Following a period of hibernation, Sydney’s legendary Annandale Hotel is having its official re-opening tonight, but the long-running live music venue’s new owners aren’t looking to satisfy stalwart rock fans.
In fact, they’re hoping they go elsewhere for their live entertainment.
“I would say there will be a change in demographic now,” General Manager Damien Cameron tells The Daily Telegraph. “There will be the die-hard rockers that may come, but you are going to see a more interactive crowd now and by that I mean a crowd that converses, as opposed to people just going to see a band.” “There will be some that won’t like the venue as much as before … but hopefully we can push those guys down to the Lansdowne”
The doors of the re-booted Parramatta favourite are being flung open tonight following the pub’s owners, the Oscars Hotel Group, giving the Annandale a major re-boot, including a new fit-out, a fancy gastronomic menu, and an ‘intimate’ stage better suited to acoustic and unplugged acts than the rock and roll legacy the Annandale is known for.
“There will be some that won’t like the venue as much as before because it’s not their style, but hopefully we can push those guys down to the Lansdowne Hotel,” says Cameron, “we have a pretty active rock music campaign down there.”
Alarm bells about the end of the Annandale’s days as a local rock and roll hotspot rang this time last month, when the venue’s new operators signalled that after completing renovations first started last December (that saw gigs unceremoniously cancelled), the venue would “continue to pay homage” to its live music heritage, but have a more gentrified focus, with an outdoor courtyard, all-day dining bistro, casual coffee bar, and upgrading the food and beverage selections overall.
“For the kids there will be kids menus, milkshakes, all those great dishes,” explains Cameron, noting Executive Chef John Rankin has “whipped up a great offering for those groups, especially for mums and babies in the daytime.”
Cameron continues: “What we would like to express is it is a very user-friendly venue now and you can come in any time of the day, it opens early in the morning, for a coffee or a snack and you can stay through lunch, through dinner and you will see the entertainment you did before.”
(The Annandale’s revamped music stage. Photo: Toby Zerna. Source: The Daily Telegraph)
So far the Annandale has booked a series of gigs four nights a week (Thurs – Sun) through to the end of August for its new music stage, which will now be focussing on providing a ‘sweeter’ soundtrack of singer-songwriters, Bluegrass, and folk that are “more reflective of the changing tastes of the Annandale community.” Tonight The Green Mohair Suits kick off a month-long residency while free gigs from Cope Street Parade, Melanie Horsnell, and Adam Pringle and Friends are also booked. (Head here for the full events listings.)
Last month, Mr Cameron noted that the plaques purchased by local supporters in the Annandale’s Buy A Brick campaign would be displayed throughout the refurbished venue to serve as a “constant reminder of a commitment to keeping the iconic hotel alive.”
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The Oscars Hotel Group bought the Annandale in May last year, following the live music venue winding up in receivership in February, and had made promises to continue the pub’s live music legacy.
“We’ll be continuing live music until the end of the year at least,” said Mr Cameron when Oscars officially took over the venue in September, 2013. “The venue’s got a name for live music and we’ll be giving it a red hot go.” The hotels group even re-instated former owners, Matt and Dan Rule, as music bookers at the pub as a sign of good faith.
At the time, Lecihhardt Mayor Darcy Byrne had been campaigning hard for local council to rescue the Parramatta venue in the hopes of making the Annandale the central landmark in a proposed ‘rock n roll’ precinct running along Parramatta Road from Petersham to Sydney University – though plans for the project never materialised.
Annandale Hotel Re-Launch Gigs
Thursday 7th August – Green Mohair Suits
Friday 8th August- Cope Street Parade
Saturday 9th August- Melanie Hornell
Sunday 10th August- Adam Pringle & friends
Thursday 14th August- Green Mohair Suits
Friday 15th August- Drey Rollans Band
Saturday 16th August- The Dead Marines
Sunday 17th August- Bridle King
Thursday 21st August- Green Mohair Suits
Friday 22nd August- The Coronados
Saturday 23rd August- Paul Greene
Sunday 24th August- Robert Suez & The Continental Blues Party
Thursday 28th August- Green Mohair Suits
Friday 29th August- Dick Smithers & the Doo Wops
Saturday 30th August- Hobo Bordeaux
Sunday 31st August – Ray Beadle & The Silver Dollars
