United In Metal With DEXX & JACKIE From BEYOND THE DARKNESS

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.


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