Another venue bites the dust

[the_flight_of_the_magpie]

With so many venues closing their doors to live music in recent months, the conversation again turns to the state of music in Australia. Today, the Gaelic Theatre in Sydney has announced that it will close its doors as a live venue as of 1 April 2012 (one can only hope that this isn’t a bad April Fool’s Day joke). Wasn’t it only weeks ago we were celebrating SLAM (Save Live Australian Music) and encouraging everyone to get out and support a local show on 23 February? As someone who has attended many a live show over the years it concerns me where the live music industry is heading.
Is there anything more satisfying that being at a live show with your mates, enjoying a drink (alcohol or non) and being up close to some of the most talented musicians you could ever hope to witness? It’s my opinion that Australia has some of the best musicians in the world. They ply their art every weekend for minimal payment with their first reward being to entertain the punters.
Have we become so complacent that we think other people will turn up to a gig and instead we can watch what happened on YouTube? Nothing will beat that live experience and one can only hope that The Gaelic shutting its doors to live music isn’t just the snowballing effect of a nasty trend that we are starting to see of late – The Annandale Hotel and their ‘Buy A Brick’ program to save the pub, The East Brunswick Club and many more.
Signing an online petition is too little too late. The live music scene in Australia needs real people supporting it to keep these venues alive. Downloading your favourite songs to your iPod is all very well, but nothing beats the feeling of rocking up to a venue, watching your favourite band, being with like-minded people and forming friendships for life.
R.I.P The Gaelic Theatre (and all the other venues that have shut their doors before you). You will be missed.
http://www.sludgefactory.com.au/another-venue-bites-dust…

 

[IanG]

Speaking of venues. Does the Sydney Entertainment Centre still get used? Seems alot of acts are either playing the All Phones Arena at Homebush or going back to the Hordern Pavilion

 

[the_flight_of_the_magpie]

Speaking of venues. Does the Sydney Entertainment Centre still get used? Seems alot of acts are either playing the All Phones Arena at Homebush or going back to the Hordern Pavilion

yeah two soundwave side shows were there and theres a few concerts coming up at the entertainment centre

 

[CC_Eagle]

Speaking of venues. Does the Sydney Entertainment Centre still get used? Seems alot of acts are either playing the All Phones Arena at Homebush or going back to the Hordern Pavilion

Radiohead. ;-)

Back to topic though : Totally sucks about the Gaelic. I've seen a few gigs there over the years and my only criticism is the big f*cking pole in the middle of the floor.

 

[carcharias]

Kids today don't get rock n roll.

You could go and see live bands every night of the week in Sydney in the 90's.
Then hear them on JJJ the next day.

I remember standing at the bar of the Annandale next to Dave grohl one night while
sidewinder played.

 

[Red Bear]

Kids today don't get rock n roll.

You could go and see live bands every night of the week in Sydney in the 90's.
Then hear them on JJJ the next day.

I remember standing at the bar of the Annandale next to Dave grohl one night while
sidewinder played.

They prefer people pressing buttons or playing wimpy indie shite. The distortion peddle has become unfashionable

 

[IanG]

Hence the song by The Whitlams. Blow Up The Pokies

 

[carcharias]

although tomorrow night - urge overkill gaelic club.

 

[franklin2323]

Hardly surprising. Unless it's dj or some fool in a cover band murdering classics. Live venues are too far apart. It's a shame.

 

[CC_Eagle]

It's a tough gig (pun very much intended).

We've just gotten The Hi-Fi back, but lose The Gaelic.

No fairs.

 

[skeepe]

You think it's bad in Sydney, you should try finding original live music in Canberra.

 

[umina panther]

i blame jjj and all you crappy hipsters

 

[ceagle]

i blame jjj and all you crappy hipsters

lol Triple J are the only ones who support Australian music

 

[sydraider]

The Gaelic has been shit since they carved it in half for a pokie room. Id rather it be in its original state then some half assed venue.

 

[Aaron_sfas]

My band played the Gaelic. It was a great venue. Real shame it's going.

So far as live music in Sydney, my take is it's still very easy to get gigs as a band in Sydney. This, however, is only thanks to a few earnest promoters who are fighting their absolute hardest to save the scene... a bloke named aJay has been kicking goals at the Sydney Livehouse (Lewisham Hotel) for instance.

I think one issue, and it's not really something that is easy to address, is that if you go to a local gig you might get 1 decent band out of the 4 or 5 on the bill. This isn't an issue when attracting the bands friends to a show, but it drives away the average punter who goes to gigs with no ties to any of the bands, and just want to check out some good aussie music... and those are the people who keep the scene going.

 

[carcharias]

Hey Aaron
Wait until your friends start getting married and having kids.
Then it is bloody hard to get a good crowd to come to gigs away from home.

I was in a band that could sell out our local on a Friday and play to the bar staff
the next night in a pub 40kms away.

 

[snoozer]

pokies, x-factor type music shows, mainstream commercial radio.

killing live music.

like many on here i used to hear aussie music on the radio and then go and see it at the local pub(angels, rads, guru's, oils and later jets, baby animals). just doesn't happen like that anymore. you put your band on youtube and hope someone picks it up.or you go on x-factor etc.(i refuse to watch that shit)