Venue News: Adelaide Nightspots Switch Off, Canberra Cranks It Up, Sydney Looks At New Arena

More Adelaide Nightspots Switch Lights Off

While the Enigma Bar received a heartwarming farewell, four more Adelaide spaces switched off. One announced it was closing only to later reveal it was a publicity stunt, while another took to social media asking punters to support it during the festive season.

The Fat Controller club on North Terrace cited “uncertainty” for closing after eight years. “The past few years have been a challenging journey, and despite our best efforts, the ongoing uncertainties within the industry have rendered it unviable for us to continue operations,” owners said.

Hindley Street nightclub Super California owner, Hugo Pedler of Penny’s Hospitality, said its closure came due to crowds on the strip downsizing – itself due to cost of living issues – and a post-COVID trend where younger clubbers were switching to bars.

The WNDERLAND club, off Hindley Street, which started during COVID “and a passion inspired from the underground Berlin music scene” (according to Todd Dawson), closed abruptly “for reasons unfortunately mostly out of [the owners’] control”.

Hurley Hotel Group’s Tonsley Hotel has also served its last drinks, as the building will be demolished as part of the North-South Corridor.

In mid-December, The Vegas Group’s Dog & Duck (D&D) announced “with a heavy heart” that it was closing on January 1 after seven years, blaming “uncertainty through our whole industry” as a result of the pandemic. But even then, based on sources cited as ex-employees, the Adelaide Advertiser suggested it was a publicity stunt, and the club would return under the name Label, which Vegas has trademarked. “They told the workers it was all a marketing stunt ... purely for media attention,” a source said.

On its “final” day, D&D told customers all the booze in the joint had to be drunk, and gave away its neon sign to whichever punter offered the best swap item. Vegas also runs The Woolshed on Hindley, the Black Bull, the Ambassadors Hotel and District Nightclub.

Last Friday, D&D announced on social media it had started trading again, up the road on the old site of the Black Bull nightclub. Previous D&D gimmicks included giving away free puppies, and giving away condoms with half-price entry to those who returned them used.

In the tough times, operators of Ancient World on Hindley Street took to social media to appeal to music lovers to come to the club throughout the festive season. The three new artist/DJ owners – Zander Hunt, Chelsea Zerna and Hugh Scobie – took over in January 2021, and made it a success with safe and diverse policies.

Metal hangout Enigma Bar, which TheMusic.com.au reported in November was closing after a 24-year run, had a tumultuous farewell. A free finale drew 700 punters, with the queue for the bar winding 30 metres down the road. Operator Eric Ott explained the venue was closing due to “challenges posed by rising running costs, including rent, electricity and insurance”. The landlord wanted to up the rent by 30 percent, roughly the same rate by which audiences dwindled thanks to the cost-of-living crisis.

More Volume For Some Canberra Nightspots?

Nightspots in Canberra’s entertainment precincts of Gungahlin and Civic could enjoy higher noise limits, and for longer.

Over summer, the ACT Government is conducting a survey to determine the proper noise level “where there is a real density of live music and activity,” Business and Better Regulation Minister Tara Cheyne said. Expended are amendments to current noise limits, which will support more diverse entertainment offerings in Canberra. It would boost the city’s nighttime economy and pave the way to set up more entertainment precincts.

According to the Territory Plan, nighttime activities include live music, nightclubs, bars, restaurants, cafes, retail and cultural events.

The local music industry, spearheaded by Music ACT, has been pushing for such moves for 15 years. President David Caffrey called this latest push “a game changer” which would give certainty that inner Canberra could be seen as a place to hang out at night, and encourage businesses to invest in music venues.

The Government will look at "complex, overlapping regulations and policies" and “subject to government agreement, entertainment precincts will be identified in the new planning system and will operate based on the particular needs of each location.”

From January 1, licensed venues under a capacity of 80 had their liquor license fees slashed by 50 percent, and can trade until 2am. Minister Cheyne noted that previously, any nightspot that wanted to extend trading hours from midnight to 2am would have licence fees increased from $1,200 to $2,000. Now their entire fee is slashed to $600 and extends to more diverse late-night activities. The Minister said she hoped that small-to-medium-sized venues would be encouraged to put on live acts.

By July 2024, venues that book musicians and cultural performances would be financially encouraged, and all licensed businesses can extend trading hours up to 10 times a year at no cost.

First Arena For Western Sydney?

The highly multicultural Fairfield could host the first arena in western Sydney, drawing international music, sports and business events as an alternative to venues in Homebush and Centennial Park. Mayor Frank Carbone confirmed that it will be proposed for the second part of the expansion of Fairfield Showground. A design for the indoor arena should be ready by mid-2024.

New In Townsville, Perth & Sunshine Coast

Townsville, in Far North Queensland, gets a 1,500 capacity live music hall in the first quarter of 2024 as part of Star Group’s 8,000-square-metre Twin City Hotel project. Situated on the former $50 million Sunland Plaza site, with 250 staff, it will be the largest pub on the east coast. The complex will have a café, a lounge bar, a huge indoor/outdoor beer garden, a sports bar, a 500-seat buffet, and a state-of-the-art gaming room with 45 new machines.

LOOP is Perth’s latest, a 500-capacity room on Reid Promenade in Joondalup. Operator Monster Management also runs Amplifier and Magnet House, and Fremantle’s Metropolis.

A new 1,200-capacity venue, The Station, opens in March on the Sunshine Coast, on the former Birtinya site of The NightQuarter (which closed a year ago when its operators went into administration). The 6,400-square-metre site’s new owners, Chris and Lauren Hignett, say The Station will be a six-days-a-week concern including a skate park, retail shops and a food truck precinct.

