SO FAR SO GOOD
11/11/2009
So the debut release is doing really well, of course the release tour has helped a whole bunch and we've been able to get the release in most places across South Africa. Your can read more on how the tour went at truthanditsburden.com so yeah.

Anyway, since the last time we gave an update much has happened. We've got distribution for the release through the following labels:

Europe: Goodlife Recordings & Disobedience Distribution
Austria: Burning Season Records
Asia: Retribution Network
USA: Blood & Ink Records
Namibia: Dark Avenue Music
Retail Distribution - South Africa: Look & Listen

If you cant find the album through any one of these distributors, please contact us and we will see that you come right as soon as possible.

I know Ive mentioned it before that our online store will be up and running soon, anyway, we've changed course a little on this and we should hopefully have it up and running before the year is done. We will keep you up to date on progress of the store.


DEBUT RELEASE HAPPENINGS
22/10/2009
So a lot has been happening here in Hope Haven camp. For a first release with TAIB's "Sending The Hope Home" its been going so well. We shipped out copies to USA to be distributed through Blood & Ink Records and then off to Belgium to be distributed through Goodlife Recordings. We'll be sending out next week to Japan, where our new friends from Retribution Network will be handling distribution throughout Asia. To say we're stoked is nothing short of an understatement really. We thank those labels for their help and willingness to make SA hardcore a part of the world. Look & Listen are currently reviewing the release to have it available in all stores nationwide, we hope that it goes really well so kids all over can pick up the release. We will let you know when it hits stores.

As far as the final product goes, honestly this release looks stellar indeed. For a debut release I could not have hoped for things to go smoother than what they have considering this is the band's debut and the label debut. We are all so stoked.

On that note, the album launch will be at Sundowners in Alberton on 23rd October, so we hope to see you all at the show supporting Truth & Its Burden on this awesome memorable occasion. There are 2 tracks on myspace, so check out www.myspace.com/truthanditsburden and leave some love if you like them. Till next time folks, be well!


GENERAL HAPPENINGS AND WHAT NOT
10/09/2009
Right, first off...Super huge thanks to anyone who attended any / all of the shows on the Have Heart & Shipwreck tour. It was a really really fun tour overall and everyone had loads of fun doing it. I have done a whole tour diary with photo's etc, you can download it here. (6 meg)

On label news...things are shifting a little. A new website will be launching soon which will be the home of a proper fully payment functional e-store. The address will be www.hopehavenrecords.co.za so please when that comes out, check it out and support us, its going to have a wide variety of titles available. It should hopefully be up and running by end of September so please allow a little time and keep checking back for that.

Truth & Its Burden's debut album has finally reached the point of coming to a release date. Its been a real journey but the release date is 31st October. The album will come out with a release tour and will also be available at all Look & Listen outlets throughout South Africa. We will also have distribution in Belgium & Europe through Goodlife Recordings.  We are also working on having this release available in the US, will keep you all posted on that.


HAVE HEART + SHIPWRECK AD SOUTH AFRICAN TOUR '09
07/07/2009
It gives me great pleasure to announce that Hope Haven Records will be hosting Have Heart & Shipwreck AD's South African tour this July/August. Shipwreck AD having toured SA last year, now return with touring companions Have Heart in what will be a heart felt and passion driven tour to be remembered. This tour also forms part of Have Heart's final tour, as they are splitting up shortly thereafter, we as South Africans are very lucky to have both these bands over for a small tour. They will be touring with Truth & Its Burden who are no strangers themselves to the South African hardcore scene, we hope that this tour will be welcomed with open arms and well supported across the country. Both Have Heart & Shipwreck AD will also be the headline acts at this years first Anchor Fest.

Please check out these fine bands, they are well worth every ounce of your efforts: www.myspace.com/haveheart & www.myspace.com/shipwreckmv


ANCHOR FEST & ROUNDABOUTS
12/06/2009
Ok, so updates have been minimal lately, sorry about that. Things have been rather quiet from the distro side lately. There are a lot of new releases, and hopefully I will be able to bring in a good few of them very soon. Thanks to the folks who all took advantage of the great R75 sale, Im sure you're all stoked on that.

Anyway, I have been putting all my efforts into a festival called Anchor Fest. It will be a big step for Hope Haven because essentially it will be the first DVD release for the label. The lineup is completely insane and boasts two huge bands from USA, Have Heart & Shipwreck AD. So come through and show support for their tour and also Anchor Fest. Be a part of the action and the DVD. Chat soon -


GENERAL ODDS & ENDS
13/04/2009
Been super quiet these last couple days & weeks. Been on tour with Truth & Its Burden, playing so many shows and honestly have not had much time to focus as much attention as is required. The Give Life Tour went down well and the shows were all generally a success, we thank everyone who helped make the shows amd tour possible, its been great all throughout, thanks so much.

