EXCLUSIVE: Crowbar Brisbane & The Brightside To Merge Into One Venue

Crowbar Brisbane and The Brightside have announced they will merge into one venue in the new year. 

As revealed exclusively to theMusic.com.au today, the merger will see the two venues integrate into one space at The Brightside's current address. The venue will take on the Crowbar Brisbane name while the outdoor stage, currently known as The Valley Drive In, will be rebranded as The Brightside.

“We’ve built great relationships having worked alongside each other in many different capacities over the years," Crowbar's General Manager Tyla Dombroski told The Music. 

"We all realise what values we have to bring to the table to help grow the scenes and industry we are a part of and working together towards those goals is only going to make them achievable in a bigger and faster capacity. We can’t wait to start this new chapter with The Brightside team.”

The Brightside's Jesse Barbera shared in the excitement saying, “We've long been friends with the Crowbar crew and we admire what they have built in the Crowbar brand across the country. 

"Their brand building ability, marketing sense, and amazing relationships are some of the best in Australia. This merger of like minded independent music businesses will provide a really bright future for Brisbane and eventually Australia's music community. We couldn't be happier with this partnership.” 

The venue will undergo renovations leading up to its relaunch.

Both Crowbar and The Brightside have been hugely influential for the Australian live music scene over the years. As well as both serving as official BIGSOUND spaces, Crowbar has played host to a stack of huge acts including The Bronx, Jeff Rosenstock, WAAX and Slowly Slowly, while this year alone bands including The Get Up Kids, The Chats and The Kite String Tangle have performed at The Brightside.

Crowbar Brisbane's current site will cease operation in early January with Comeback Kid's gig on 4 January seeing the venue out, while The Brightside will wrap up its five-year run with a closing party on 28 December and a Taking Back Saturday club night on 31 December.