Long-running Melbourne music venue Bar Open has had new life breathed into it with the appointment of new booker, Dannie McKenzie, of roots outfit The Woohoo Revue.
Having recently booked for fellow Melbourne bar, Open Studio, McKenzie was given the position just a few weeks back and is now working towards the annual Leaps & Bounds Festival next month.
"It's great," McKenzie told theMusic of his new gig at the Brunswick Street venue.
"It's really good to have a strong team and a bunch of people who have been in the industry for a long time who have managed to keep a live music venue afloat through all the changes," he said.
"The climate has sort of changed in the area. It led to a situation where if you speak to a lot of people about Bar Open, nearly everyone says, ‘I used to love that place'. My goal is to get back the kind of bands that they used to have back in the heyday."
It's fair to say McKenzie is on the right path to doing just that, confirming that Brisbane nine-piece band Bullhorn will perform at the venue on the opening night of Leaps & Bounds on 1 July.
Other acts confirmed to perform next month include Melbourne favourites El Moth, Kooyeh, Ungus Ungus Ungus, Vulgargrad, The Punkawallahs and more.
"Leaps & Bounds is going to kind of be like putting my stamp on things," McKenzie said.
"There’s a bit a of change afoot."
For more details on upcoming shows and tickets, check out the Bar Open website.
