Venues Update

Image: The Rosemount Hotel’sAndrew Ryan and Larry Murray in the revamped space

REVAMPED ROSEMOUNT UNVEILED TONIGHT

The revamped Rosemount Hotel is unveiled tonight (Thursday April 13) during the drum ’n’ bass event Roller. Backing up its claims it offers the best concert experience in Perth, it has a new PA system along with a new bar area, mezzanine viewing platforms, cosy nooks and wooden and iron ceiling beams which had been obscured from view.

Co-owner Adrian Fini said, “By investing in a complete remodelling of the Rosemount’s live music room, I’m pleased that my group has been able to make a strong contribution to the world-beating original music scene here in Perth.”

Venue manager is Larry Murray, while Cool Perth Nights Director Andrew Ryan books and markets the Rosie.

SYDNEY VENUE TAKES A BREAK

After five years, The Newsagency in Sydney’s Marrickville is taking a break. Its landlord told operator Alison Avron he doesn’t want to extend the lease after July.

Avron has closed the boutique venue, but is looking for a new site.

SYDNEY’S MARLBOROUGH CHANGES HANDS

The Marlborough in Sydney’s Newtown is now owned by hospitality group Solotel, which also owns and operates the Bank Hotel(which incorporates live music venue Waywards), Public House Petersham (which recently launched a small live stage), Opera Bar and a number of other venues.

The price was not divulged by previous owner the Australian Pub Fund, but one report by the Daily Telegraph suggested the profit on the sale was over $20 million.

Co-owner Bruce Solomon said, “Solotel will be by the end of this year operating over 30 hospitality businesses in Sydney and Brisbane.”

NEW LIVE MUSIC VENUE FOR PERTH …

Perth’s latest addition to its live music venue list is Tetsuo, at the top end of William Street in Northbridge. It has two two rooms, the Main Room and the Boiler Room. Both are equipped with bars, stages for live music and interactive ‘90s Japanese grunge décor.

…AND BRISBANE…

Jeremy Neale, The Creases DJs and Pool Shop were on hand to help the four-month-oldFlamin’ Galah bar in Brisbane’s Roma Street launch as a laid-backlive music and DJ venue.

Owner Billy Grantley, who operates delivery service Knock Knock Booze There, says that the venue has three months’ worth of bookings, with a hip hop night at the end of the month already sold out.

…AND MELBOURNE!

Launching this weekend is the Union Club in Richmond, Melbourne, which is targeting the over-40s crowd. It’s based in the Richmond Bowling Club.

True to its demographic, the April 15 opening features former Stars singer Mick Pealing’s band, and pub rock covers outfit Mid Life Crisis. Others on the books are former Skyhooks guitarist Bongo Starkie, The Recliners andThe Jetsons, as well asThe Majestic Diva Show with The Killer Bs, featuring Mae Parker, Wendy Stapleton and Nikki Nicholls.

MUSIC THRIVES AT TWO WOLLONGONG VENUES

There have been changes in ownership at two Wollongong spots but music continues to thrive in them.

The new operators of Howlin’ Wolf have continued to host live music on Fridays and DJs on Saturday. Three of the four owners grew up in Orange, but only buddied up when they moved to Wollongong to study engineering and hospitality.

Town Hall Chamber has started as a live music venue at the former site of Three Chimneys. It operates as a café and deli by day. Owner Mike Gillmore was previously GM of UniCentre.

CHANGE OF RENTAL STATUS AT CANBERRA STADIUM

This week’s drama over the ANU Bar’s all-male bill for its closing gig was not the only kerfuffle for a Canberra venue. After the end of its $1 peppercorn lease with the Canberra Stadium (aka the GIO Stadium Canberra), the ACT Government is now renting it for $350,000.

As a result, it says, it’s not going to be funding upgrades to the 25,000-capacity stadium which it has for years (the last time was $5 million in 2015) “because we’re only a tenant”. It’s told owner Australian Sports Commission to fork out for any more upgrades to the 40-year-old venue.

The stadium also hosts concerts. The last one was the Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood double act in December 2016.

GRANDSTAND PROJECT FOR BELMONT PARK

Music fans attending concerts at Perth’s horse racing home Belmont Park are in for a treat in the future. Perth Racing has got the green light for its $67 million grandstand project for the site, which is part of the new sporting and entertainment precinct on the Burswood Peninsula.

The old grandstand will be demolished. There’ll be a convention centre, a rooftop garden terrace, corporate boxes, a bar, restaurants and function rooms, offices and other back-of-house facilities.

PALLADIUM-STYLE ROOM FOR ETIHAD STADIUM?

Will Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium get a new showcase performance space similar to the Palladium in Crown Casino? That’s one of the ideas being pitched to the Victorian Government by the Australian Football League as it pushes for a $300 million upgrade of the 17-year old stadium. The Palladium-style room would host AFL functions currently held at the casino, as well as entertainment shows.

In the meantime Eddie McGuire, President of the Collingwood Football Club has pitched a rival plan to build a $1 billion, 60,000-seat stadium next door to the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The Herald Sun reports that a taskforce headed by Premier Daniel Andrews is exploring both options and is expected to reach a verdict in July.