EXCLUSIVE: Your First Look Inside Adelaide’s Newest Live Music Venue

Fat Controller is the latest endeavour from Stuart Duckworth, the enterprising young man behind Little Miss Miami, The Crab Shack and The Royal Croquet Club.

Launching tonight with an exciting program of live music headed by San Cisco, theMusic.com.au took look a behind the scenes at just how fat this venue is going to be.

Duckworth’s previous venues have been more lo-fi, but he has always wanted to create a larger nightclub with the constant feeling of a warehouse party. Upon walking down the stairs at the corner of Bank Street and North Terrace it’s easy to see that the building's previous incarnation as The Cavern Club will be but a distant memory after tonight’s launch.

Patrons will be met by the dark red neon glow of the Fat Controller; the memorable design is mounted on thatched steel mesh that spreads across the large 500 capacity space. There are tonnes of seats available to complement the floor space and the main bar (one of two) stretches close to the length of the venue itself.

Providing a space where bands, DJs and producers can play to large crowds is imperative to Fat Controller and the launch program of artists is a doozy, humbly topped by the likes of The Delta Riggs, Aston Shuffle, The Jungle Giants, and Client Liaison to name but a few. Supporting the local scene is also a focus, Duckworth is proud that each headline act will have up to three local bands supporting them, along with a commitment to having local headline shows for larger Adelaide acts.

As for bringing in high quality acts that don’t often, or are yet to appear in Adelaide is also a high priority for Fat Controller. Duckworth is particularly excited about a few of the acts in store for the second wave of artist programming, which are still being kept tightly under wraps. There are also a few specific elements to the club that stand out strongly.

There’s a pinball station for people to chill out and get their game on, and the euro-inspired Fat Controller’s Convenience Store. Here people can check in their coats and bags, use phone charging services and purchase cigarettes, chewing gum or condoms. The Fat Controller has you covered.

The launch party featuring San Cisco will kick off tonight at 8pm. As for the Beatles memorabilia that characterised The Cavern… according to Duckworth it’s “In the bin”.