Lizotte’s Welcomes New Owners

Next Wednesday (1 November), Lizotte’s – one of the community’s favourite venues in Newcastle – will welcome its new owners after founders Brian and Jo Lizotte stepped down to spend more time with their family.

A venue that’s commemorated Australian and New Zealand music legends, including Tim Rogers (pictured above), the Jane Barnes Band, Katie Noonan and Karin Schaupp, Fanny Lumsden, Robert Forster, Kate Ceberano, Glenn Shorrock, Tim Finn, The Church and many more, Lizotte’s is a space that honours two of life’s greatest pleasures: food and live music.

The dinner and live music space has and will host a bunch of the venue’s beloved acts before Brian and Jo hand over the reins to the new owners, such as Ash Grunwald, Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham, Mark Seymour, Richard Clapton and Prinnie Stevens performing her Lady Sings The Blues Vol. 1 set.

In the coming months, Lizotte’s will host performances by Newton Faulkner (performing a Bluesfest sideshow), Ian Moss, Mi-Sex, and more.

Commenting on a Facebook post made by Brian and Jo, new co-owner James Hingston wrote, “Wayne Rogers & I super excited to be taking on this beautiful venue and building upon the incredible legacy that Brian & Jo have created.”

Brian and Jo wrote their farewell message to Lizotte’s and their supporters earlier this month. “When Jo and I made the decision that we wanted to spend more time with our family and make the most out of our new role as grandparents we were determined that the extended music family we had built here at Lizotte's would not only continue but thrive after we left,” the pair wrote. “We think we have achieved that being able to hand over the venue to Wayne Rogers and James Hingston.”

Beyond mentioning the final gigs they’d see as owners, Brian and Jo issued a personal note that called running Lizotte’s “one of the great joys” of their lives.

They continued, “Celebrating the love of life and music with Newcastle, meeting the most amazing people and looking after your social lives has been a privilege. From the warm welcome we got from patrons to the sensational support we got from local media, we could not have felt more at home.

“Of course we couldn't have done any of this without the hundreds of staff members who have worked with us over the last 15 years. We have watched their lives grow and change. We even have some staff members who were here on day one that will be here on our last night. They have become part of our family and we are so grateful.”

Lizotte’s will continue as a music venue under the ownership of James Hingston and Wayne Rogers as of Wednesday, 1 November.