EXCLUSIVE: Brisbane Cocktail Bar 'Stranded' Launches As A Music Venue

Stranded, a space that already existed as a cocktail bar in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, has become the city’s latest music venue.

A sister to Brisbane’s The Zoo, Stranded doesn’t just launch without some live music: the venue will proudly welcome Luca Brasi, Carla Geneve, Ben Lee, Yorke, Carla Wehbe and more to its line-up in the coming months.

Since opening last year, Stranded has served the Fortitude Valley community with cocktails, an expansive mezcal selection, wines and Mediterranean food. Stranded now exists under new bookers CLBR and is armed with a new 3 am licence, allowing the music to flow all night.

“Stranded has been home to great cocktails for over a year now with a handful of live activations, we had Meg Washington do a sold-out residency, and BIGSOUND last year, of course,” CLBR Managing Director Nathan Farrell told The Music.

Farrell intends to add “a more structured music offering into the great vibe that’s already there. The added advantage is some more drink options than your standard live venue offering. We've got some amazing shows and experiences coming but with the same free late-night hang the regulars love.”

Being situated right next door to The Zoo, Stranded only sees benefits in its locale, noting that sometimes Farrell would like to book acts for The Zoo, but the venue doesn’t have the capacity to host them. Plus, “sometimes, a smaller, more intimate vibe is what is needed for the right show,” Farrell adds.

“Stranded stands on its own two feet, has a different feel and vision and allows us to do more not only in volume but as a wider offering. We can use the same great team across both rooms to really maximise every show we have through multi-room events; you name it.”

On the venue’s upcoming gigs, all of which you can find below, Farrell continues, “We couldn’t be happier with our first batch of shows and have heaps of interesting stuff right around the corner to announce as well. Stranded is, at its core, warm, comfortable, intimate, and a great place to hang for a show, a drink or a late-night boogie.”

At its heart, “Stranded is a dive bar that’s grown up,” Farrell explained. All music genres are welcome. Despite its beginnings and namesake – The Saints’ classic, (I’m) Stranded – “we have Hip Hop, Country, Soul, R&b, Pop, Hyperpop Club Nights, Jazz, Electronic and heaps more coming up,” Farrell says.

“Stay tuned; some amazing things are in play. The only way to really represent a community in a venue is to have the diversity of that community at play, so that’s always our plan.”

In a press release, Farrell commented, “What an absolutely charming room Stranded is. We’re thrilled to be at the helm with the great team at The Zoo, bringing this new space to life with all forms of shows, club nights & more - continuing the diverse and inclusionary booking culture that we promote at all our venues.

“We’re loving the versatility of working the two spaces of The Zoo and Stranded to their absolute strengths, complimenting vibes and using the same marketing muscle across both spaces.”

CLBR don’t only book shows at The Zoo and Stranded; they’re also in charge of booking shows at Freo.Social and Mojos in Western Australia, The Night Cat, The Espy and HABA in Victoria.

Stranded’s owner, Shane Chidgzey, added in the press release, “Like the Zoo, Stranded is and will continue to be an inclusive space for all to enjoy.

“I'm proud to be able to continue to offer an independently owned set of music venues that has an artist-first ethos. Really stoked to have Nathan and the CLBR team onboard with our vision across both spaces and sharing in our passion for delivering a diverse range of memorable events.”

You can find the stacks of artists performing at Stranded below.

Aug 26th: Austin Mackay
Sep 5th: BIGSOUND ft. Nat Vazer, Bayanag (the Bushranger), Micah Heathwood & Rissa
Sep 6th: BIGSOUND ft. Rum Jungle, Hannah Cameron, Sollyy & Zia Jade
Sep 7th: BIGSOUND ft. Yorke, Logan, Matilda Pearl, smol fish, Tamara & the Dreams
Sep 8th: Juno w/ Raria
Sep 15th: KILL HAUS: Hyperpop Discotheque
Sep 29th: Carla Geneve
Sep 30th: Luca Brasi (Acoustic)
Oct 1st: Ben Lee
Oct 6th: Southern River Band
Oct 7th: Canaan Cox (USA)
Oct 21st: Mexico City
Oct 28th: Carla Wehbe
Nov 4th: Ben Salter

Tickets are on sale now via the Stranded website.