Sadly, another legendary Australian music venue bites the dust.
Billy Walsh, founding member of Cosmic Psychos, and publican of Cherry Bar, announced that after 15 years, Ding Dong Lounge is to close next month.
“I’m proud of the venue and what we were able to achieve in helping to create an important part of the Melbourne music fabric”, Walsh explained in a statement.
“We’ve always been a venue that presented unique offering in the Melbourne CBD and people embraced us. We didn’t big note ourselves, we tried to be hospitable, caring and fair, although, there have been times when we struggled to make ends meet. We received wide support from all quarters, including band managers, agents, touring companies, media, and most importantly the musicians themselves. Our staff really cared about the welfare of our customers and we stayed true to ourselves.
“It’s an open secret that venues in the Melbourne CBD have been struggling lately due in part to the broader proliferation of similar clubs and bars across the inner north and combination of the heartbreaking homeless issue and ongoing late night violence in the CBD the time is right to pull up stumps.
“We’ll be going out with a huge bang, so look out for our last gigs leading up to our closing party on Saturday 13th January. Until then, have a safe and happy Christmas.”
Since 2003, Ding Dong has hosted the likes of White Stripes, Leonard Cohen, Jimmy Barnes, Ed Sheeran, The Melvins, QOTSA, and thousands more.
