Fat Wreck Chords, one of punk rock’s most influential independent record labels, is celebrating 35 years of music in a big way. The label is taking it back to where it will began – hosting an epic night of iconic Fat Wreck bands under one roof. This September, the label will host two unforgettable nights of live music at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco. The celebration will also serve as one of the final concert events at the beloved Bay area venue, which recently announced it will close its doors at the end of the year, adding an extra layer of significance to the anniversary festivities.
The anniversary festivities kick off Friday, September 25th, with performances from Face to Face, Get Dead, and The Last Gang. The celebration continues Saturday, September 26th, featuring Lagwagon, Dead to Me, and ToyGuitar. Together, the two nights showcase artists who have helped define the unmistakable sound and legacy of Fat Wreck Chords. The evening is rumored to include a special guest performance as well. Tickets are on-sale now HERE.
Fat Wreck Chords will also be repressing seven special legacy titles on vinyl, bringing a selection of essential releases back into print. Many of which are celebrating anniversary milestones of their own! Fans can expect vinyl represses from NOFX, Lagwagon, Strung Out, Face to Face, Propaghandi, Rise Against, and more.
Fans can expect more anniversary announcements pertaining to other cities to arrive soon.
The Fat Wreck Family shares: “FAT and Bottom of the Hill were both founded 35 years ago, so what better way to celebrate than a weekend full of FAT bands at our favorite SF venue? Bottom of the Hill has been a launching pad for so many FAT bands that we want to pay tribute and say goodbye in style. Who knows what scavenger types this show might bring out of the woodwork? Don’t miss it!”
Joey Cape from Lagwagon shares: “These are sure to be bittersweet nights. On one hand, we are stoked to celebrate Fat Wreck Chords’ 35th anniversary. Over the years, FAT has always taken great care of its artists. For us, it has been a drama-free relationship, fun and transparent from the start. I have come to realize just how unusual it is and how fortunate we are. I am grateful to have worked alongside so many amazing people at FAT. In contrast, while I am thrilled to take the Bottom of the Hill stage one more time, it will also be the last time, and a fond farewell to possibly the greatest venue San Francisco has produced. Having called the city home for decades, I was lucky enough to experience many memorable nights at the venue. I’ve seen countless great gigs at BOTH. It is a magical place, a staple in San Francisco’s scene. Many of us knew this day was coming for quite some time, but it is still heartbreaking. I’m just proud to have been some small part of its history.”