Venues: New Grooves, Woes, Ridiculous Laws, Cranker Wins, Exec Moves & More

BACK IN THE GROOVE

More new music spaces are opening up, some actually set up in the sites of past legendary places.

Felons Expands To Sydney

Brisbane’s Felons Brewing Co. expanded to Sydney, taking over the Manly Wharf Bar. Aside from the dining and drink atmosphere of wharf culture, it hosts live jazz, soul and funk bands most of the week as well as DJ sets focusing on disco, 80s boogie and Afrocentric.

The Rochey Returns To Fitzroy

The Rochey (aka the acclaimed Rochester Hotel) is back in Fitzroy, Melbourne’s Johnston Street with a new team and menu but careful to provide the local ambience which made it huge in the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s.

New owners Castle Group has a zap on electronic artists, with its event divisions this week (November 2) launching a weekly music programme called Upstairs @ The Rochey with an intimate (150 capacity) club setting.

Level Up Jumps On Red Square 

Adelaide gets a new nightspot today (Friday, November 1) called Level Up. It is situated in the former Hindley Street site of Red Square nightclub, which closed in March after a high-profile 22-year run.

Level Up is the brainchild of Wolf Nightlife Group owner Antony Tropeano, who also owned Red Square, and runs Cherry Nightclub, Hidden Pour bar and The Palace strip club.

Tropeano says that today’s late-night clubbers want more than music and dancing; they want a variety of fun. As a result, Level Up also offers axe throwing, pool tables, shuffleboard, air hockey, darts, and a rooftop caravan bar.

His move into Hindley Street has seen Tropeano call for the State Government to bring it back to its past glories, and spearheading the move to establish an Adelaide Night Mayor.

Frankie’s Bar On Aardvark Space

Frankie’s Bar Fremantle opened last month on the same site as the old Aardvark dive bar. But under the new regime, Frankie’s only opens on Friday nights and only showcases DJs.

Queens Head Brings Back Music

The four new owners of North Hobart’s historic Queens Head Hotel not only gave it a spruce-up but pushed live music upfront. It’s also partnered with local sports teams to watch their games from the sports bar.

Jazz, Soul, Funk In Melbourne CBD

New York-inspired bar Springrock in the Melbourne CBD (Bourke Street) turned music venue, introducing free live jazz, funk and soul music every Friday and Saturday nights. Band booker is Fergie B.

Payneham Tavern Returns After Revamp

Payneham Tavern in Adelaide returned with a $3.6 million renovation, which included a new beer garden and an improved sports bar bistro.

Live music is turned on during the weekends, on Fridays and Saturdays from 7 pm, and acoustic sets on Sundays from 2 pm.

GOLD COAST VENUES, LIVE SECTOR, GET FUNDING

The City of Gold Coast is reaching out to help grassroots live music venues, as well as independent promoters and established musicians, via its Live Music Fund. They can use it for business costs like insurance, marketing and promotional materials, travel, rental equipment and supplies.  

Venues can apply for grants between $10,000 and $15,000, with venue grants to be matched by operators. In the past four years, 20 venues have received funding from the City.

Grants for musicians and promoters range between $5,000 and $10,000 in grants. Applications close on November 22, go to https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/About-our-city/Arts-culture/Arts-culture-initiatives/Live-music. 

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the Gold Coast live music sector directly and indirectly boosts the local economy to the tune of $600,000.

AND THE ENVELOPE PLEASE…

Crown & Anchor Voted Best For Music

Adelaide’s Crown & Anchor, which escaped the wrecking ball, landed Best Live Music Venue at the 2024 Australian Hotels Association (AHA) SA Awards for Excellence held at The Adelaide Entertainment Centre before 900 members of the industry.

“It’s not a surprise win; there’s just such an enormous amount of love for that place,” said AHA SA CEO Anna Moeller.

“We’re absolutely stoked,” the East End venue’s proprietor Tom Skipper said. “It’s a huge recognition of the hard work our team has put in to keep live music alive and thriving in Adelaide.⁠

⁠“We’ve always prided ourselves on being a space where both up-and-coming artists and established acts can perform, and this award really solidifies that commitment.”

