Venues Update: New spaces in Melbourne & Adelaide, court cases in NSW

NOVEL SETS UP WAREHOUSE CLUB IN MELBOURNE

Dance music promoter and event company Novel are setting up a 3,000-capacity warehouse-style space in Melbourne set to launch in spring.

Dubbed the Thornbury Social Club, it is on the site of the Furlan Club, established in 1957 by Italian immigrants from the northeast Friuli region.

The club used to hold 4,000 under its 12-metre-high roof but loses 1,000 capacity when stages are installed.

For Novel, the importance is that it has a 24-hour license which means events run until 5am and even 8am if needed, and multi-spaces and an ornate ballroom with space for 1,200 and which could be turned into the main room.

Novel director Daniel Teuma explains; “We will be transforming this unutilized space into a tech-fuelled wonderland, and we’re investing heavily in production and infrastructure to ensure the best possible customer experience.’

Visual and lighting concepts come from Novel collaborators John Fish collective.

WOODVILLE TOWN HALL TURNS ON MUSIC

The City of Charles Sturt in Adelaide has opened up the art-deco Woodville Town Hall to live music.

The 900-capacity space is similar to the Thebarton Theatre, which was also designed by architects, Kaberry & Chard.

Opened in 1900, it served time as council chambers, a theatre and cinema.

The City is keen that the building also continues to be used for community events.

The first live music event is AltFest on Saturday, June 29 with Dallas Frasca and Z-Star Trinity.

FATE OF ROXY THEATRE HEADS TO COURT

The future of 1930s Roxy Theatre in Sydney’s Parramatta is set to be decided over two days from June 12 at the NSW Land and Environment Court.

This comes after a legal row over its use.

In its time the Roxy was a cinema, performing arts space, a 700-capacity live music venue and bar.

Roxy owner David Kingston’s plan is for a 30-storey building which includes retail and restaurant outlets as well as a multilevel “leisure and cultural facility”.

He took legal action against the City of Parramatta Council when it rejected plans over heritage concerns.

Last year Western Sydney Business Chamber director David Borger suggested it become a live music venue again, serving a purpose similar to that of the Enmore Theatre.

WA BAR CLOSING

After nine years, Five Bar in Mt Lawley is tonight (Thursday, May 23) calling final drinks.

It was a popular alternative to other Perth nightspots with a laidback atmosphere and live music.

A Facebook posting said the closure was for the “foreseeable future”.

NEWCASTLE VENUE KEEPS 3AM LICENCE

Newcastle venue Sydney Junction Hotel has kept its 3 am licence after a judge found “flaws” in the case again it, maintaining assaults near the pub had dropped considerably.

The venue, in partnership with Hit106.9 Newcastle, will present RNB Fridays Club from May 31.

THE SHAK FOR SALE

With its owner relocating to Sydney after five years, Sunshine Coast wine bar and café The Shak is on the market – with the estate agent marketing it as a possible live music venue.

WOLLONGONG BOUNCER GETS SENTENCED

James Wilkinson, 21, who was working as part of the security team at Wollongong’s Grand Hotel on January 16 this year, was sentenced to 100 hours of community service after an incident where he knocked a patron out.

The Wollongong Local Court heard that on the night the victim had been on the venue’s upper dance floor dancing with four friends when a female jumped on his back as they danced.

Wilkinson told them to stop. The victim held out his hand in a conciliatory gesture but was punched unconscious after three blows to the head.

The bouncer claimed the patron had threatened him and he lashed out in fear of his safety.

REBRANDING OF SYDNEY SLYFOX

Sydney live music and LGBTQI+ hub The Sly Fox in Enmore has a new team, which have made some changes.

New operators Brett Strauss (The Chippo), Kerry Wallace (SASH) and Benjamin Lepke have rebranded it to Slyfox, opened up to day time eating activity, and expanded the entertainment format to include comedy nights, theatre and a “supper set over dinner.”