Gold Coast to lose NightQuarter after three years, rent hike the last straw

Gold Coast live music venue NightQuarter Helensvale is closing its doors on February 1 after three years.

According to venue operators Michelle Christoe and Ian Van der Woude, they reached an impasse with landlords SCentre Group (which owns and operates Westfield Australia and New Zealand) when negotiating a five-year lease extension.

“The asking rent of over double we are currently paying was just not feasible,” says Christoe.

The rent hike came just when the couple looked at $500,000 worth of building works due to noise complaints.

Nightquarter was highly regarded for its support of live music.

It not only drew international acts as UB40 and Simple Plan but also intestate names as Screaming Jets, The Living End, RUFUS DU SOL, Grinspoon, Dune Rats, Xavier Rudd and Flight Facilities who may have previously bypassed the Coast.

Christoe notes: “We hosted over 6000 live performances, supported Commonwealth Games by putting on 54 events as part of Festival18 and passionately embraced the entertainment and live music scene on the Gold Coast.”

https://www.facebook.com/nightquarter/photos/a.1423682141259495/1994386740855696/?type=3&theater

Dave Gleeson, of Screaming Jets and The Angels, called NightQuarter “the best gig in Australia right now”.

But the venue’s importance was its strong support for local Coast acts, showcasing these on Fridays and Saturdays for bargain basement $3 a head.

These included names as Amy Shark (who as an unknown launched her breakthrough “Adore” there), Matty Rogers, Electrik Lemonade, Hanlon Brothers, Hussy Hicks, Casey Barnes and Harry J Hart

Based on European and Asian village centres of something-for-everyone great experiences for low costs, NightQuarter also hosted everything from twilight markets and fire performances to drag trivia and acrobatics.