This is on the top of The Cranker’s induction into the SA Music Hall of Fame earlier this year.

This week, Skipper was expected to get his six-month notice to vacate and move The Cranker to a temporary site from April 2025. During that time, a 29-storey student accommodation tower will be built next door. 

This was part of the deal by the State Government to pass legislation to save the Cranker and other venues. Originally, the plan was to demolish the venue.

The Crown & Anchor will be renovated with deep soundproofing to its band room. Skipper has first right of return when it’s ready.

In the meantime, it’s business as usual: the venue this week was advertising for new bar staff.

At the AHA night, The Arkaba won Best Entertainment Venue and Best Overall Hotel—General Division (Metropolitan), among four other categories.

More Winners In NSW Awards

More live music spaces received recognition at the NSW AHA awards, held on Tuesday, October 29, at the Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, before 1,340 hospitality executives.

Best Live Music Venue went to Finnian’s Tavern in Port Macquarie, with Towradgi Beach Hotel in Towradgi given Highly Commended status.

Coogee Bay Hotel picked up the prize for Heart Of The Community, Goros in Surry Hills was Best Late Night Venue, and The Beach Hotel in Merewether accepted Regional Hotel of the Year and Best Regional Redevelopment for its 18-month reno by new owner Glenn Piper, which gave a nod to Newcastle’s steel, surf and music culture when it re-opened in late 2023.

SYDNEY’ LATEST STEPS TO 24-HOUR CITY

Sydney is taking significant new steps in becoming “the city that never sleeps”. This includes the City of Sydney’s plans for special entertainment precincts where music venues can trade for longer for up to 24 hours, a campaign by Kings Cross venues, and plans to tart up the Entertainment Quarter.

Special Entertainment Precincts

This week, the NSW Government is meeting with the City of Sydney to discuss the rollout of 24-hour special entertainment precincts, including Walsh Bay and the White Bay Power station.

A $1 million grant program to kickstart more SEPs will help councils establish precincts, including support to engage staff or expert consultants to undertake strategic planning, sound standards, acoustic frameworks, consultation, communications and engagement.

Music venues, bars and clubs can now open until 4 am without a development application. They, along with restaurants and retail, have the option of trading 24 hours.

“This is the first time in a generation that the NSW state government and the City of Sydney are pointing in the same direction on the night-time economy,” Night Time and Arts Minister John Graham observed.

All venues which have at least two live gigs a week are eligible for an 80 per cent discount on liquor licence fees.

To develop sound criteria for Special Entertainment Precincts, acoustic experts will be engaged to conduct a detailed study, and a trial held for 18 months.

Solotel Group CEO Elliot Solomon has already said he wants his venues—including The Abercrombie in Chippendale, Golden Sheaf in Double Bay, Clock Hotel in Surry Hills, The Albion in Parramatta, and Bank Hotel in Newtown—to turn the dial to 24 hours.

The City of Sydney has put up its proposal online, which can be read here.

“Light Up The Cross”

With Sydney’s Kings Cross getting its mojo back with inventive spaces like The Hook, Teddy, Arms Length, Pennys and Pelicano (the latter on the site of the legendary Hugos Lounge) entering the area, 30 venues are today launching a campaign called “Light Up The Cross”.

The venues will run from dusk to dawn and highlight their attractions, including glow-in-the-dark and neon cocktails, drag queen shows, DJs, and promo events, as four raffle drinks on rotation.

More Protection For Venues

The second round of the NSW Government’s Vibrancy Reforms, which passed Parliament on October 24, the Minister can step in to stop a venue from closing by bringing in support from Sound NSW, the 24 Hour Commissioner, the Hospitality Concierge and the Business Bureau.

Any neighbour or developer complaining about a venue can be forced to go into mediation, rather than the traditional way where a single complaint could see a venue go belly-up.

Gone also are the ridiculous old laws that could ban a venue from hosting entertainment, or decide what style of music they could play, or that they could only book cover acts, or how many could be in the band, and even how they were facing while on the stage.

