EXCLUSIVE: WA’s Badlands Bar To Reopen Following Massive Upgrades

If sold out gigs from Karnviool and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard in recent months are anything to go by, Perth live music venue Badlands Bar doesn’t do anything in half measures.

The Northbridge hotspot, formerly Devilles Pad, will reopen on August 6, with a smaller live room to accompany its 400-capacity main stage, extended trading hours until 2am and a revamped public-accessible beer garden, the latter of which will continue to take shape over the next few months.

They have also been approved for a licence that allows them to sell draught beer, which will see a decrease in the amount of glass and aluminium waste in the venue greatly reduced.

Badlands held a launch party in April, which was followed by sets from the aforementioned artists, all while undergoing a number of upgrades, and after negotiations with Racing Gaming And Liquor and the City Of Perth, are looking to utilise their two-room space and new beer garden to shine a light on local bands as well as hosting bigger touring acts, with the aim of eventually hosting up to three gigs a night.

“King Gizzard and Karnivool basically demonstrated that we’re an unreal room and can host a good crowd, with awesome after parties,” owner-operator Mark Partridge told theMusic.com.au 

“It’s been a long process, but we want to do it properly to remain here for the long term and not pop up for a year and then fade away. We’re stoked with the feedback we’ve had from bands, promoters, sound crew and punters to date and look forward now to cranking it up.

“The plan with the space is to have a smoke friendly beer garden that’s always free entry to the public from 7pm to 2am, regardless of whether or not you’re going to a gig that night. Gigs will be hosted in the main room from 7pm - 11pm, which then rolls into a huge after party, which is open to the public with special guest indie/rock DJs until 2am.  The smaller room will host more intimate gigs for up and coming bands with a great little rock and roll dive-bar vibe.”

Last week, revered WA booker Luke Rinaldi (Sweet Mate Music) announced he would relocating from his 12-year effort at Rosemount Hotel to book Badlands.

Following two huge local shows on Aug 6 and Aug 13, Badlands will reopen permanently every Friday and Saturday night from Aug 19, with free entry into the beer garden from 7pm – 2am; a space set to feature tunes, food trucks and heating.

Badlands is still in talks with Racing Gaming And Liquor and the City Of Perth in an effort to extend trading hours to 3am and make various other upgrades to the beer garden.

Keep an eye on theGuide for show announcements, which are expected to start rolling out next week.