Industrial Strength: Venue News w/e Feb 21

 Two legendary Melbourne venues up for sale

Two popular live music venues in Melbourne, the 1,752-capacity Esplanade Hotel (aka The Espy) in St. Kilda and 250-capacity Yah-Yahs in Fitzroy are up for sale. Also on the trading block are Sydney’s The Carrington in Surry Hills and Country Life Hotel in Noosa.

Ownership change for Melbourne venue

Melbourne live music venue, the Great Britain Hotel in Richmond, will undergo a change in ownership in June after 18 years. Chris and Penny Hodges have not renewed the lease agreement after a breakdown in negotiations. The new owner, the Melbourne Venue Company, will remain showcasing live music. “Why mess with a good thing?” said MVC’s CEO Michael Thiele.

Perth’s Kulcha closes

After 30 years of showcasing multicultural talent, Kulcha (Multicultural Arts of Western Australia Inc), has closed due to the dry-up of $200,000 of Government funding. Among events set to roll in March were the Oz Concert during Harmony Week, the Saturday Performance Club and Club Folklorico.