Venues Update: September 30

PARAMOUNT RE-OPENS AFTER $2M REVAMP

Perth nightclub Paramount re-opens today (September 30) on the weekends after a $2 million makeover, which took nine months. It is now divided into two spaces, both showcasing live entertainment and with their own dancefloors.

Leopard Lady has leopard-themed artwork and fake leopard skin-lined booths and a new stage. Senor Peppers on the upstairs floor, has a Mexican theme.

Paramount is run by Entertainment Enterprises, operated by mining magnate and property tycoon Graham Hardie and his long time lieutenant Bill Oddy. The company also owns The Library in Northbridge, Tiger Lil’s Tavern in Perth and Empire Bar in Rivervale.

URBAN AT ANZ STADIUM

Keith Urban will perform at ANZ Stadium in Sydney before 100,000 people this Sunday at the National Rugby League Telstra Premiership Grand Final.

OWNERSHIP CHANGE FOR THE CREMORNE

Long time live music venue The Cremorne in Newtown, Victoria, is getting a new owner after long time operator Grant Ryan decided to retire after 14 years.

From mid-October it will be taken over by former footballer turned media identity Billy Brownless and his business partner Andrew Clarke. Brownless, who already owns a number of pubs around Geelong, first looked at The Cremorne five years ago.

MELBOURNE’S MERCAT CLOSING

Highly rated Melbourne underground dance music venue The Mercat is closing on February 11, after eight years. Venue owner and booker Daragh Kan explained that the overhaul of the Queen Victoria Market precinct was the cause. The Mercat came into being in 2008 but the basement space was earlier used from 1990 by Banana Bar and Deep Eleven/

NAME CHANGE FOR CONCERT HALL, EXPANDS TO JAZZ

Ngeringa, the $7 million privately owned chamber music concert hall in the Adelaide Hills, is changing its name and will also incorporate jazz. The 220-seater was set up last year by philanthropist Ulrike Klein as a place where classical music could be performed.

Now she’s changed the name to Ukaria and, aside from the classical, commissioned jazz pianist Paul Grabowsky to curate a series of jazz shows. He will feature in all and joined by Kate Ceberano, Vince Jones, Lior and Megan Washington.

CBH FACING OPPOSITION TO EXPANDED HOURS

The new operators of the Cottesloe Beach Hotel is having problems telling the local council that its four year old Cottesloe Beach Club be allowed to trade after 10 pm. The club’ former site, the beer garden, had noise and bad behaviour issues. But the hotel’s operators say that a reduced capacity from 1200 to 840 and a more upmarket clientele would justify opening to 11 pm Sundays to Tuesdays and midnight other days.

CROATIA CLUB HOSTS THIS IS ART SHOWS

The Croatian Wickham Sports Club is one of the venues hosting shows for Newcastle’s This Is Art festival. Today (September 30) will feature a bill of local punk bands. October 1 is experimental night including new loop-based Reapercussion and P-ettiene the solo project of Scattered Order’s Shane Fahey. October 2, curated by Nicholas Senger and Cooper Bowman, is for marginalised sound projects.

NAME CHANGE FOR PHOENIX THEATRE

Wollongong’s Phoenix Theatre has applied to have a name change. As part of a 2017 season to encourage bigger shows and expand services like costume hire to cover operating costs, the building will be renamed after Des Davis. This is to honour Davis who, with his actress wife Faye Montgomery, set up The Bridge for local productions. Davis passed away this autumn.

CAIRNS PARKLAND PASSES THE TEST

The new $10 million Munro Martin Parklands in Cairns has passed the test as a performance space, The Cairns Post reported. Figures from Cairns Regional Council showed that the first events there since it opened in July drew over 8600. These included concerts by Kate Miller-Heidke and Soweto Gospel Choir.

The Parklands will be part of an entertainment precinct, which includes the $66.5 million Cairns Performing Arts Centre, currently being built for an early 2018 opening.

BELLA UNION BEGINS WEDNESDAY NIGHTS

The Bella Union in Carlton, Melbourne, introduces a new songwriter event called Round Up every alternative Wednesday until mi-December. The idea is to create the intimate and community-minded atmosphere of a folk club. It kicks off on October 5 with sets from Rob Snarski and Anna Cordell.

Others set for the sessions include Karl S. Williams, Charm of Finches, The Yearlings and Freya Josephine Hollick’s album launch with Skyscraper Stan. Discounted tickets for members of the former Melbourne Folk Club who can show their membership cards at the door.

ADELAIDE VENUES NERVOUS OVER COP DATA

Adelaide venue owners are nervous about what SA Police has recommended in its submission to city’s liquor laws review. While all the recommendations and comments were posted online by the State Government for all to see. But not SA’s Police’s. Not even a Freedom of Information request by the Opposition moved things. But Australian Hotels Association SA is worried police suggestions would be “severe”.

The State Government is preparing a response to the review, by former Supreme Court Justice Tim Anderson, which has recommended 129 changes. It’s already agreed to stop the advertising of alcohol on the sides of public transport vehicles. Other suggestions included ID scanners for all venues operating past 1 am, and giving venues more powers to throw drunks out and demanding ID checks.