Gyroscope’s Rob Nassif Launches New Live Music Venue

With nearly 20 years experience behind the kit with favourites Gyroscope and an overview of the larger WA scene as the owner-operator of the state’s largest rehearsal studios, Rob Nassif has unveiled a new live music hub in Perth.

Named after Hen House Rehearsal Studios, the 100-capacity Hen House Live venue is part of the remodelled Badlands Bar in Northbridge, accompanying its 400-capacity main room, which reopens Aug 6.

"We want to make that the centre of the Perth music community.”

Launching Sept 2, Nassif’s new endeavour will host two shows every Friday and Saturday night, with sessions at 8pm and 10pm, focusing on new bands and acts that haven’t played their first show yet.

“We’re going to make it fun, and we’re going to make it easy, and my 700 shows with Gyroscope have taught me a thing or two about looking after bands and creating a cool environment for bands to perform in,” Nassif told theMusic.com.au.

Since taking over and rebranding the Osborne Park jam rooms in 2010, Nassif has seen a lot of talent start out and move onto bigger things, with Tired Lion first rehearsing at the space four years ago and last month playing a set at Glastonbury.

“A lot of bands that rehearse at the Hen House, they’re really hungry for it; they’re playing in a band and they’re treating it as a hobby and it’s fun, but they also want to take their music somewhere,” Nassif tells.

“Because we’ve had six years of The Hen House Rehearsal Studios, we’re seeing bands that are coming through and succeeding and it’s feeding the energy and the hunger of the younger bands.”

On top of a space for new bands to break in their live show, Hen House Live will also provide full backline and pair acts with one another in an effort to create networks and new audiences.

“The guys at the Hen House love what they do and look after their bands.”

“The music scene is super healthy and people are passionate about playing in bands and playing shows, they just need more options and venues out there to do that.”

“Hopefully we can make Hen House Live and Badlands a real music hub here in Perth where bands can be playing shows and hang out late. We want to make that the centre of the Perth music community.”

In recent months, the main room has hosted sold out shows from Karnivool, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard and more, with Badlands Bar owner Mark Partridge saying Hen Hosue taking over the smaller space is a “great fit for all involved”.

“Teaming up with the Hen House gives Badlands a smaller room to support up-and-coming local bands in a cool as fuck dive-bar environment,” Partridge said.

“The guys at the Hen House love what they do and look after their bands.”

If you’re keen to play at Hen House Live, head over to their website and register your details.