Today, some of the famous venues that lead the music pulse of Melbourne include The Corner, The Forum, Northcote Social Club, The Croxton, The Tote, Bar Open, Howler and Memo Music Hall.
However, the live music landscape has changed significantly over the years in terms of volume, scope and manpower. In 2015, Dr Sarah Taylor carried out her PhD thesis investigating the changing nature of live music in Melbourne and Sydney, which produced a number of fascinating findings.
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Specifically, we've found that Melbourne's music bubble has become more centralized — meaning more concerts are happening in the city center and fewer shows in the suburbs. In the past, there were fewer bands playing more concerts, and multiple concerts a night, often traveling around the city to do so.
As a result, there are now more performers and shows available. Many iconic music venues have also closed over the years, but some have closed and reopened, while others have stood the test of time and survived.
To celebrate the live music institutions that have played such an important role in Melbourne's live music community over the past 30 years, we've compiled a list of the most famous names – do any of these stand out in your memory?
Palace
The Palace Theatre deserves to be at the top of the list, and it remains a shame that it doesn't exist today. The theatre opened in April 1912 and was used variously as a cinema, musical theatre, nightclub and live music venue, hosting artists such as Queens of the Stone Age, Arctic Monkeys, The Black Keys and George Clinton during its time.
Despite strong resistance from Melbourne's music community, the venue was bought by a Chinese developer in late 2012 and closed in 2014. Protests continued into 2016 and were appealed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) to no avail. Demolition began at the site in February 2020.
Pastor
Reverence Hotel is an iconic hotel that has been a pillar of Melbourne's live music community since taking over the former Exchange Hotel in 2012. It has hosted some of the biggest names in punk rock and heavy music, including Jeff Rosenstock, Foxing, Teenage Bottlerocket and AJJ.
Locally, the space was home to many talented musicians, including The Smith Street Band (when the band's drummer, Matt Bodiam, was the owner), Luca Brasi, Camp Cope, and The Bennies. The Rev officially closed in March 2019.
Punters Club
A beloved Fitzroy venue for decades, The Punters Club was located where Bimbo is now. The club attracted national and international acclaimed artists and maintained a rugged, intimate atmosphere where audiences would often sit on the floor during shows. The club influenced the debuts of bands such as Spiderbait, Magic Dart, Frente! and You Am I, but closed in February 2002.
Brunswick Hotel
The Brunswick Hotel, located on the corner of Sydney Road and Weston Street in Brunswick, was a beloved live music mecca from 2009 to 2019. The story behind its closure is tragic: the venue closed in March 2018 after “a genius straight out of driving school accidentally stepped on a fire hydrant in front of the venue, causing a ton of water to flow directly into our beloved pub.” Sadly, the venue never opened again.
Ferdi Dulque
Section 8's sister venue, Ferdydurke, offered a relaxed spot in the CBD. The loft bar had charming décor, was adorned with absurdist art, was warmed by a fireplace and hosted DJs and jam nights on stage. When the nights got long, Ferdy was always there for a quick drink. Sadly it closed in April 2024, but thankfully Section 8 is still going strong.
Ding Dong Lounge
Ding Dong was a CBD staple for live music and maintained that status for nearly 15 years. It was also a great place for late-night dancing, with DJs spinning tunes late on Friday and Saturday nights. During its run, Ding Dong hosted artists like The White Stripes, Leonard Cohen, and Ed Sheeran in its band room before finally closing in January 2018.
Continental Cafe
From 1993 to 2001, The Continental Café was a cornerstone of Melbourne's live music scene, located on Greville Street in Prahran, just around the corner from Greville Records. The venue was affectionately known as 'The Conti' and was renowned for its ever-changing cultural presence, hosting live music from big names such as Paul Kelly, Archie Roach, Vika and Linda Bull and Deborah Conway, as well as comedy shows and exhibitions.
Pony
Where Cherry Bar is now, previously Bonny's, and before that Pony was a long-standing fixture on Little Collins Street, which closed in 2013 after operating as an after-hours entertainment venue for over a decade. It was in shambles and although people loved the place, rising rents forced the place to change ownership.
