Soundlab to Hold March 4 Benefit for WNY 'Zine Archive

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- "LABOR," a benefit for the Western New York 'Zine Archive, soon to be housed in the University at Buffalo Poetry Collection, will be held March 4 at Soundlab, 110 Pearl St.

Doors will open at 9 p.m. There will be a $5 dollar admission fee.

Organizers hope the benefit will raise awareness of the archive and provoke the donation of more of the underground, self-published periodicals called "'zines."

The event will feature local music acts, other live performances and multimedia projections. Funds raised will help to establish the collection and fund future outreach and development efforts. The on-site contact is Colleen Hubbard at bflozines@hotmail.com.

The UB Poetry Collection will welcome the new archive with an exhibition and reception March 30 from 6-8 p.m. in the university's Poetry and Rare Books Room, 420 Capen Hall on the North (Amherst) Campus. This event will be free and open to the public.

The Western New York 'Zine Archive currently encompasses more than 50 titles, including Angst and Daisies, Creepy Mike's Omnibus of Fun, Go Guerrilla, Highest Population of Rock Stars, Hodgepodge and Riverside Arts Scene. 'Zines were donated to the collection by their creators and by 'zinesters who collected them. The archive will appeal to those interested in the literary, design, historical and political aspects of underground publishing.

Planning for the archive began in October 2004 when local 'zinesters approached a number of libraries and cultural institutions with a proposal to establish a collection of local 'zines.

Michael Basinski, curator of the UB Poetry Collection and a 'zinester himself, enthusiastically offered to house the archive at the university, noting the collection's long involvement with both regional publishing endeavors and underground literature.