Venues Round Up: More NSW Precincts, Lifelines, Bitings, Exec Moves, Petitions & Flying High

CLUBS CELEBRATE AS TAMWORTH, GOULBURN, KIAMA, SET FOR PRECINCTS

Live music operators and councillors are celebrating as the NSW Government expands plans to set up Special Entertainment Precincts (SEPs) in regional Tamworth, Goulburn and Kiama on the south coast.

This comes after the success of SEPS in metropolitan areas, and months after SEPs were expanded to beachside suburbs, Manly and Cronulla.

Country music hub Tamworth will trial in the CBD and drink’n’live music Longyard, after being given $200,000 to perk up its night-time economy and keep it buzzing throughout the year.

Goulburn and Kiama will test in city centres, with a budget of $62,000 and $200,000, respectively.

Arts, Music and Nighttime Minister John Graham explained measures included fixing the noise complaint system, extending trading hours for venues that host live entertainment, reducing red tape around entertainment and outdoor spaces, scrapping the 5km sign-in rule at clubs, and rolling out $14.9 million of Uptown Grants to support entertainment hubs.

Graham, a frequent visitor to the 10-day Tamworth Country Music Festival in January, said, “Tamworth is famous for the Big Golden Guitar, but we hope it will also become renowned for a great night out.

“Country people like a good night out as much as anyone else, so while the nightlife revival started in the city, it’s now going bush. Tamworth goes off during the country music festival, and we can’t wait to see more of that great energy throughout the year.”

Adam McCann, owner of Hissyfits Café, said the effects of the SEP would attract people into town, and noted that Tamworth’s demographics are changing.

“People are looking for new places to go and enjoy a night out. (It) should be the kind of place you can go and enjoy live music every Friday, Saturday and Sunday – and hopefully these precincts will help us to reach that.”

Tamworth Mayor Russell Webb saw it as solidifying the city’s reputation as a destination for live music and entertainment.

Members have already been appointed to the Goulburn CBD Special Entertainment Precinct Working Group.

Venue operators looked forward to specific fixed sound limits, providing certainty, reduced liquor licensing fees for those hosting music events, a 1-2 hour trading extension on nights with live performances, and an established sound complaints process.

Railway Bowling Club (also known as “Bowlo”) Venue Manager Scott Cooper said these would “open up opportunities” for businesses.

Labor candidate for Kiama, Katelin McInerney, who’d been pushing for a precinct for 12 months, stated, “Locals want a more exciting family-friendly night-time economy and businesses want more certainty so they can invest in entertainment. This support from the Labor Government will help us achieve both.

“As we build more housing, an entertainment precinct will allow us to future-proof entertainment so that residents have more clarity and businesses have more certainty around their trading hours and noise restrictions.”

NSW NIGHT-TIME FACES CHALLENGES

Despite the best intentions of the state government, venue operators and local councils, the idea of a Special Entertainment Precinct does have detractors.

Plans for a Byron Bay Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP) led to a packed residents meeting at the Byron Community Centre, voicing concern about the negative consequences, including anti-social behaviour and stretching police and ambulance resources even more.

Asked on local radio, Minister John Graham responded that if the community were against a trial (for which the local council had received $162,000), the government “wouldn’t want to press ahead”.

There were similar resident protests in Newcastle. The City of Newcastle highlighted how the nightlife industry contributed to 13 per cent of jobs, 7 per cent of business and 5 per cent of revenue turnover. But it would look at extending more community consultancy.

The latest quarterly report from the Night Time Industries Association (NITA) reported traffic in Sydney’s 13 night-life hubs dropped by 12 per cent.

It has in the past attributed the drop in the 35-39 age group to mortgage repayment pressures and less disposable income. With the 24-and-less group, it’s rental issues, with a notable impact in the City of Sydney and Inner West.

WHAT NOW FOR MELBOURNE STADIUM?

So, what happens to the long-awaited 15,000-seat rectangular sports and entertainment Western United Stadium to open in 2026 in Wyndham in Melbourne’s western suburbs?

It had been muttered about since 2022 by the A-League club Western United.

However, last Friday, the Federal Court closed down the club and its parent company, Western Melbourne Group, over its $15.5 million debt.

