Venues Update: October 7

INTRODUCING HUDSON BALLROOM

What used to be long time Sydney music venues Plan B and Goodgod is now Hudson Ballroom. Three friends pooled their money to ensure the clubs survived, with the new name inspired by the streets of New York. “For us, the priority was to keep the doors open to one of the few places you can still go for a dance and see a live music gig,” says Clark Mak, one of the part owners.

It will be curated by the team at Nathan Farrell Entertainment (The Basement, Newtown Festival), with upcoming acts including Robbie Millar, Fortunes, Airling, Tiny Little Houses, Ivan Ooze, Black Milk and Fleetmac Wood.

Hudson Ballroom will continue to host club nights as Rhythm of the Night, Halfway Crooks, Player Haters Club, Sidechains, IZMZ Girls, Freshly Squeezed, and Red Bull Sound Select.

CANBERRA CLUBS TAKE REVENGE

The ACT Government might have given up higher fees for music venues. But the Canberra Times reports that ClubsACT is bankrolling a $100,000 anti-Labor campaign orchestrated by their lobbyist’s political party. Minor party Canberra Community Voters has received $7,500 and spent $28,000 on advertising by Friday, much of it attacking Labor The clubs are furious that the Government granting pokies rights to Canberra Casino will hit their own pokies revenue.

THE SWANSEA CHANGES HANDS

Swansea Hotel on the NSW Central Coast has a new owner. Arthur Laundy’s Laundy Hotels picked it up for $13 million from hotelier Phil Bernie. The venue is two hours north of Sydney and half an hour south of Newcastle on the Pacific Highway. It will continue to showcase live music.

PERTH’S RECHABITE BECOMING A MUSIC BAR

Perth property developer Happy Heart, which earlier this year successfully bid for a 21-year lease on the heritage listed Rechabite Hall in Northbridge, is turning the four-storey building into an entertainment and live music complex. Ironically, it was built in the 1920s by the temperance movement’s Independent Order of Rechabites, and is used as its headquarters from which to stop all alcohol consumption.

It has successfully had $3 million worth of planned renovations approved to open in 2017.For live music, the main hall to be turned into the main performance space and a bar installed next to the basement stage. Happy Heart is run by Adrian Fini and Fringe World’s Marcus Canning.

NEW ENTERTAINMENT SPACE FOR OUTBACK QLD

The Central West Queensland town of Longreach has opened the $2.5 million Outback Entertainment Centre. It will include concerts, horse events, rodeos and outback shows. It was opened by multi-Platinum country music performer Lee Kernaghan. He was inducted at the opening into the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame as a life member.

Kernaghan told the locals, “This facility is world-class, as good as it gets. We play all round Australia, and to have something like this in outback Australia, it will bring a lot of great artists as well as equestrian events.”

LESS TOLERANCE FOR DRUNKEN PESTS

Western Australia’s venues and police are taking a harder stance on drunken pests. Figures from the Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor annual report showed that as of June 30, a total of 1063 pests had been banned. About 600 were in the last financial year. The Australian Hotels Association WA said this was proof that venue owners were working hard to ensure their clubs were safe enjoyable spaces.

WEMBLEY HOTEL CAR PARK REZONED

Cambridge Council in Perth has voted for the rezoning of the Wembley Park despite a 300-strong petition by neighbours opposing it in case they end up with a 17-storey development.

NIGHTCLUB SECURITY OFFICER ALMOST LOSES EAR

A security man working at Cairns nightclub, Attic, almost had his ear severed and ended with a huge laceration on his head after being hit on the head with a beer bottle. He was evicting a group of NSW bikers. Three of them faced court.

BYRON THEATRE REMAINS OPEN

Film and music showcasing Brunswick Picture House in Byron Bay will remain open. The Council had ordered it shut citing no DA being submitted and complaints from some neighbours from last October. However it became an election issue. Owners Brett Haylock and Chris Chen met with newly re-elected mayor Simon Richardson and General Manger Ken Gainger. The issue was solved with Council promising to quickly move if it got a DA.

GEELONG MUSICIAN, COUNCIL, ROW

A row has broken out in Geelong, Victoria, between pianist and bar owner Andy Pobjoy and The City of Greater Geelong. Since Pobjoy’s Piano Bar became a huge success, he’s been trying to find a larger venue. He told the Geelong Advertiser that Council has turned down four premises. Council replied they’d been working with the musician but can’t bend state building regulations to suit his needs.