Former triple j hosts Kyran Wheatley and Alex Dyson teaming up for a new venture, though it’s not quite what you’d expect.
Ask anyone from Melbourne and they’ll tell you that it’s pretty hard to keep up with the comings and goings of the big city, as bars and venues open and close like a garage door.
However, when Kyran Wheatley and Alex Dyson realised that CBD bar Hairy Little Sista had shut down, they were feeling pretty hard done by. So of course, they did what any upstanding citizen would do, and decided to turn the place into a new pop-up establishment.
Dubbed Balding Older Brother, the Little Collins Street establishment is set to open later this month, and will serve as a hangout that caters for the countless comedy fans in town for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
“We would hang out there every year, so when I walked past and saw the CLOSED sign, I was shocked,” Kyran Wheatley explained. “This wasn’t a GONE FISHIN’ sign; this looked serious.”
“A phone call to Alex and a few flat white’s later the master plan for BOB bar was in place.”
“We woke up late the morning after our coming-up-with-name party and realised we had more work to do, namely- find some help ASAP,” added Alex Dyson.
https://twitter.com/kyranwheatley/status/1106024078870142976
Thankfully, the pair hooked up with Bellingin Brewery designer/operator Benji Mayes who managed to point them in the right direction.
Also teaming up with Melbourne brewery Stomping Ground, the trio scored some pretty useful advice on how to run a pop-up, while brewing their own beer in the process – a super-pale ale named Laughing Matter.
“It is important to us to support the culture of Melbourne, and as big comedy fans we were excited to get involved when Alex and Kyran presented us with this opportunity,” explained Steve Jeffares, co-founder of Stomping Ground Brewing Co.
“There was a quick turnaround but we love a challenge!”
Of course, with a lot on their plate already, Kyran Wheatley and Alex Dyson have decided to take things one step further, using the soon-to-be-opened bar as the recording location for their new comedy podcast, Mirth.
Recorded live every day of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Mirth will feature a pretty diverse mix of comedians who are in town for the annual festival.
Making its debut over the weekend, the first episode saw acclaimed comedian (and fiancé of Kyran Wheatley) Rhys Nicholson drop by, while Melbourne musician Woodes also turned up.
“All Melbournians are invited to come and watch Mirth live each day from 5pm,” Wheatley explained. “We’ll have comedians popping in, special guest hosts at times, and would love to get audience interaction happening too.”
“Provided it fits within the confines of our Public Liability Insurance.”
Balding Older Brother (or BOB Bar, as brevity dictates) is set to throw open its door on Wednesday, March 27th, and will be open from 12pm to 1am each day. Be quick though, it’ll only be around until April 21st.
So if you’re in town for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, or are a fan of watering holes run and organised by former triple j hosts, then you might want to check out Balding Older Brother before it recedes for good.
Check out the trailer for Mirth:
BOB Bar
240 Little Collins St, Melbourne, VIC
Opens Wednesday, March 27th, 12pm-1am
