The Eatons Hill Hotel has undergone a giant revamp in a massive operation to expand the live music capabilities of the venue, including hiring the former lead guitarist of one of Australia’s most iconic rock outfits as the new band booker.
Powderfinger founder and guitar legend Ian Haug has been graced with the title of Director of Live Entertainment at what is touted to be Brisbane’s newest and most exciting live music venue.
Robert Comiskey, head of the Comiskey Group responsible for the development, had exciting visions to place the well known Brisbane pub on the map as one of Australia’s leading music venues. Comiskey’s vision included hosting a mammoth assortment of world-class acts, which Ian Haug’s rolodex of contacts and years of experience should help make achievable.
Haug’s new title as Director of Live Entertainment will enable him to book huge acts within a diverse range of genres, or as the venue’s press release puts it: “The Eatons Hill is not genre prejudice, just as long as you are prepared to put on a great fucking show.”
“After 25 years experience playing in venues everywhere, I can honestly say that this is up there with all the best places in the world for a mid sized venue,” said the Powderfinger guitarist-turned band booker. “I wish this was an option when Powderfinger were still playing shows. This is a world class venue for bands and the fans alike,” said Haug in the press release.
Both Comiskey and Haug recognise the demise of many of Brisbane’s legendary live music venues, and are confident that teaming up will bring life back into Brisbane’s entertainment culture. “I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved so far with our venue. Having Ian on board ensures that the sky’s the limit for our future,” said Comiskey. “I wish this was an option when Powderfinger were still playing shows. This is a world class venue for bands and the fans alike.” – Ian Haug
As The Shout explains, the expansion of the Eatons Hill Hotel includes an adaption of the Grand Ballroom, adopting a new state of the art $350k audio system. Not to mention the added flexibility of cutting down the 2000 capacity venue to a more intimate setting comfortably holding 500 punters.
The ballroom’s new layout, with its quality sight lines, ensures its ability to host all ages shows with a segmented underage section upstairs and over 18’s downstairs able to share the same musical experience at the same time.
Holding their first live gig in 2011, The Eatons Hill Hotel is no stranger to big acts, housing the likes of Prince, Marylin Manson, Refused, Descendents, The Potbellies, and many more.
The aim of bringing Haug on board is that the venue will welcome hundreds more stellar acts both local and international, ultimately filling the gap that is missing in Brisbane’s live music industry, providing the perfect place for acts to refine their show with a warm up before stepping into stadiums and arenas.
Haug can ultimately benefit from his new partnership, as the venue is located in the Northern Suburbs, a stone’s throw from his own recording space, Airlock Studios.
Located conveniently nearby the hotel, Haug could soon be recommending many upcoming Australian acts that have performed at the Eatons Hill to head down the road to his studio space.
Known for his generosity, Haug has previously traded gardening labour for studio time with Brisbane rock band Mosman Alder.
In an interview with Tone Deaf, frontman Valdis Valodze recalled how, “we were thinking of some place to record and Ian, who owns the studio, has a fairly big property and needed some help,” explains Valodze, “so we had a deal with him, where in exchange for yard work, we’d get studio time.”
“It was a good bonding experience,” he continued, “everyone in the band getting to plant trees and cut things down, just hang out. Knowing that we were working towards free studio time and saving a lot of money. It was a big deal.”
While Haug has been busy with his studio and new role as band booker, other Powderfinger alumni have also making strides in their solo career. Guitarist Darren Middleton joined Something For Kate’s latest tour at the close of 2012, guesting during the encore of several shows, while lead singer Bernard Fanning is working on a second anticipated solo album this year, with a national tour also on the cards.
Fanning outlined a taste of what to expect on the new album: “It’s mostly soulful rock. A little more keyboard and a little more mongrel,” he adds. “I have always had major problems trying to describe what I am doing.”