However, on the weekend, property developer Intaj Khan told the Herald Sun that he was willing to buy the land from the local council to build residences and promised the stadium would be part of his deal.

LIVE MUSIC AT ELLIOTT’S

Funk, soul and blues live bands and vinyl DJs are now on the menu after Atticus Hospitality re-imagined Argentinian grill restaurant Casa Esquina after 18 months and turned the Balmain space into Elliott’s, an all-day food, wine, creative cocktails and entertainment hub.

Found on the corners of Elliott & Darling Sts. in a revamped Victorian mansion and a courtyard that now has a retractable roof, the music program is run by Jordan McDonald’s NITE-RITE Entertainment, as reported by TheMusic.com.au.

Starting from September 6, the bill has Andro Martinez presenting Boomerang, Par3’s Now album launch, Mitch Anderson’s Soul Boutique, The Wrayfarers and Pacific Palisade.

BITE OUT OF HELL

The cost of living has extended to ravers going to clubs while hungry.

Codi Emma Pines, 25, was put on 12 months’ probation after she pleaded guilty in Cairns Magistrates Court over an incident last February at Monsoon’s. She bit a security guard on the leg and yanked out a “chunk” of his hair while he was throwing her out for being intoxicated.

In 2023, she had been put on six months’ probation for assaulting a cop outside a nightclub.

In the meantime, a 42-year-old woman faces Perth Magistrates Court on September 11 for a July 15 incident in a Leederville venue when she allegedly bit the upper body of a female staffer who told her to leave.

EXTRA $25M FOR REVIVE LIFELINE

The Federal Labor government has pumped an extra $25 million into its successful Revive Live program to provide support for venues and festivals for another two years.

A new round of grants is available for established venues and live music festivals undertaking activities that keep them operating, gig opportunities for original Australian music, improve accessibility, artist fees, marketing costs, or upgrade lighting and sound.

The $7.8 million in grants so far have supported 112 live music businesses, including 49 live music venues and 63 music festivals.

A second round of grants is now available for live music festivals and established live music venues to support performance opportunities and foster original contemporary music by Australian artists.

Among those receiving grants were Adelaide’s Jive ($100,000) and Crown & Anchor ($91,000), Brightside Brisbane ($100,000) and Tivoli Brisbane’s In The Round program ($91,785), and Sydney’s Oxford Arts Factory’s Gallery Bar ($50,741) and Duke of Enmore ($66,777).

Elsewhere, among the venues in Melbourne were the Cherry Bar ($88,091), Max Watts ($70,100), Howler ($64,354) and Northcote Social Club ($43,590). 

Perth spaces getting a boost include Mojo's Bar ($60,531) and the Rosemount ($40,000).

SOLD, SELLING & BUYING

• Live music venue The Vault Cafe and Bar in Wynyard, Tasmania, is now owned by entrepreneur Lucas Song. It is his third venue since 2021, after Gold Bar on Morrison St and the music showcasing venue, Robbie Brown’s on Kingston Beach.

• The well-known Napier Hotel in Melbourne’s Fitzroy has a new owner. Owner-operator Guy Lawson, who has run it since 1996, has handed it over to relative newcomer Baxter Pickard, who runs Euro-inspired wine bar Wally’s Albert Park (opened in 2024) and online wine delivery service Grapeful and confirms he will keep the Napier’s “spirit”.

• The Noosa Beach House, well known for local and touring jazz, acoustic pop and cool reggae bands dropping by on weekends, is no more. The Hastings Street site will, from November, be taken over by Italian restaurant cafe and gelataria Cibaria, expanding from Manly in Sydney, where it opened in January.

• 52 Albert Road, South Melbourne, the one-time four-storey home of the legendary Seven Nightclub, is up for sale with a rare 24-hour liquor licence for about $10 million.

• Adelaide’s Mother Vine in the East End, well known for its Sunday afternoon jazz sessions, is on the market. Co-founder Michael Andrewartha, leaving to travel more, is seeking “someone with a real care and respect for Adelaide’s night-life.”

WINNERS AT ROCKIN’ THE PUBURBS

Winner of the NSW chapter of the AHA (Australian Hotels Association) Rockin’ The Puburbs competition grand final at Selina’s at Coogee Bay Hotel was Newcastle’s Herd Immunity.