WA Safe Spaces Working, Says Government

To celebrate the first 12 months of tough laws to make WA’s five Protected Entertainment Precincts (PEPs), the State Government released figures to show their successful impact on Perth-Northbridge, Fremantle, Scarborough, Hillarys and Mandurah.

WA Police issued 62 short-term orders on drunken and violent thugs for up to six months. Liquor Licensing imposed two extended exclusions that had five year bans; and convictions for offences in a PEP resulted in 18 excluded offenders. Those who breach a mandatory exclusion period face up to five years' jail and a $12,000 fine.

The legislation was named in memory of nightclub manager Giuseppe 'Pep' Raco, who died after an unprovoked one-punch attack by a stranger in Northbridge in July 2020. The Government worked closely with the Raco family and consulted a range of stakeholders to develop the legislation.

A further $2.7 million is allocated to protect at-risk children and make precincts safer.

The Cook Government is investing $1.7 million to provide a new safe transport service for children under 16 found unaccompanied in the Perth CBD and Northbridge areas. The Home Safe Program will expand from Northbridge to include key areas of the Perth CBD at a cost of $700,000. This follows the success of the intervention program which saw more than 2,700 interactions from 800 children during the initial six-month pilot.

Almost $1 million goes to a supported service providing safe transport for vulnerable youth on Friday and Saturday evenings between 8pm and 2am. The service includes two youth workers to identify and respond to welfare concerns.

Police and Racing and Gaming Minister Paul Papalia said, "It's encouraging to see the new laws have been highly effective in keeping so many offenders out of the five popular areas, allowing people to safely enjoy their night out with the reduced risk of encountering violent or antisocial behaviour. The WA Police Force has taken a zero-tolerance approach, removing dozens of offenders who have proven they don't deserve to be allowed in these vibrant areas. We want Perth's popular night spots to be free of thugs and Protected Entertainment Precincts are helping to achieve that objective.”

Cbus Super Stadium Signs With Ticketmaster

Cbus Super Stadium, on the Gold Coast, signed a new partnership with Ticketmaster. The venue is part of Stadiums Queensland, which already has a long running deal with the agency.

The venue’s General Manager, Kristian Blundell, said of Ticketmaster’s technology: “We’re looking forward to a fresh approach to fan experience, event planning and execution, marketing, and customer purchasing options, such as online accessibility ticketing.”

Home to the Gold Coast Titans NRL team, Cbus Super Stadium holds around 27,000 for major events and over 30,000 for concerts.

Changing Hands

One of Victoria’s best-known regional music venues, the Archies Creek Hotel, is taking expressions of interest until January 25. North of Wonthaggi, it has a huge outdoor stage and wooden dancefloor, and is owned by promoters Peter Foley, Mary Howlett and Sue Foley.

Hotels group Duxton Pubs adds Alma Tavern in Adelaide’s Norwood to its portfolio in February. It featured live music regularly under previous owners, AFL club Adelaide Crows champs Mark Ricciuto, Taylor Walker and Rory Sloane.

Search For New QPAC CEO

The Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) has started an international search for a replacement for its CEO, John Kotzas AM, who finished his tenure in December. Kotzas joined the body as an Education Officer in 1989, and was made CEO in December 2008.

A scintillating arts leader whose vision was that “Brisbane and Queensland are the centre of the world”, QPAC grew under his reign to more than 1.2 million patrons a year, more international partnerships, and a greater focus on First Nations artforms.

December 2024 sees the opening of QPAC’s new 1,500-seat theatre, “which will make QPAC the largest performing arts venue in the southern hemisphere” according to Chair of the Board of Trustees, Professor Peter Coaldrake AO.

Qudos Bank Arena Gets Global Gong

Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena was named one of the top ten live music venues in the world in Billboard’s box office takings for 2023. It was the sole listing in the Asia Pacific. Owned by TEG and operated by ASM Global, the 21,380-seater turned over $79.4 million in ticket sales, drawing 785,000 punters across 75 shows. That put it at #7 in venues with a capacity of 15,000 or more (excluding stadiums).

LED Upgrade For Adelaide Oval

Adelaide Oval unveiled a $5 million LED upgrade to its tower lighting system, making it the only major Australian stadium with tower lights equipped with both white sports lighting and full colour ‘light show’ capabilities.

It is operated and programmed by lighting specialist KOJO. With a stadium concert capacity of 55,000, the first music act to test it out were Grinspoon, who headlined at the New Year’s Eve BBL match between the Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Stars. P!nk follows next month.

Arrests Follow Darwin Break-Ins

Three music-showcasing Darwin venues were broken into during the three-day Christmas break, NT News reported. Deck Bar was hit no less than seven times, further suffering the indignity of having one set of burglars pee in their fridge and over the kitchen floor. Over $100,000 of booze and food was taken.

The Smith St Social and Hotel Darwin were also robbed over the same period. Police told NT News that five people were arrested, and are looking for five others as part of their investigation.

Gold Coast Club Owners In External Administration

Four Gold Coast nightclub companies, which are part of the Artesian Hospitality Group, are in external administration to try to deal with Australian Tax Office debts caused by lengthy closures during COVID, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

Cali Enterprises, Sincity Nightclub, Havana RnB Nightclub and Surfers Pavilion Gold Coast operate as usual, while Nikhil Khatri of Worrells oversees.

Three Charged Over Band Arrangement

Tables being moved to allow a band to set up for a gig is a regular occurrence, and done with no drama. But not at the Swansea RSL Club in Lake Macquarie, where last month, three gents apparently took exception. They were told to leave; Police allege they returned, leading to smashed doors and two staffers assaulted. A manager was hospitalised with head cuts and a dislocated finger. The three appear before Belmont Local Court on January 24.