Touring 2012.... come to Adelaide?
Just thought I'd share my thoughts about the live 'scene' and venue info while I'm bored at work. Join in y'all.
Interstate bands seem to be gigging here less. WHATSUP??
VENUES:
I recommend Format & Metro.
FORMAT
ace zine shop/ diy art/ basement venue
90 capacity?
solid guarantee and/or door deal. mixer provided
http://format.net.au/
Stan Mahoney contact@format.net.au
HOTEL METROPOLITAN (The Metro)
pub with dedicated band room, food AND ACCOMODATION!
120 capacity
solid guarantee and/or door deal. mixer provided
http://www.hotelmetro.com.au/
functions@hotelmetro.com.au
Damien Kelly dk@hotelmetro.com.au
THE EXETER (aka The Pub)
big ol busy pub, band squashed in the front room, vocal PA
http://www.theexeter.com.au
always packed full of randoms, free entry, guarantee. mixer provided
not the best sound for bands, but good as a bonus show/ extra money
http://www.theexeter.com.au
exeterhotelbands@gmail.com
THE JADE MONKEY
Beautiful dedicated live venue, great sound, shutting sometime in '12?
100 capacity?
http://www.myspace.com/thejademonkey
Zach & Naomi thejademonkey@bigpond.com
THE CROWN & ANCOR (The Cranker)
Previous gothy/ metal, under new management, now variety of musics
300 capacity? Smaller i reckon
Apparently they offer amazingly good guarantees, free entry
http://www.ripitup.com.au/venue/199
dboundy@thecranker.com.au
crancker@internode.on.net
JIVE
Dedicated live music venue
300+ capacity? For 'bigger' bands i reckon
Nice high stage w/ floor & balcony layout, but real 'funky' design ughgh
http://www.jivevenue.com
gigs@jivevenue.com
GRACE EMILY
Classic lil' old skool kitchy 'character' pub. Nice
60 capacity. Tiny, but sounds good, nice quiet vibes
Free entry/ guarantee. mixer provided/ mix yourself
Accomodation upstairs if you ask nicely!
http://www.myspace.com/graceemilyhotel
graceemily@ozemail.com.au
THE EDINBURGH CASTLE (Ed Castle)
Big shmick rennovated pub blurgh, nice beer garden, dedicated band room aka dining room
100+ capacity??
No idea about band deals. Lots of DJ things...
http://www.edinburghcastlehotel.com
info@fivefourentertainment.com.au
action@edinburghcastlehotel.com
ROCKET BAR
Dancy cool hipster venue (says I)
200 capacity
Dunno bout money/ mixer these days
http://www.rocketbar.com.au
info@rocketbar.com.au
FOWLERS LIVE
Big professional (warehousy looking) venue
500 capacity, allegedly, looks like 700 to me
http://www.fowlerslive.com.au
fowlerslive@internode.on.net
THE GOVERNOR HINDMARSH (the Gov)
Big professional venue NOT in the city, international + big bands
700+ fancy venue, also books 100 capacity front bar, but... nah
Delicious food!
Book big venue Melissa@thegov.com.au
Book front bar frontbargigs@thegov.com.au
http://www.thegov.com.au/
Other venues: Enigma, Crown & Sceptre, Queens Theatre, Squatters Arms, Rhino Room, Thebarton Theatre, Tuxedo Cat....
TOURING TO ADELAIDE, FOR DUMMIES:
POSTERING: go on, have a poster in the venue for fcks sake, and maybe around the city. email Colin to do some bloody cheap postering promo in exchange for a free ticket, merch or pocket money colbaby@airnet.com.au
MAKE FRIENDS + SPAM: the venue will be empty unless local street press likes you, which they DO NOT. So you should play with nice local bands who bring friends. MAKE a facebook event! And don't book a night where there's competition in town. Sorry. We small balls.
ACCOMODATION: Crash with the bands you're playing with OR stay dirt cheap at the Metro.
CHEAP DOOR: If you're charging at the door, $10 is probably too much.
* PROFIT: So you take $100 - $1000 from door sales (local bands are usually generous with the splits), AND/ OR take a guarantee of $350 - $1000 (Format, Metro, Exeter, Cranker), plus you sell MERCH. You don't have to pay for accomodation. You borrow backline. You don't pay for a sound mixer. You get free drinks all night. You might even get free dinner, or else eat in the Central Markets Food Court for $6 each. It costs you $3.80 each one way to get the airport Jetbus straight to the Metro in the city (15 minutes), or you drive yourself to Adelaide in a borrowed car.
Sooooooo why aren't you here yet???? FFS
Good thread. Will be back in Adelaide in '12 for sure.
jade monkey is closing? really? that's a shame.
the gov is not really 'out of the city' as much as it's on the city fringe. great venue for bands of a bigger status.
the metro has had more and more bands play there of late - i think jack ladder sold it out on pre-sales which is pretty rare in adelaide these days.
What happened to Heaven on West Terrace? Saw Evan Dando make a complete dick of himself there many years ago.
Fucking great thread. Kudos.
