Sydney Venue Blue Beat To Close This Weekend

Sydney nightclub Blue Beat has announced it will be closing down this weekend after an ongoing struggle to maintain consistent artist bookings to bring crowds in.

The news was posted on the Double Bay venue's Facebook earlier today, with the statement reading:

“It is unfortunate that we have to announce this weekend will be the final weekend of Blue Beat operating as a live music venue. A huge thank you to everyone who has supported us, everyone who has come to a gig, the incredible musicians who performed, the promoters and everyone who worked behind the scenes to make the magic happen.”

TheMusic.com.au spoke with venue booker and manager Chris Richards earlier today and he said the venue “wasn't able to get traction” in the booking of artists and, ultimately, crowd numbers.

“We perservered, we tried and we did what we thought could work but finding bands to draw the numbers was difficult,” Richards said of the decision.

While Richards said Blue Beat had catered to a range of different acts, if ticket sales weren't up to scratch, then there wasn't a lot they could do to bring those artists back.

“It's a good venue, has good sound and we were able to adapt to older and younger crowds, but if you book a band and there isn't a great response to the show, then they're not going to come back, are they?

Richards said he and his team were working on relocating any forthcoming shows to other, appropriate sized venues in Sydney. Artists set to perform over the coming months at the venue included Texan bluesman Eugene “Hideaway” Bridges, local roots ensemble Kooyeh and English singer-songwriter Heather Peace.

Richards said he would continue to be involved in the Blue Beat premise and there are plans underway to mould the space into a more bar driven venue, with an aim to re-open this March. He also didn't rule out the possibility of “occasional” live music taking place at the bar when it does re-open.