Hopefully things will pick up pace soon enough, Hope Haven will be at Fracture Fest in Bloemfontein this coming weekend, so if you're out that side, please come through and say hello at the stand. Nice one, till next time, take care -



NEW RELEASES NOW AVAILABLE / BLOOD & INK RECORDS

04/03/2009
We have just received new Strike First Records releases from The Great Commission, A Hope For Home & The Rekoning. Check those bands out under the distro section.

Also, we have recently worked out a deal with BLOOD & INK RECORDS, home of great Christian bands such as Saints Never Surrender, All In, Besieged and SA's very own Neshamah. We will be bringing their titles in and making them available over here. Please go through to the distro section and have a look at the available releases, they have really worked with some great bands over the years.


TRUTH & ITS BURDEN STUDIO PROGRESS
16/02/2009
As some of you may already know by now through Facebook news blasts, Truth & Its Burden has entered the studio to record the debut release entitled "Sending The Hope Home". You can go through to the myspace blog to read up on progress on a day to day basis. The album should consist of 11 tracks in total and is being recorded at Anti Motion Studios and is being produced by Jacques Du Plessis with the assistance of Dave Grevler. A release date has not yet been decided on.


THE NEW YEAR SO FAR
26/01/2009
Well its been very busy this side. I have been slowly bringing in titles to build up stock. I will soon be opening up a fully fledged e-commerce online store with fully functional search ability and ordering system with credit card payment facilities. This was always on the cards for the growth of Hope Haven. I am currently reviewing different options available.

Chilli Vinyl are going to soon be stocking a lot of vinyl titles from your favourite hardcore, metal & punk bands. I have added their logo with a link to their site. You can check them out, the store is run by a nice guy by the name of Steve, he's your guy for all vinyl requirements with his store neatly situated at Value Fair Centre in Midrand. Make a turn and have a look see at his selection. At the moment his selection is not all that wide as far as hardcore, metal & punk go, however, we plan to change that. Vinyl is something that has always been hard to find, but with new releases from Grave Maker, Have Heart around, why would you wanna miss out.

Boogaloos have also listed all my distributed titles on their webstore, so if you're a regular shopper on their online store or know a couple skate kids, spread the word about the new availables.

Lastly, as you may have noticed, I have changed a lot in the site, I have added links of companies that are assisting Hope Haven Records, either to get our artists on the radar or just to review their new releases, for all that, I am really thankful! I Have also added the Give Life Tour section, this is an upcoming tour which I hope will become an ever growing annual tour, check out the dates and bands and come through to show some support. Hope Haven will be selling merch at every single show on that tour. Till next time, keep safe - Ashley


A COUPLE THINGS...
30/12/2008
Just a quick lil note on how things have been going with Hope Haven. I am extremely proud to announce that I will be distributing the following labels in South Africa; Facedown Records, Strike First Records, Dreamt Music, Think Fast! Records, Resist Records, Bridge 9 Records & Eulogy Recordings. I  have already been slowly bringing in titles to sell at shows as some of you already know. Next year is going to certainly be an immensely challenging one for Hope Haven, one which I am well sure Hope Haven Records can live up to, so yeah, look out for these fine labels in stores near you next year. I have been working hard and biding my time, gearing up towards starting the new year off with a bang, so I hope it all works out as planned. In other news, a couple new items for distro have arrived and are still on their way, I've added these to the distro section, so please check these out. Gee, I said it was a lil note, starting to look like a chapter. Nuff sed - I wish you all a Happy New Year!!! - All the best, see you all soon - Ash


THE FIRST BREATH
15/12/2008
For those guys that came out to the Starfish Charity Show at Black Dahlia and then again on Wednesday night at Black Dahlia to support Truth & Its Burden, Erebus & Neonate, thanks for your support at the table. Both these shows were pretty much the first shows that I have ever tabled at and the response has been awesome to say the least. I got to meet a good couple new faces and its really great to see that people do have interest is what Hope Haven is all about. Im gonna try and get to a good couple of shows before this year is to table again, so keep your ears to the ground for that. Its gonna always be last minute and so on, as it will be extremely difficult to keep up with booking agents before the shows are booked etc, so just listen out for me on Facebook. See you all soon.


WELCOME TO HOPE HAVEN RECORDS
01/12/2008
Welcome to Hope Haven Records, a new up and coming South African record label. We're in the opening stages of the label at the moment, setting up things for Distro and setting things up for bands. As a bit of background info, Hope Haven Records is run by myself, Ashley, vocalist for Truth & Its Burden, and as an opening to the label, I will be releasing our debut album through Hope Haven. So yeah, that's the initial goal, lets cross that bridge and see how things go I guess. The idea to start Hope Haven has been a long time coming, so yeah, I'm hoping that Hope Haven has a lasting effect on the South African underground music scene. Please keep checking this site for updates and movements. Thanks a lot for checking us out.