My band will be in Adelaide in March. Adelaide people are fun party gig times AND it isn't too far from Melbourne (relatively speaking)
Where will YOU be?
Name some popular local bands.
on ya steph!
Old Mate & Major Crimes are killin it right now
what's your band??
Here
Wow! Comprehensive! I might have to forward this to a few friends
http://vimeo.com/34732514
aah brain fade. i did know that already. soz!
Great list. And yeah, the future of The Jade Monkey is unknown at this stage, which sucks, because it is a great music based venue (as opposed to sticking the bands in the corner lets make some money off of drinks type of deal).
Not sure if Rocket are still booking bands, nor the Ed Castle. I haven't been to either for a long time, but the last few times it's just been DJ's or dance type things. Also, Matt Hills is now the mixer at the Cranker (Crown & Anchor).
As for bands (and this is the stuff I like, so it is skewed)…
The Burning Sea (98% instrumental band. For fans of Mogwai / Russian Circles / Polvo etc. Features 3 guitarists, bass, drums and synth… Ex-Diplomat, SWORDS, Bad Girls Of The Bible and Love Like… Electrocution)
Damned Men (new band, think The Jesus Lizard / Young Widows / Wolverine Brass / Louisville post-rock)
Sparkspitter (instrumental, drummer loops slide guitar then plays over the top. Awesome guitarist and bass player as well. Sometimes has a Battles-esque vibe, but less ''electronic''. Sort of)
Nebraska (skramz when it was still called screamo, think Love Like… Electrocution and the late 90's / early nineties post-hardcore and that sort of thing. Really good.)
Coerce (search for them on here, features a certain chat on bass duties)
Oh yeah, under the Jade Monkey is Two Ships. I think they might be doing instrumental shows there soon... tiny capacity (50) though. If not, it's good for pre- and post-Jade Monkey show drinks.
Also, other bands I have seen, but can't really vouch for (due to only seeing them once, or it was a poor mix or something)…
Steering By Stars (shoe-gazey), No Action (post-rock-ish I think?), Robotosaurus (metal / hardcore / spazz / etc), Night Hag (see Robotosaurus).
ALL TYPES OF
SOME BANDS:
Faux Friendss aka
Rites Wild aka
Terrible Truths aka
Weed Capital aka
Staci Wilson aka
s/w
is moving to Melbourne (traitor), but I'm sure can be of assistance on occassion for ppl wanting Adelaide band info
http://www.facebook.com/fauxfriends
Major Crimes aka
Mens Health aka
Callan Visser and co
http://soundcloud.com/fauxfriends/major-crimes-the-dime
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=522579579&sk=info
Fair Maiden aka
Birth Glow aka
Ellen Carey
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=723844865
http://www.myspace.com/fairmaidenmusic
Fake Tan
http://www.facebook.com/pages/FAKE-TAN/140903222601469
Old Mate aka
Pat Telfer aka
Fred Soque
http://www.facebook.com/patrick.telfer
http://vimeo.com/34732514
Friends aka
Ben Quici, books nights at the Metro
http://www.facebook.com/pages/FRIENDSband/267351771339
http://friends49.bandcamp.com/
No Action
http://www.facebook.com/theresnoaction
Guilt Free aka
Xixi Cao aka
great photographer
http://www.facebook.com/xixi.cao
Avant Gardeners aka
Sandy Cenin plays in a bunch of bands
http://www.facebook.com/AVANTGARDENERS
Matt Hayward books some bands, plays in bands, sometimes djs?
http://www.facebook.com/unicornsexist
Collarbones
http://www.facebook.com/collarbonesband
Like Leaves
http://www.facebook.com/likeleavesmusic
Doe
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=144762125540576
Gold Bloom
http://www.facebook.com/goldbloomband
Sincerely Grizzly
http://www.facebook.com/sincerelygrizzly
The Sea Thieves
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Sea-Thieves/76213794084
Curses
http://www.facebook.com/cursesmusic
Damned Men
new band
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Damned-Men/217986578267771
Glisk
http://www.facebook.com/gliskmusic
Grong Grong
http://www.facebook.com/pages/grong-grong/126303177398067?ref=ts
Queen of Fucking Everything
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Queen-of-Fucking-Everything/131802206887364
Fire! Santa Rose! Fire!
http://www.facebook.com/firesantarosafire
Hawks of Alba
http://www.facebook.com/hawksofalba
The Burning Sea
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Burning-Sea/315493560262
Sparkspitter
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sparkspitter/214998665194563
Where's Ricochet Pete and Cock and Kamikaze?
I can't access FB now (Over my limit) little help?
Also... THIS
I have seen really good interstate bands play to no-one because of lack of promotion and / or there is another show on the same night.
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Agreed Velodrone!
$350ish guarantee (free entry) at the Metro or Exeter, will cover your petrol if you drive from Melbourne (inc driving snacks). Party on. And if you do a second show at the Cranker or Format (with different bands) and even have a current reviewed album out - you're laughin'. HAAAAAA
Re: CRANKER, they've changed management and the live stuff is kinda changing too from the sounds of things. Broadening the horizons/ tastes, so to speak. It doesn't have a dedicated live music crowd quite yet, but I think they've started reaching out to bands more, putting no 'nights' like Crank Yankers, and offering really good guarantees.
