Venues Update
MELBOURNE’S ESPY BACK AS LIVE MUSIC VENUE
The Esplanade Hotel in Melbourne’s St. Kilda, better known as The Espy, has new owners who have confirmed that they will continue it as a live music venue after a major facelift. It closed in May 2015 and fallen into disrepair since.
The 139-year old Espy joins Sand Hill Road’s portfolio of properties, include Richmond’s Terminus Hotel, Prahran Hotel, The Waterside Hotel in King Street and Garden State Hotel in the CBD.
Previous owners Paul Adamo and Vince Sofo bought it in 2006, and put it on the market briefly in early 2014, but did not get the price they wanted. Plans to build an rooftop bar have been dumped after a residents’ backlash but a beer garden out in front is being considered.
PNAU PLAY SNEAKY SHOW TO RE-LAUNCH THE CAMBO
PNAU took a break from their reptilian rampage on the charts to play a free secret show at Newcastle’s Cambridge Hotel last night – their first in five years.
They showcased songs from their soon-to-be-released new album, including current smash singleChameleon, as well as older hits likeWild Strawberries.
“To be perfectly honest, Newcastle has always kind of been our spiritual home so it seems to be the perfect place to re-birth this entity,” said frontman Nick Littlemore.
The Cambridge has increased its main room capacity to 800, added a 200-cap side room, and will soon open a “late-night rock’n’roll Japanese diner”.
SYDNEY VENUE WATCH #1: OAF GRANTED LOCKOUTS EXEMPTION
Sydney venue Oxford Arts Factory is the latest to score a small victory in the fight against the city’s controversial lockout laws, as the popular live music spot joined six other Sydney establishments that have had a half-hour extension to the lockout times granted.
OAF announced on their Facebook page this morning that effective immediately, the “lock-in/lock-out” time at the venue (after which no more guests can be admitted) would be extended to 2am, and drinks could be served until 3.30am.
SYDNEY VENUE WATCH #2: “MINI-GOLF THEMED” BAR REPLACING NEWTOWN SOCIAL?
When the Newtown Social Club in Sydney’s inner west goes dark on April 23, it will be replaced by a mini golf themed cocktail bar. It will be called Holey Moley Sydney – a sister venue to Brisbane Holey Moley.
Live music is still on the menu when new owner Fun-Lab reopens it, most likely in early June, with DJs on the weekends and monthly live music sessions. However, several Newtown residents expressed concern at a community meeting on Wednesday night at the loss of a dedicated live venue, as NSC currently hosts gigs in the band room upstairs most nights of the week and is a favourite in the local scene for its atmosphere and sound.
Fun-Lab is a private entertainment concern that owns and operates Strike bowling clubs and Sky Zone trampoline parks.
SYDNEY VENUE WATCH #3: NO MORE MR. FALCON’S
Mr. Falcon’s bar in Glebe, Sydney, has closed, turning off another place where musicians could play. The reason was the venue trading past its official hours.
It seems the decision to pull the plug was made by the landlord, and not the local council which, City of Sydney said in a statement although it had contacted the venue about noise complaints.
JAZZ WITH BRUNCH FOR MELBOURNE’S DING DONG …
Melbourne’s Ding Dong Lounge owner Bill Walsh has gone for a New Orleans vibe with its new Sunday session. It’s a mix of jazz and brunch by Miss Katie’s Crab Shack which was set up in 2014 and been at the Ding Dong since last August
Walsh has been spending a lot of time in New Orleans in the past decade. When in the Cosmic Psychos, they ensured they’d stop there on each US tour.
“There’s a tradition in New Orleans of combining jazz music and Sunday brunch, which I haven’t seen anywhere. The food is as important at these sessions as the music.”
The sessions begin this Sunday from 1 pm with the Matt Dwyer Trio and weekly guest singers. Miss Katie’s menu is mostly seafood, particularly crabs and oysters, from recipes from a grandmother hailing from the Deep South. The club and eaterie also team for a Build Your Own Bloody Mary bar.
…AND JAZZ WITH BINGO AT BRISBANE’S ZOO
The Zoo in Brisbane will from March 30 hold Jazz Bingo Thursdays. The idea, according to Pixie Weyand who took over the club last year, is to showcase musicians from The Jazz Music Institute with bingo, indoor lawn bowls, a unique cocktail list and food delivery from local restaurants thanks to Foodora. The evening begins at 5 pm with the bingo at 7 pm.
PERTH’S GINGER NIGHTCLUB ON FIRE
An electrical fault in an air conditioner reportedly caused $50,000 worth of damage at Perth nightclub Ginger on William St. Twenty-five firefighters battled the blaze, and brought it under control in 30 minutes.
The fire began at 8.30pm mid-week, so the club was not open and no one was injured.
ADELAIDE’S ATLANTIS LOUNGE FOR SALE
Less than a year after it opened as “the ultimate nightclub” with gold plated toilets, onyx wall and “mermaids” and two hammerhead sharks in a 25,000-litre aquarium, Adelaide’s Atlantis Lounge has put up the For Sale sign.
According to the Advertiser, the price tag is over $500,000. That barely covers the “world’s largest” agate gemstone bar, which it said cost $450,000.
It had $1000-for-hire VIP rooms which included n the deal, helicopters to fly guests in, transport by Range Rovers and the best champagne served. It also has council approval for a lap pool. When owner Nathan Buttigieg first announced the sharks, 100,000 people signed a petition to stop him.
NEW STADIUM FOR AUCKLAND?
Auckland might get a new waterfront stadium. Over the past decade, a debate has raged about the feasibility of the 50,000-seat Eden Park. It is limited to 21-night events and may need another $250 million spent on it over the next 15 years.
Mayor Phil Goff has green-lighted a PWC feasibility study for a new $1 billion stadium which is on public transport. The review would see if could be funded from contributions from major sporting codes, private sponsorship, revenue from concerts and selling assets like Eden Park.
SONNY’S HOUSE TO TEST OVER-40S RAVE
After the success in Sydney of the 40up “millennial-free” dance party staged at The Basement in January by R&B singer (and one-time The Voice contestant) Steve Clisby and DJ Stephen Ferris, Sonny’s House of Blues in Brisbane will be the test venue on May 6 to assess if the concept can work in Queensland.
GOLD TICKET FOR PIER BANDROOM LAUNCH
With Pier Bandroom set to kick off tomorrow (March 18) in Melbourne’s south, patrons attending the launch street party will go into the draw to win a double gold pass for a year’s worth of free entry.
The street party starts from 1.30pm and is headlined by Birds of Tokyo with Pierce Bros, Ecca Vandal, The Gooch Palms, Ali Barter and Lonefree.
The Bandroom will be christened by COG who go on at 11pm, after an hour’s intro set from Warflags.
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