Following the sad news that the drawn-out battle to save Melbourne’s Palace Theatre has come to a bitter conclusion, members of the Australian music industry have spoken out about the historic live music venue’s imminent closure.
In a statement issued on Monday, the operators of the 2,000 capacity venue confirmed that “effective from the 31st May 2014, our business will cease to operate.”
The Palace’s pending closure has shocked the Save The Palace lobby group that have been championing so hard for its survival against being demolished by property developers Jinshan Investments, in order to construct a $180 million luxury hotel and apartment complex based on submitted proposals currently awaiting approval by City of Melbourne council.
The sad news has not only stunned live music fans and supporters, but also to the bands and touring promoters who have now found themselves presenting what will be the last ever shows booked at the iconic Melbourne venue. A group that includes RÜFÜS, Karnivool, sideshows from Jake Bugg and Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros for Bluesfest, and a gig from another of Australia’s biggest promoters, Soundwave.
“They don’t build theatres like these anymore,” Bluesfest’s Peter Noble tells Tone Deaf. “It is a crucial part of Melbourne’s cultural history – built at the turn of the century… [a] treasure.” “You can build carparks and apartments to your hearts’ content, but it doesn’t make your heart content, it makes your bank account content.” – Drew Goddard, Karnivool
The promoter has had a “nearly 30 year association” with The Palace – from its original St Kilda home adjacent to the Palais to its time as The Metro in downtown Melbourne – longer than his own flagship Byron Bay festival (which celebrates 25 years this April). He calls the dire situation “a tragedy for The Arts.”
“[It] shows the danger of allowing overseas business interests to buy a property, with an intention to demolish, and build a hotel. And when advised they don’t have permission – attempt to have the building cleared of its tenant, who fought for their right to continue to present the Arts there and who will presumably leave this beautiful theatre [to] decay and decline,” he laments.
Aussie prog titans Karnivool are among the last bands to play The Palace as part of their Groovin The Moo 2014 sideshows this May and are particularly passionate about preserving the theatre.
(A packed Palace crowd enjoying Karnivool. Photo: Len Panecki. Source: Karnivool, 8th January 2014 @ Palace Theatre)
When the ARIA-winning five-piece headlined the venue in January, they let their musical mate Ezekiel Ox (The Nerve/Mammal) to open with a rallying speech extolling the virtues of saving The Palace, and in turn, Australia’s live music scene.
In a forthcoming published interview with Tone Deaf, guitarist Drew Goddard discussed the benefits of protecting live music venues. “It’s a cultural thing, really. You can build carparks and apartments to your hearts’ content, but it doesn’t make your heart content, it makes your bank account content,” he illuminates.
“It doesn’t fulfil the wider community, what are you going to do if there’s nowhere for bands to play? Nowhere to have theatre, dance, music, film? [Art] is such an important part of society in general and I think a lot of people seem to forget that in their search for… everyone’s gotta make a dollar but really – can’t you just fuckin’ find somewhere else!?” he quizzes with an exasperated laugh. “[It’s] the only venue of its kind between 1400 and 2500 in Melbourne… come the end of May the shit will truly hit the fan.” – Chris O’Brien, Soundwave
“What else is there in Melbourne now, as far as that sized venue?”
Not much – if anything; which is precisely part of the problem, as Chris O’Brien of Soundwave Touring explains, “[It’s] the only venue of its kind between 1400 and 2500 in Melbourne.”
For Soundwave, who are touring Killswitch Engage at the venue this month, the Bourke Street theatre presents a key logistical touchstone in the Australian touring circuit.
“For promoters putting shows into The Tivoli [or] Eaton’s Hill (in Brisbane), the Roundhouse and Enmore/Big Top (in Sydney) there is now no option left in Melbourne,” O’Brien declares. “This will have a massive effect on the touring scene in Australia …and all for what? So we can have another fucking hotel in the CBD?”
The loss of the 1850-cap Palace leaves a major void to fill. The only other comparable options being upsizing (considerably to the 5,445-cap Festival Hall or the very distant, seated 2896-cap Palais) or downsizing (the costly 1500-cap Forum Theatre). A situation that “will pretty much fuck Melbourne[‘s] rock scene” as Soundwave boss AJ Maddah has previously articulated it.
O’Brien, his cohort, is equally saddened. “Sad is an understatement…devastated is a more accurate description. The venue has held host to some of the most important live acts of our generation,” he adds.
(Inside the current interior of the Palace Theatre. Source: Melbourne Heritage Action)
“Venues take years to establish themselves on the scene and dedicated people running them,” meaning the negative repercussions of losing the venue, says the promoter, may not “truly sunk in with a lot of people yet …come the end of May the shit will truly hit the fan.”
RÜFÜS have the honour of being the penultimate band to wheel their gear out the back door of The Palace when they play three massive nights – two already sold out – as part of their World Within Worlds in mid-May. Despite fulfilling their “dream come true” ambitions of playing a stage they’ve longed to grace since seeing Foals at The Palace on their 2013 tour, RÜFÜS’s good fortune comes with a bittersweet taste.
“It’s a big loss for Melbourne’s live scene,” says Jon George, the keys-and-percussion playing third of the Sydney indie electro trio. “Not in terms of the grass roots stuff. That scene in Melbourne is as strong as anywhere we’ve seen in the world. But, to lose a venue as beautiful as The Palace with 100 years of history, that’s a blow to any scene. There is so much history in the walls of a place like that,” he notes.
“Venues like this should be protected, we’d love to see local government step in and protect this space. It’s certainly worth preserving, that shouldn’t even be a question,” George urges.
“It’s the musical equivalent of knocking down one of the most well loved sporting grounds in the country.”
Final Gigs At The Palace, Melbourne
Friday 4th April – Darkside (Sold Out)
Friday 11th April – Tyga
Sunday 13th April – Killswitch Engage
Tickets: www.oztix.com.au / www.ticketek.com.au
Tuesday 15th April – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros (Bluesfest Sideshow)
Tickets: www.ticketek.com.au
Wednesday 16th April – Jake Bugg (Bluesfest Sideshow)
Thursday 17th April – Jake Bugg (Bluesfest Sideshow – Sold Out)
Tickets: www.ticketek.com.au
Friday 25th April – Skid Row & Ugly Kid Joe
Tuesday 29th April – John Newman
Thursday 1st May – Karnivool (Groovin The Moo Sideshow)
Tickets: www.karnivool.com/tour
Thursday 8th May – Dizzee Rascal (Groovin The Moo Sideshow)
Tuesday 13th May – RÜFÜS (3rd Show)
Wednesday 14th May – RÜFÜS (Sold Out)
Thursday 15th May – RÜFÜS (Sold Out)
Tickets: www.ticketek.com.au
Sunday 18th May – Last Ever Palace Show Details TBA
Full tickets and info here.
