In Hearts Wake Gig Evacuated After Fan Sets Fire To Aussie Venue

One of Australia’s hardest-working bands, In Hearts Wake, are currently in the midst of an extensive regional tour. The band are known for their ability to light up any venue they hit up, but that reputation became a little too literal over the weekend.

The band were performing the last song of their set during an all ages gig at the Brisbane Hotel, a much-loved hard rock and heavy music venue in Hobart, when smoke began to fill the venue, forcing venue owners to evacuate everyone inside.

“Some rat bag sparked a fire in the bathroom during the last song,” the band wrote on Facebook, accompanying the post with a fairly spectacular photo of frontman Jake Taylor on stage, cast in shadow and surrounded by smoke.

“We finished ‘Skydancer’ in a cloud of smoke. Foolish acts like that can ruin it for everyone, so whoever it was, wise up. Props to everyone who hung around outside with us afterwards and to our tour manager for extinguishing the hazard.”

According to Jake, the fire was sparked in the men’s restroom. “During the final song of our set we all began to smell smoke and it wasn’t burnt toast. Someone had lit a fire in the men’s bathrooms using paper towels,” he told Tone Deaf.

“It was only small but it was enough to smoke the entire venue out, setting off the fire alarms. Ash and smoke started wafting across the stage in the last chorus of ‘Skydancer’.” Luckily, Brisbane Hotel staff and the band’s tour manager acted quickly.

“Our tour manager and the staff of the Brisbane Hotel immediately extinguished the fire before it could do any real damage. Everyone in the building was promptly evacuated and no one was hurt. The patrons were very understanding as we hung outside with them all afterwards.”

While no one was hurt during the incident, Jake acknowledged that the potential for disaster was there, admonishing the unidentified arsonist for putting one of Tasmania’s best venues and the lives of those inside in jeopardy.

“Heavy music venues in Australia (especially in Tasmania) are few and far between,” he said. “Not really sure as to why someone would jeopardize one of Tassies most monumental venues, let alone the precious lives of others.”

“Or perhaps they were just off it that we didn’t include their favourite track ‘Wildfire’ in the set? I guess we’ll never know.” In Hearts Wake will continue their national regional tour at the Plaza Tavern in Hoppers Crossing this Thursday.