Jettisoned also were bans on disco balls, choirs and erotic female poets.

Significantly, property buyers moving into the area will be warned in official paperwork they are in an entertainment zone.

Indoor Arena For Entertainment Quarter

A tender released by the NSW Government to revitalise Sydney’s tired Entertainment Quarter into a dynamic all-hours hub included a plan for a 20,000-capacity indoor arena that could attract world sports and entertainment events.

SUNCORP STADIUM & TICKETEK EXTEND DEAL

Ticketing agency Ticketek and Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium extended their 20-year partnership, following a competitive tender process. This new agreement was awarded by Stadiums Queensland, owner of Queensland’s major sport and entertainment facilities.

The 52,500-capacity venue has hosted Ed Sheeran and Coldplay and is home to the NRL Magic Round, Brisbane Broncos, The Dolphins, QLD Reds and the Brisbane Roar. 

VALE

Jamie Nasser: From 1978, Nasser, with his brothers Peter and Garry Spry, ran nine Melbourne nightclubs, including Chasers, Silvers and Santa Fe. He died from the effects of a triple bypass. His memorial on Friday November 8 is at Chasers from 7 pm, with speeches from industry legends Spry, Peter Mitropolis, George Koury, Sam Frantzeskos and Frank Stiva.

Paul Glen: The one-time Scottish club DJ ran Adelaide nightclubs Electric Circus, Mr Kim’s, Limbo, and Rocket Bar & Rooftop. He migrated to SA in 2000 and was also instrumental in the growth of Adelaide festivals Stereosonic, Parklife, and Wind Up. He died at 47 of complications from a car crash this year.

FOUR VENUE WOES

The Squire’s Landing, Sydney

A move by The Squire’s Landing in Circular Quay, Sydney, to trade 24/7 had a nasty response, the Daily Telegraph said. 20 residents of the posh apartment complex, Bennelong One, complained, claiming they’re already kept up at night because the sound of its bands and DJs were already travelling 400m over the water.

11:45, Perth

Plans unveiled in January by 11 Forty-Five Pty Ltd to set up a luxury late-night bar for over-25s called 11.45 in Wellington Street, West Perth, are continually being delayed.

The company blamed bad advice from people it trusted. That’s not helping engineering company Decobu and construction firm Breffni which told PerthNow they are owed thousands of dollars for work they’d done. 11 Forty-Five said it needed a bit more time to pay up.

Built on the site of a derelict former massage parlour, the three-storeyed nightclub can fit 1,400 people. 

According to plans submitted to the Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor, offerings included the country’s first robotic cocktail machine, two dancefloors, three DJ booths, babysitting service, cocktail and VIP lounge, and three DJ booths playing “culturally diverse music”.

Club77 Axes Sunday Sessions Over “Harassment”

Long time late night stop, Club 77 in Darlinghurst, Sydney, had to axe its Sunday night session after six weeks, telling the Sydney Morning Herald there’d been a campaign of “constant harassment and intimidation” by Kings Cross police. “It has just been non-stop,” said licensee Dane Gorrel.

The club said police were “extremely negative and dismissive” when told the sessions would run from 6 am on Sundays to 4 am on Mondays. Police have said the club is being investigated for possible breaches. In one instance, 13 officers and a dog patrolled the club.

Home House Flicks Porch Light Off After 22 Years

With Geelong, Victoria, seeing the number of punters going out on Saturday nights halved in the past ten years, Home House nightclub is shrugging off the inevitable and turning off the lights after nearly 22 years.

Owned by former Geelong Mayor and social photographer Darryn Lyons, the three-level all-nighter comes to an end on November 23 with its “biggest celebration yet”.

EXECUTIVE MOVES

ICC Sydney: General Manager Adam Mather-Brown has been promoted to CEO, with Director of Business Development Beverley Parker also taking on its Deputy Chief Executive duties.

Adelaide Festival Centre: After almost 19 years in the role, Chief Executive and Artistic Director Douglas Gautier AM this week announced he is retiring.