EXCLUSIVE: CLBR Takes Over Bookings For Melbourne’s Newly Revitalised Punters Club

Calibre Music (CLBR) have been appointed as the new team behind bookings at The Punters Club in Melbourne (Naarm), The Music can report.

After more than two decades after the pub originally shut its doors, the beloved Fitzroy haunt will reopen this August; a press release says the new owners will “[honour] venue’s local legacy, while creating an inclusive space that welcomes a new generation of Punters”.

Among those giving The Punters Club a second chance are Mark Wilson, best known as one fourth of iconic Aussie rock band Jet. He said of his latest venture in a formal statement, “I cut my teeth playing in local pubs around Melbourne, and it’s just really cool to be able to be right in the thick of it once more.

“Our vision is a place to gather, share a drink, grab a meal, watch the footy, or see some live music – something close to our hearts and a cornerstone of the venue’s revival.”

The CLBR crew have already started booking shows for The Punters Club, making the most of their team’s incredible skills; in recent times, they’ve put shows on in such legendary venues as fellow Fitzroy staple The Night Cat, Freo.Social in Fremantle (Boorloo), the Crowbar in Sydney (Eora) and The Zoo in Brisbane (Meanjin). In 2023 alone, CLBR sold more than 200,000 tickets to live music events.

“We are thrilled to be involved with The Punters Club and to join its ownership team,” co-founder Nathan Farrell said in his own statement. “Anyone who knows me knows I am passionate about Fitzroy – I walk past the pub every day and see the potential it has to once again be part of the fabric of our local area.

“We’re going to throw the book at it to nail a music offering across the week for Melbourne and for the scene, and we can’t wait to get our hands dirty.”

Wilson also vouched for Farrell’s status as an Aussie music icon, saying the pair “go way back”. The artist continued: “His passion and panache for booking venues has always impressed me. We are thrilled to have him and the CLBR team on board as bookers and also partners in the ownership group.”

The Punters Club currently hosts a free stage in the main part of the pub. Always free, the spot will allow for 250 attendees. The venue will later introduce a 100-cap bandroom upstairs, filled with a bar and a stage fitted to host live bands and DJs until 3 am.

The press release notes that a “brand new, dedicated live room” will also open later in the year, taking over the upstairs portion of the venue to host “intimate, high-quality headliner shows”.

Farrell says the goal is to make The Punters Club “the best 100-cap room in Melbourne without compromise”, promising “immaculate production” and a focus on rising acts of all genres, as well as “a premium underplay, multi-date or residency choice for established artists”.

He added: “We’ll also host day party events with the rooftop next door as well – the venue really offers us countless options and we’re looking forward to making the most of that.”

CLBR is currently filling the calendar with free shows to be held downstairs from mid-August – those wishing to jump onboard one should reach out to Farrell via nate@clbr.co – ahead of the main live room opening towards the year’s end.

The return of The Punters Club was announced at the start of July, with one of its new owners telling admins of the Facebook group Sound As Ever: “We see this new era as a love letter to the original pub, which original owners Mat and Penny Everett so beautifully created and plan to focus on music and music events but also create a community for all music lovers and locals. We want to honour what it once was but at the same time create something new.”