[Flyer courtesy of Kelley Lach]

By Julia Weber, Features Editor

Do you hear the rumblings of hardcore in the distance? I do…

Somewhere, far off in the distance, I hear the rhythmic stomping of platform Doc Martens, the caps popping off of eyeliner pencils, and the ripping open of cardboard boxed hair dye. It can only mean one thing: prom is upon us.

This Thursday at 8 p.m., rock lobsters across town will make the trek to The Union for ACRN Media’s annual prom. Doors open at 8 p.m. and music starts at 9 p.m., but you’ll want to be there early to secure your spot.

Paramount to our annual prom is, of course, our best dressed competition. Get ahead of the game and tear through your closet, your friends’ closets and maybe even your parents’ closets now so that you can don your finest goth attire on Thursday evening.

Athens’ own Uncouth will take the stage first on Thursday night. The self-described power pop group is relatively new to the local music scene, having formed in the summer of 2023 according to their Spotify bio, so this is your chance to prove your indie status and say you knew them back when. Just over a month ago, the group released their first single on streaming services, which you can check out in advance if you’re looking to get a sense of what to expect.

Up next, Swage are set to deliver a hardcore performance. Swage describe themselves as hardcore punk, and they very recently played a show with Athens hardcore staple band Kaiba. The group is also relatively new to the Athens scene, so you’ll want to be there to catch some of Athens’ newest and best.

The third band slated to play on Thursday is Nearly Mine. The Ashland, KY based group are sure to bring their best for prom—you won’t want to miss it. If you want to get a feel for what they’re bringing to the table, you’re in luck. Nearly Mine have released a number of singles and an EP on Spotify.

Closing out the night is A Cure for Love. The headlining group are Ohio-based and already have extensive music available to stream. They released their most recent album, Birds, Beasts, Trees, Flowers in 2022. A Cure for Love will finish out a stacked bill and are sure to help us round out the night, making this year’s prom a night to remember.

Apart from a stacked lineup of hardcore bands, ACRN’s prom will also host a raffle of items from local businesses including Buddy’s Bud Co., Whit’s Custard, Bleeding Heart Vintage and Blue Eagle. Proceeds from the raffle will benefit ACRN and will be put toward hosting future shows. 

Just in time for the widespread cultural CD trend revival, ACRN will also be selling CD bundles from our music library as we work to digitize our collection. Grab a pack of CDs and support your favorite college rock radio station and add to your music collection at the same time.

With four great bands, a raffle and a badass costume contest, Goth Prom is set to be one for the books. Will we see you there?