
Jackie and Dexx joined HEAVY recently to talk more about the event.
"On the 22nd of April 2022 my husband David died of oesophageal cancer," Jackie explained. "It just came on. He had a 13-month battle, and we tried everything and threw everything at it, and then he got a secondary cancer. Once most people get a secondary cancer, there's not much you can do. I lost him, and I really didn't know what I was gonna do. I suppose my whole world was turned upside down. We just floated the idea - we wanted to do something to really celebrate his first year anniversary - so I floated the idea on Facebook and said to people what do we think and Brian said let's put on a show. So it was born from there."
We mention the importance of not just raising money to assist in research for such illnesses, but also heightening awareness that these illnesses can and do strike without discrimination.
"They don't matter who you are, what age you are," Jackie continued. "David was only 47, so I think part of the awareness is people in our age group - in that 40 to 50 age group - to not be complacent about things. If something is not right, go and get it checked out."
In the full interview, we emphasized the importance of early ticket purchases for local events like Beyond The Darkness, the intricacies of planning a festival line-up, emphasizing the significance of band selection, cohesion, and stage presence plus the bands playing and the selection process. We also talked about the logistics of the benefit concert, addressing donation options and ticket sales, and promoting their show, Oz Fest with Dexx and Jackie O.