The trio got the unanimous vote from judges who applauded their sound, dubbed X-factor and “everything a pub band should be”. They won $15,000 cash, an interview on Triple M’s Homegrown with Matty O and a support slot at a Noisy Group show.

Other finalists were Abbey Lane, No Bull, Off Judy and The Hype Boys, chosen from more than 100 entries from across NSW.

Lane took the competition’s songwriting award and won a full day of songwriting instruction with Noiseworks bassist and record producer Steve Balbi at his Sydney studio.

Balbi was one of the judges, along with NSW 24-Hour Economy Commissioner Michael Rodrigues, Head of Sound NSW, Emily Collins, AHA NSW Director of Liquor and Policing John Green, Emma Nichols from Triple M, and Tom and Matt from The Harbour Agency.

Each year, over 75,000 live performances are hosted by NSW pubs, and AHA NSW CEO John Whelan said more pubs host live music, due to the Minns Government’s vibrancy reforms.

NEW ZEALAND GETS HIGH

New Zealand is getting a one-off concert venue where it is legal to get high – an Air New Zealand cabin. On December 4, Flight NZ1331 is set to depart Auckland at 4.20 pm, bound for Sydney.

DJs Shapeshifter, Dick Johnson and special guests will be doing sets at 30,000 feet, as part of a celebration of EDM + orchestra, Synthony In The Sky. One-way tickets, priced NZ$549, sold out in six hours.

Air New Zealand pilot Captain David Elmsly, an original founder of the Synthony brand, said, “Bringing Synthony to life in the air is something I never imagined when we first started out – and now I get to see it take off in a whole new way.”

DOGG ACT

While we’re working out how much Snoop Dogg is getting for his September 27 AFL Grand Final set –  Katy Perry got $5 million last year, according to the usual gossip on AM radio, and that was after The Rolling Stones demanded $20 million for five songs – the bow wowster is making a bit of scrilla for three nightclubs.

He’s under an exclusivity clause by the AFL from performing elsewhere. But he’s able to pull out his DJ Snoopadelic routine.

According to the social pages of Melbourne nightclub, Ms Collins is spinning ‘em the night before. After the Grand Final gig, he’s on a plane to Sydney for a one-hour set at Bella LIVE that night, and the Greenwood Hotel in North Sydney the night after that.

It’s certainly a scoop for Bella LIVE which newly opened in Bella Vista a blaze of glory with a 17.5-metre bar, a 10 x 8-metre stage and custom made audio system. It’s featured Will Sparks, Set Mo and Bag Raiders, but Snoopy really pulls the strings on its marketing to attract household global names.

PAINT FACTORY HUB APPROVED

Brisbane City Council approved plans to turn a paint factory into an arts and entertainment hub that will feature concerts.

The 34,000 square metre Yeronga Paint Factory at 115 Hyde Road was closed in 2015.

The Paint Factory arts village will have multiple entertainment venues, including an outdoor performance area, food and drink outlets, art spaces, a theatre, an escape room, market spaces, health services, a garden centre, a hardware store and a microbrewery.

The project team said The Paint Factory was inspired by re-energised complexes, such as Germany’s Alte-Spinnerei, Kanaal in Belgium, Abbotsford Convent in Melbourne, Sydney’s Carriageworks, and the Brisbane Powerhouse.

MORE POPPIN’ AT MARY’S

Drag queen destination and showcase space Mary’s Poppin’ in Adelaide’s Synagogue Place decided that some patrons needed a “reprieve” from too much dancing. It has introduced a cocktail bar, Bottoms Up, with 15 premium tequilas.

PETITION OVER COUNTRY MUSIC CLUB

Patrons of the Guanaba Country Music Club hit the roof when they found that Gold Coast City Council’s proposed master plan for Heritage Park in Pimpama could see it demolished, alongside the Treasure Trove Museum.

The group explained that over 38 years, the club not only provided a warm social place for them but also “contributed over $125,000 to various charities in and around the Gold Coast,” said the venue’s President, Dennis Morgan.

A petition to get the council to change the design to keep the club has started here.

