Venues Update: Live music at Oxford Tavern, new booker at HOTA & more
LIVE MUSIC FOR OXFORD TAVERN
The new owners of The Oxford Tavern in Sydney’s Inner West have announced that as part of changes, the Petersham venue will showcase free live music every Friday.
James and Josh Thorpe of Thorpe Hospitality say the music begins on March 22, and will also introduce community events and brewer showcases as well as new independent beer brands and a new menu.
NEW MUSIC BOOKER FOR HOTA GOLD COAST
Music executive veteran Graham Ashton and his company Footstomp Music have taken over live music bookings at the Gold Coast’s HOTA (Home of the Arts).
Ashton and Footstomp until recently booked The Triffid in Brisbane.
Says Ashton, ‘HOTA has the opportunity to make the Gold Coast the heart of live music in Australia.
“Working with world class venue in my home town is an incredibly exciting challenge.”
‘Bringing someone so connected to the music scene into the team is a real coup for us,” adds executive producer Moira Hay.
“The success of our live music program has shown us that the Gold Coast has a huge appetite for live music.”
ACCESSIBILITY COMES TO ARTS PRECINCT
Victoria’s latest Changing Places facility – change rooms and toilets for disabled arts and music patrons – opened yesterday at Hamer Hall in Arts Centre Melbourne.
Changing Places are larger than standard accessible toilets and have extra features such as a tracking hoist and more space to meet the needs of people with a disability.
Minister for disability, ageing and carers Luke Donnellan said, “Hamer Hall is one of Australia’s great concert venues, and this fantastic new facility makes it accessible for the whole Victorian community.
“We want all Victorians to enjoy the activities that many of us take for granted, and Changing Places is a key part of making that a reality.”
Victoria was the first Australian state to launch Changing Places and continues to lead the way nationally in making public spaces more accessible.
The Andrews Labor government is providing $2.6 million to fund a network of 26 Changing Places across Victoria with the Arts Centre Melbourne receiving $100,000 for the Hamer Hall facility. A list is at changingplaces.org.au.
From May 1, the National Construction Code is being updated to include new ‘accessible adult change facilities’ based on the Changing Places design.
These facilities will be required in specified public buildings such as large shopping centres, sports stadiums, theatres, aquatic centres, museums, art galleries and airports.
Changing Places is a key priority of the Absolutely everyone State Disability Plan for 2017–2020, which will see the Labor government support a range of actions in partnership with the community to achieve greater inclusion.
Says Victorian Disability Advisory Council chair Colleen Furlanetto, “One toilet at a time, Changing Places reduces barriers for people with disability.
“I’m delighted this project creates more opportunities for all people to enjoy the cultural wonders that Melbourne has to offer.”
SALSA DESTINATION CUBAN PLACE CLOSES
Salsa live music venue The Cuban Place in York Street in the Sydney CBD has closed – after being locked out of the building by the agent.
Promoters blamed the city’s lockout laws and the multi-billion dollar light rail mess.
They posted: “Our business has been struggling since the lock out laws were put in place and throughout construction of the troubled light rail project on George St.”
They added that they had been unsuccessfully holding talks with their landlord over rising rent.
When they couldn’t pay on time last month, the agents got the landlord to change the locks.
MAN CHARGED OVER VOYEUR BAR INCIDENT
WA Police have charged a 31-year old man with arson attempts at Voyeur Bar in Subiaco.
On two nights last December, on the 1st and 6th, someone broke into the venue and tried to set the nightclub on fire.
CCTV footage released in January showed three men pouring what seemed like petrol on the floor and setting it alight.