Downeast Hardcore: Stories From the Kave — Q&A With Director Ricky Leighton – Decibel Magazine

Isolation breeds a special kind of creativity and community. In locales situated outside of major markets, this becomes a matter of necessity for any kids who want to see something cool happen in their town. Although the explosion of the internet in the 1990s made it easier to find music and learn about shows happening all over the world — from anywhere in the world — it didn’t solve the challenge of getting a local metal or hardcore scene going, especially in rural areas. But that challenge is also what makes so many of those isolated scenes so special. Everyone knows each other, knows the local bands, knows where to hang out for shows, and who makes things happen.

Downeast Hardcore: Stories From The Kave tells the story of one of those communities, and of Kathy Findlay, a woman who made things happen for the kids in Bucksport, Maine. Bucksport lies about four hours north of Boston, close enough for kids in the early 2000s to know about what was going on, but just far enough out of reach to benefit from any bleed-over to local venues. But there were enough kids passionate about hardcore to create a group that traveled to shows together, formed bands, and eventually link up with Findlay, who went on to run her own venue, The Kave. From 2003 to 2016, the Kave became an epicenter for metal and hardcore in northern New England. Ricky Leighton went to shows at The Kave back in the day, and it became and important and formative experience for him. Now in 2026, he wants to share the story of Kathy, The Kave, and the various bands and characters who came through over the years.

I think there’s something truly inspiring about Kathy’s dedication to giving kids in her community something to do and create together, AND the fact she and a lot of those (now grown) kids are still involved. If you’re looking for a reason to feel less jaded, you should watch the documentary read our discussion with Ricky below.

More information about the documentary and local screenings can be found at its website.

—

Hello Ricky, thanks for taking the time to talk to us! Tell us about the film and how it came about. What made you decide to tell the story of Kathy, The Kave, and the scene in upper New England — and why now?

I moved back to Maine in 2018 after spending nearly a decade away. As a documentary filmmaker, I found myself naturally gravitating toward unique stories rooted in Maine. One evening, I was sitting around a campfire with my friend Sam, reminiscing about all the shows we had been to over the years, when he brought up The Kave. The idea immediately clicked. I think we both knew there was a story there that needed to be documented.

The Kave was a hardcore/heavy metal venue run by Kathy Findlay, an occupational therapy assistant at a nearby school. From the early 2000’s to 2016, this rural venue in Bucksport, ME hosted major touring acts including Terror, Biohazard, Agnostic Front, Madball, Unearth and Hatebreed, alongside dozens of Maine and New England bands.

Once I started researching the possibility of making a documentary, it quickly became clear that Kathy’s impact went far beyond music. She had become a matriarchal figure to generations of young people, many of whom were struggling to find a place where they felt accepted or understood. When we first announced the documentary, 90 people submitted written testimonials within a single week describing how Kathy had changed their lives.

Kathy ultimately had to close The Kave in 2016 while battling cancer. I think its absence made people realize just how special that place and period of their lives had been. It felt like the right time to jump into this project as everyone had grown up, started families and were ready to reflect on such a special time.

What was your personal experience of going to shows at the Kave, and of the local scene more generally? Would you say your experience was part of what inspired you to become a filmmaker?

I went to George Stevens Academy in Blue Hill, Maine, just down the road from The Kave. The school had a strong arts program, and a lot of my friends were musicians who played in bands and performed locally. (Shout out to my own high school band, Punch Us Pilot, although we only managed to play one show).

The Kave was definitely on our radar because Kathy was great about giving local bands opportunities to open for the touring acts she brought to Maine. My first show there was Unearth, which my cousin Shane took me to. I remember walking in and thinking it was dark, cold and pretty intimidating!

I was fortunate to know from a young age that I wanted to make movies, and music has always been an important part of how I think about filmmaking. It’s really the icing on the cake when you’re trying to convey emotion and make the audience feel something. I also felt I could do justice to Kathy and The Kave because while I wasn’t necessarily a “Kave Kid,” I was very familiar with being an angsty rural Maine teenager who loved heavy music. I understood what it was like to grow up in a place where there wasn’t always a lot for young people to do and how important music could become as an outlet. Fun fact: the film features quite a bit of early 2000’s miniDV tape footage that was mine from high school.

One of the first things I did when we started the documentary was build a playlist of bands that had played The Kave. I basically immersed myself in that music for all three years of making the film. Major props to my wife, Sarah, for tolerating some very loud car rides along the way!

The film paints an evocative picture of life in Maine, particularly in the Bucksport area. It’s amazing what Kathy did for the kids up there, basically building up a community from scratch that became a node in the worldwide network of metal and hardcore. Although the venue has been closed since 2016, I imagine it’s left an enduring impact on the area. Have other venues come along since to fill the void?

While I try to remain hopeful, I’m not sure anyone could ever truly replicate what Kathy did. She not only managed to successfully run a venue way off the beaten path, but she also took care of the bands who came through. She would make them home-cooked meals, give them a place to stay and even let them camp out for several days after a show. That level of hospitality was a huge part of what made The Kave so unique.

What is encouraging though, is seeing how that spirit has continued through the “Kave Kids” she helped foster. Many of them have gone on to book their own shows and help support Maine’s music scene in their own ways. The Old Town Theatre has also provided a space for shows in the Bangor area and if you go to one you’ll find plenty of familiar faces from The Kave days and possibly even Kathy herself.

On a related note, what is the scene like nowadays, in terms of metal, hardcore and other forms of extreme music? I know of a couple black metal bands but I’m sure there must be a lot going on. And is Kathy still involved in some way?

We just wrapped up a screening at Geno’s Rock Club and the scene in Maine is stronger than it’s ever been. We had three bands play after the film: Dying Mind, Mortar and Corrective Measure — and Kathy was up front for all of it. Seeing her rush the mic was a highlight.

Cheap Life Records, owned and operated by Chris Linkovich (Cruel Hand/Terror) and Corey Jones, has been a driving force in booking shows in the area. I think what particularly excites me is that the shows are full of young kids as well as us “older” folks.

There are some fantastic Maine hardcore and metal bands worth checking out: Stab, Free To Think, Forked Tongue, Last Embrace, Peacebreaker, and Infernal Diatribe to name a few.

Finally, from the years the Kave was active (2003-2016), were there any shows that are known by locals as “legendary”? Like, the shows where you “just had to be there.”

The most obvious answer is Hatebreed. That was the show that put the place onthe map. Kathy put together a Kavefest line up that included Hatebreed, Most Precious Blood, The Hope Conspiracy, Ringworm and more. Not only did it sell out but there was also a Navy ship in town that weekend so needless to say it was quite the mosh crew…