MUSIC CONTINUES AT LEICHARDT OVAL, CAMPBELLTOWN STADIUM

Live music will continue at Sydney’s Leichhardt Oval (20,000-seat) and Campbelltown Stadium (17,500-seat) after the Wests Tigers sports club secured $110 million in government funding that will allow it to play another 15 years there.

Last November, Inner West Council and Mayor Darcy Byrne put in motion a proposal for Leichhardt Oval to be trialled as a music venue. Byrne also proposed that the venue’s $40 million upgrade include facilities to allow for concerts and cultural events into the future.

“Leichhardt Oval has the best atmosphere of any suburban ground in Australia, and it’s time for music lovers to experience that as well as sports fans,” Mayor Byrne said.

Campbelltown Stadium, which also showcases live music, is to also undergo an upgrade worth $50 million, to increase its capacity, corporate facilities and dressing rooms.

AXE-IDENTS NEVER HAPPEN

In a blow to Adelaide nightclub promoter Antony Tropeano, the SA Licensing Court has banned axe throwing at his latest club, Level Up, the Advertiser reported.

Tropeano’s plan for Level Up, to open in November in the former Red Square nightclub site on Hindley St. party strip, was where late-night clubbers could come in and blow off steam. 

Axe throwing was one of them – an idea which horrified SA Police. A judge murmured, “It might be expected … many would regard axe throwing in this area to be an enjoyable experience,” but too dangerous. Level Up still offered pool tables, darts, shuffleboard, air hockey and a rooftop bar.

QLD FESTIVAL SITE EXPANDS

Queensland’s Airlie Beach Festival of Music has expanded its site, via a deal with the Whitsunday Sports Park, which allows it to provide an initial 100 camping sites.

For its November 7 to 9 run this year, it is offering a combined camping and festival package, which festival founder Gavin Butlin said was a “fun budget-friendly” experience.

Set up in 2013, this year’s bill has Jessica Mauboy, The Screaming Jets and Diesel.

TRANSFORMATION AT PENRITH STADIUM

The demolition of two grandstands now marks the way to reconstruct Western Sydney’s sports, concert and entertainment Penrith Stadium, the venue’s management announced this week.

With the completion of the  $309 million redevelopment in 2026, the capacity rises to 22,500 to 25,000, putting it in the cat’s seat to bid for top-flight international and local music acts among sports events.

THE LEICHHARDT BACK AT ROCKY

The Leichhardt Hotel returned to Rockhampton in North Queensland in mid-August as a full-fledged live music venue after a rebuild by the Australian Venue Co.

The rustic-meets-industrial vibe, which focuses its menu on the regional city’s reputation as a beef and cowboy culture capital, for music fans, the daytime bistro and sports bar transforms into a late-night entertainment venue with a dancefloor.

The first few weeks of acts included Pacific Avenue and Daniel Champagne, with a country music DJ night, a “drag bingo”, comedy and, in December, Thundamentals as part of their For The Love Tour.

MUSICAL CHAIRS

• The Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) appointed Cliff Jones as Facilities Director, overseeing building services, facilities management, security & safety, sustainability and community engagement, overseeing a team of more than 40.

• No rest for Sydney nightclub and dining hotshot Justin Hemmes. Set to open his first Melbourne venture, a cocktail bar with its vinyl LB’s Record Bar, he’s also snapped up for $13.53 million a former electrical substation in Woolloomooloo, Sydney, although we’re not sure what he’ll use it for.

• Starting at Experience Gold Coast to join the 17-hectare HOTA: Home Of The Arts precinct are Felix Preval, Director of Creative Programming and Mark Duckworth, Director of Commercial Programming.

• Preval has worked with artists across theatre, dance, music, cabaret, circus, comedy, and live arts, and served as the Artistic Director of Darwin Festival from 2017 to 2022. Duckworth, aside from working on events abroad, has been the driving force behind the festivals Blues On Broadbeach, Groundwater Country Music Festival and Cooly Rocks On since 2013.

• Renowned arts leader Brett Sheehy AO, with 24 Helpmann and 35 Green Room wins, was appointed Festival Director of Vivid Sydney, which this year drew 2.53 million visitors.

• Tasmania’s arts and music festival Ten Days On The Island appointed Kerry Sarten as new Chair, who comes from a law and financial background with a strong passion for Tasmania’s creative community.