EXCLUSIVE: Your First Look At The Return Of Sydney's Iconic Roundhouse

After an almost two-year closure, iconic Sydney live music venue, UNSW Roundhouse, will finally open its doors again this month.

The Kensington-based space has undergone a massive $30 million renovation, ensuring its return promises more lights, more space, louder sound and an all-round better live music experience. 

Throughout its run, prior to closing in June 2016, the Roundhouse hosted memorable sets from the likes of Foo Fighters, INXS, Green Day and Paramore, just to name a few.

Though the 2200-capacity venue has hosted a higher number of rock and metal acts in recent years (particularly Soundwave touring acts), Head Of Venue & Events, Jason Lyons, says it will be much more diverse in its comeback in an exclusive interview with The Music.

"I am mindful of externally representing that this is a venue for any genre and internally I want to appeal to everyone who is passionate about going to gigs and being a part of this industry," Lyons says.

"There's no reason why they shouldn't come to this venue. I want there to be a diversity so that there are different bands for different markets."

One notable upgrade of the impressive renovation is the acoustics in the space; a feature that Lyons is confident will only boost the local music scene and its community.

"An integral element of the renovation has been the acoustic treatment throughout the venue, that’s going to produce a brilliant sound in the room, and minimise external noise issues," he says.

"I'm really encouraged by the recent moves by local council to implement a policy of 'If you were here first, then the new apartment building next to you has to justify why you should turn it down', rather than us saying to you 'There's people living here, turn it down.'

"I think that sense of priority is something that can help all live music venues in terms of when a venue like us or Oxford Arts or Factory or Hordern or wherever has apartment buildings nearby, you have to buy with an understanding that you're near a live music venue and celebrate that for what it is."

While there are a vast amount of improvements that the Roundhouse has taken on, Lyons says his personal favourite is the sightline of the stage.

"Traditionally the way the venue used to always work, there were two emergency exits and they were either side of the stage," Lyons explains.

"Because you had to leave that open for egress reasons... when you're standing there in the middle of the room looking at a gig, for me as a venue manager, I really notice them. And some promoters notice them as well.

"One of those emergency exits with the rebuild is now gone. And on the other side, we have moved the emergency exit path about five metres around to the right so I can completely create that amphitheatre with the focus on stage."

The Roundhouse will undoubtedly restore its place as one of Sydney's premier live music venues, but Lyons says his only aspiration is "to create a loyal and respectful group of punters that love coming to the space and give us feedback".

"To go, 'We love the burgers, we love the beers, outdoor stage is awesome, the sound's unreal' and they'll come back for another show," he says.

"All I really want is for anybody that comes in to have a good experience in the venue and good enough that they feel like 'If I see another Roundhouse show on and it's a band I'm interested in, I'll go.'

"That's really all we can ask for and that's where having that diversity of talent coming through will hopefully build up the population."

The Roundhouse officially resumes trading this Monday (19 February), before the official launch goes down on Thursday 15 March to be headlined by San Cisco. 

Other gigs already booked in over the coming weeks and months includes Northlane, Amon Amarth and Sabaton; check out the Roundhouse website for a look at its upcoming program. 

Click on theGuide for more details on the upcoming gigs.