SugarTank! Records to Showcase Local LGBTQ+ Talent
Plaza Midwood festival marks release of label's first compilation
Launched by Dreamboat bandmates Nic Pugh (JaggerMouth, Paint Fumes) and Nic Holman (Coughing Dove), SugarTank! Records is a new local label created with a goal to support and celebrate artists within the LGBTQ+ community, including allies.
SugarTank! aims to be a resource hub for LGBTQ+ artists and creatives, hosting events and collaborating within extended networks to provide as many opportunities as possible. The label’s first release, Carolina Compost Vol. 1, will feature a wide range of artists from throughout the Carolinas: Comino, Pretty Baby, Midniter, Natalie Carr, Pie Face Girls, BANGZZ, Zeta, Feyleux, Woody, Darby Wilcox, Dirty Flowers, Kadey Ballard, Top Achiever, and Dexter Jordan.
The record will be available on Sept. 21 at the inaugural SugarTank! Festival, featuring 12 bands and artists, most of whom appear on the compilation. The acts will perform at three different venues across Plaza Midwood, beginning at 5 p.m. in Gordon Alley next to Snug Harbor and going through the night. The lineups are as follow:
GORDON ALLEY STAGE (5 p.m./all ages)
- Woody
- Natalie Carr
- Dirty Flowers
- Kadey Ballard
PETRA’S (8 p.m./21+)
- Wine Pride
- Pie Face Girls
- BANGZZ
- Comino
SNUG HARBOR (10 p.m./18+)
- Pretty Baby
- Los Shadows
- Noir Noir
- Feyleux
- DJ Scott Weaver
“We’ve both been a part of the Charlotte music scene for over a decade now and while the support that’s already out there for musicians is amazing, there simply isn’t enough of it,” Pugh told Queen City Nerve. “Now is a time we feel it’s more important than ever to put our own efforts in the game and be some of that support. We either come together as an unstoppable music community, or passively let the rapidly changing city dictate what happens next in our creative culture.
“This label partnership felt natural because our combined experiences and skill sets complement each other in a way that makes us confident we can bring the whole package to a project like this,” he continued. “Our shared passion for music, the importance of centering queer artists and building allyship throughout the community, and our belief that this music scene’s best days are ahead is why we decided to come together. Also, and maybe most importantly, we are best friends and want to do something cool and fun with our lives. You won’t see either of us in a suit and tie anytime soon.”
Carolina Compost Vol. 1 will be available at the label’s online store, which is still in the works, after the Sept. 21 festival. Follow SugarTank! Records on Instagram for more updates.
