After undergoing a severe state of flux in the last 12 months – including the Annandale Hotel controversy, a political clash over Playbar, and ongoing venue closures – it seems Sydney’s live music scene is once again finding its footing.
The legendary Annandale Hotel has reinstated its former owners as the venue’s current band bookers, live music returned to the Lansdowne Hotel following the fire that shut down the venue, and now Sydney is getting a brand new live music venue.
The new bandroom is actually located beneath Sydney’s beloved Factory Theatre, and the logically titled venue, The Factory Floor, is hosting its first gigs this month, as Pedestrian.TV reports.
The new 250-capacity space will have a rare 2am license, an outdoor courtyard, and cheap but finely crafted beer from local Newtown brewers Young Henrys, who will be co-presenting one of The Factory Floor’s first shows this month, in a showcase of hip-hop and DJs including Big Village, Suburban Dark, and Reverse Polarities.
After testing the space with a number of shows as part of the Sydney Fringe Festival, The Factory Floor will kickstart its live music program through October. “We’re doing everything we can to support local and touring bands…”
Gigs already booked include the Tex Perkins-fronted (anti)supergroup The Ape, a label showcase from Sydney indie R.I.P. society featuring Half High, Bed Wettin’ Bad Boys and more, singer-songwriter Alex Gibson, Perth rock iconoclasts The Kill Devil Hills, a retro psych rock double bill from Germany’s Kadavar and Sweden’s Blues Pills (both on the CherryFest 2013 lineup).
Century Venues are the team responsible for The Factory Floor, with the company’s Mark Gibbons pledging their solid position as Sydney’s newest music kid on the block.
“We’re doing everything we can to support local and touring bands and provide an environment that makes it a financially viable option to book shows, or simply come along and enjoy them,” says Gibbons, whose CV includes managing lo-fi indie band March of the Fly, booking for venues and the Blood Sweat & Beers festival, as well as time with The Sound Alliance.
The Factory Theatre and adjoining Factory Floor are located in the live music supportive region of Marrickville, with local council throwing their weight behind Mayor Darcy Byrne’s push for a new “rock n roll precinct” earlier this year.
The Leichhardt Mayor has been developing plans for a live music hub that runs along Parramatta Road, from Petersham to Sydney University and including the southern suburbs, since April, following a campaign that led to the eventual rescue of the legendary Annandale Hotel falling into the hands of the Oscars Hotel Group who plan to follow through on Mayor Darcy Byrne’s vision, with the Annandale sitting at the crux of the new cultural hub.
Additionally, The Newtown Social Club (located at the former site of The Sando) which opened around the same time in April from the Melbourne team behind the Northcote Social Club, will also form part of the new live music district – once it gets its own bandroom up and running.
While the bar has been in operation for the last four months, The Newtown Social Club are still working on their live music launch. “We want seeing local, national and international touring acts to be a great experience for all involved: punters, artists, merch person, even the roadies, so we are taking the time to rebuild the band room to achieve the best possible use of the space. Unfortunately this takes time and is a little while away from being ready,” reads a post on the venue’s official website.
In any case, the combination of new live music venues and the turn in support from local councils is signalling a positive seachange for Sydney’s cultural scene.
The Factory Floor 2013 Gigs
THURSDAY 17th October – LessTalk Records Showcase
March of the Real Fly, Yard Duty, Hannah Band, Oh Wells
Tickets here
FRIDAY 18th October – Big Village Brew, Young Henrys Showcase
Suburban Dark feat Jeswon from Thundamentals, Reverse Polarities, Tenth Dan & Grub, Mute X Roleo, DJ’s Klue, Migz
Tickets here
SATURDAY 19th October – The Ape feat. Tex Perkins
support from Bittersweet Kicks
Tickets here
SUNDAY 20th October – R.I.P. Society Showcase
M.O.B., Half High, Bed Wettin’ Bad Boys
Tickets here.
THURSDAY 24th October – Alex Gibson
Tickets here
FRIDAY 8th November – The Kill Devil Hills
support from Jack On Fire
Tickets here
FRIDAY 29th & SATURDAY 30t November – KADAVAR & Blues Pills
support from Nunchukka Superfly + Dead China Doll (Fri) and King Of The North + Arrowhead + Bruce + Kaleidoscope (Sat)
Tickets here
For full info head to http://www.factorytheatre.com.au/events/factory
