Grab a kettle of tea and dive into the isolated, vibrant, and “too radical” world of the St. John’s punk scene. In this episode, old-time punk musician Johnny Nolan and I spin tracks and tell stories from the late 80s and nineties. Back then Johnny was heavily involved in the alternative music and I was a student and DJ at CHMR broadcasting from Memorial University. The music scene at that time (as it has always been) in St. John’s was vibrant and you did not need to look far to end up at an alternative music gig or festival.
Inside the Episode
Island Isolation: How being stuck on a rock in the Atlantic forced a tight-knit community to pick up instruments and create their own “cultural smorgasbord”.
The Venues: A look back at the all-ages shows at the LSPU Hall and the legendary Peace A-chord festival—which was eventually shut down for being a bit too loud for municipal politics.
CHMR Roots: Dups and Johnny reminisce about their days behind the mic at St. John’s alternative campus radio station.
Featured Tracklist
“Newfie Rastaman” by Da Slyme A “fabulous” track from the band that started it all and released Canada’s first double punk album. By permission of Da Slyme.
“No Protest” by Hardliner A “peace punk” anti-military anthem about a young Newfoundlander with no alternatives. By permission of Hardliner.
“Evil Drunks” by Dog Meat BBQ A fun song that serves as the ultimate reminder of university drinking days. By permission of Dog Meat BBQ.
Cast
Guest: Johnny Nolan
Host and Producer: Duleepa “Dups” Wijayawardhana
The 1st episode of many on Newfoundland’s vibrant and amazing alternative scene 🎬