Independent Music Exchange at Northcote Town Hall
Celebrate independent music as label founders and crate diggers come together to champion physical media and share community-driven knowledge.
Overview
Making its debut in 2023 as part of The Eighty-Six Festival, the now-standalone Independent Music Exchange returns for its second edition, putting fans in direct contact with Australia's most diverse independent record labels. Featuring 50 imprints offering vinyl, cassettes, merch, zines, test pressings, posters, artist-signed items, and rare finds — most likely rediscovered in a dusty packing box — the event is all about bringing music fans and communities closer together while supporting physical media.
In 2026, the Independent Music Exchange takes over Northcote Town Hall from 10am–5pm on Saturday, June 6–Sunday, June 7. Free to attend for all ages, this year's event features an expanded program, where visitors can sift through records before heading to a panel discussion or workshop designed to support the next generation of label makers.
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Conceived by independent label owners Michael Kucyk (Efficient Space), Maryos Syawish and Corey Kikos (Butter Sessions), the Independent Music Exchange looks beyond the traditional music industry, focusing on sharing knowledge and circulating ideas that help foster a stronger local music scene. And with Melbourne packed with more record shops per capita than any other city in the world, there might be nowhere better to get involved.
With the first wave of participating labels recently announced, this huge community come-together spans both bedroom imprints and acclaimed names, like Chapter Music, Hopestreet Recordings, Music In Exile, Poison City, Remote Control and College Of Knowledge. Meanwhile, more labels and the education programme will be announced in the coming weeks, inviting all-comers to champion Australian independent music, whether they're just buying records or keen to launch their own imprint.
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Images: Chip Mooney.