Bendigo Hotel
Ah, Bendi. This humble stick carpet has welcomed outsiders, alternative kids, goths and metalheads. Many of the city's heavyweight musicians got their start in Bendi's band rooms. With a free pool and heritage-listed space, we'll be sad to see this Bendigo go. It's closing in March 2024.
Greyhound
The Greyhound Hotel was a linchpin of St Kilda's vibrant live music scene throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s. The Greyhound became a second home to beloved musician Fred Negro and helped launch his career, but it was converted into a gay bar in 2007 before being demolished in 2017 to make way for high-rise apartment blocks.
Shebeen
Located in Melbourne's CBD, Shebeen was a venue unlike any other. It was run as a charity, with 100% of the venue's profits going to people in developing countries. But I was saddened to find out that Shebeen was closing down in 2016 after noise complaints from annoyed neighbours at Melbourne East Police Station.
Empress
Today, The Empress is known as a popular pub on Nicholson Street, but it was once a lively live music hangout run by Sandra Ungson. The Empress grew in popularity in the 1980s and managed to survive the constant cycle of gentrification until 2013. The venue previously underwent renovations at a cost of up to $40,000 to soundproof and reduce noise complaints.
Art House
The Arthouse was legendary. From 1991 to 2011, the venue enjoyed monumental status, characterized by diversity and pluralism. When I spoke to its owner, Mel Bodiam, towards the time of its closure, she praised the venue for its inclusivity.
“I think the most important thing is that everyone has their own story and no matter what scene or genre of music you like, Arthouse is really a place for everyone,” Bodiam said.
Arty could have had a metal night one night, a punk show the next and a rockabilly gig the third night – that was the vibe at this beloved venue.
East Brunswick Club
The site where the East Brunswick Hotel now stands was home to an earlier venue that was a standout on Melbourne's music scene in the early 2000s. Called the East Brunswick Club, it hosted bands like The Temper Trap, The Drones and Jets before closing in 2012 when owners Pete and Pam Benjamin retired.
Central Club Hotel
Richmond's Central Club Hotel has been a favorite of inner-city live music lovers for years. While the venue has always been a great place to enjoy cheap gigs in a small, intimate bandroom, the Central Club has also hosted big name artists like INXS, Men at Work, and BB King.
Baby Snake
Baby Snakes, a party spot in Melbourne's west, featured DJs, cool artists and residencies. It was known for its natural wines, cocktail list and as a meeting place for Footscray's cool kids. The venue will close in December 2023 and be replaced by the much-loved Mistofitz.
Rob Roy Hotel
Before it became what it is today, the Workers Club was the Rob Roy Hotel. This Fitzroy hotspot established itself as a go-to spot for cheap concerts, hosting the likes of Lou Barlow (ex-Dinosaur Jr.), Australian rock band Love of Diagrams and American singer-songwriter Richard Buckner, who goes by the name Rob Roy.
Duke of Windsor
What's now Lucky Koch was once the popular South Side venue, the Duke of Windsor, which served as a key platform for rock 'n' rollers Jett and held a special place in the hearts of music lovers across the city.
Liberty Social
Liberty Social was a popular inner-city live music spot in the early 2000s. Before it closed in 2015, the venue hosted well-known local and international bands and a host of DJs to keep the parties going. Apart from that, Liberty Social was a bar that catered to late-night drinking parties.
Special Award (40 years old and above)
Crystal Ballroom
Part of the old Seaview Hotel on Fitzroy Street, the St Kilda Crystal Ballroom was an iconic venue for Melbourne's punk scene in the late 70s and 80s. Famous for hosting Nick Cave's birthday parties, it also hosted acts such as Dead Can Dance and Crime and the City Solution. The list of local and international artists who have played here is endless, testifying to its importance – including Iggy Pop, INXS, The Cure, Echo & The Bunnymen and more. For a dose of nostalgia, check out the classic film Dogs in Space, which plays a major role in the background.
Ancient Greek Theatre
What began as the National Theatre became the hub of Melbourne's burgeoning Greek community in the '60s and became known as the Old Greek, but things really took off in the '80s, with legendary bands like TISM, The Saints, The Pogues, The Cramps and Cosmic Psychos playing here.
Interested in another light read? Check out our article on 23 things we did on a night out in Melbourne.