They may even still have some Flying Nun Anniversary Ale left. Definitely one of the pricey ones though.
This is great - thanks. I'm trying to organise a particular Melbourne band to come over here post-Fringe season (April maybe) but even as an Adelaide guy, I'm finding it slow going. In the next week I'm going to literally hit the pavement a couple of days / nights and speak to various bar managers and stuff. I've sent off the occasional email / FB message and rarely get replies which shits me no end. I even got verbally shut down by the manager of a venue when suggesting the band...couldn't even finish my conversation or explain what I was trying to do. Damn, that was cold.
I'm possibly leaning toward Rocket or the Jade Monkey (aiming for a crowd of 120-150 or even more if things all fall into place), but the Cranker changing musical direction intrigues me. Format looks interesting, but possibly too small (do they have an alcohol license). I've heard great things about the guys at the Metro and have been to a few great gigs there lately, but I'm not sold on the aesthetics of the place (yeah, I'm a wanker). I'll definitely give them a shot.
The Ed Castle are still doing bands, they advertise well and get a good (often slightly younger crowd) in part due to their FB spam ;) I've been to a few gigs that I otherwise wouldn't have known about due to their online promotion. I never heard back from them regarding doing a gig there though :(
I don't know about $10 being too much. I'm probably looking at $12-15 for this particular gig. I find that some Adelaide people are tightarses, but if you make it good value for money (I'm thinking 3 or maybe 4 bands) and advertise it well, people will come.
As far as 'good' bands go, my current faves are Ride Into The Sun, Lady Strangelove, Van Cleef and The Beards... ;) But seriously, The Beards would guarantee anyone a 200+ crowd if you could get them as a support act, hehe.
I can't remember the last time I saw a band at Rocket. Seriously. And between you and I (and this forum) it is the WORST place to load in and out of. Sounds great on stage, but carrying any types of amps up and down those stairs and dealing with that part of Hindley Street is horrible. And loading out through a nightclub is a bit shit too.
Format has a liquor license too.
Depending on your entry fee, the Melbourne would have to be pretty well known to charge $12-15 at the door. It's not so much Adelaide people are tightarses, but the more it is, the less people will go. It's a fine line. I like $8-$10 entry for a more well known Adelaide band, $5-$7 for less well known.
But judging by the bands you listed, we obviously move in different circles (although I know the bass player of the Van Cleef) and $12-15 might be normal door charge for those bands.
Also, the Metro band room is good. The place does give off a weird vibe, but I enjoy seeing bands in that room and the fact there is no real stage. More personal and stuff.
What are some good sites/blogs to find upcoming adelaide events?
As much as I love the interior and sound at Rocket, the points made are very valid. Hmmm, gotta think this one through a bit. And I haven't even gotten in touch with them yet, I'm waiting on a couple of things, so I'm not sure if live shows are a goer in the venue.
Spoke to a guy at Metro. They're great. Very helpful and positive. And more than keen - a 'standard' deal was bandied about before any details were really discussed - sweet! Have to check the place out during daylight hours and when not full of beer. ;)
If you like Steering By Stars, you'd like Ride Into The Sun too I reckon :) Not usually my sort of music, but definitely catchy, the guys are doing their own thing, and definitely on the up and up (they've played about 50 shows in the last year!).
The band I'm aiming to bring over isn't of itself well known, but there's a following from those that know about them...and there was a massive Australia wide following of the former (now defunct) band in the 90s and early 2000s. Whether you liked them or not, you knew about them, haha. But yeah, I do need to carefully think about pricing, it is a fine line as you said.
This has been very helpful :) However, at the moment I'm still pretty evenly split between Rocket, Metro or Jade. Hmmm.
Re: UPCOMING EVENTS
I don't know any really reliable sites to find out what's on... that's a bummer. Anyone?
Best I can come up with is dB and RIU: Rip It Up has a local gig guide and tour guide, but I know from experience they don't necessarily always have everything listed - they don't always have updated stuff for Format and Metro etc. Same deal with dB Magazine...
http://www.ripitup.com.au
http://www.dbmagazine.com.au/536/a-fridge.shtml
y'all can submit your upcoming events to the ABOVE press outlets, and to LastFM.com, Spoz's rant, Three D Radio and all over the shop if you can be bothered. I don't bother, usually just spam FB and do posters. i find out about most events by subscribing to adelaide venues/ bands/ street press on Facebook.
Also, if you wanna promote something special in Adelaide, Hélène Sobolewski writes for the 'Adelaide Now' and 'Adelaide Confidential' sections in THE ADVERTISER - the main major newspaper in SA. There're a couple of writers there who occasionally include a tiny snippet about local bands, as well as d-grade celebrity sightings. I wouldn't say you're necessarily gonna reach a lot of people who would attend your shows though....
sobolewskih@adv.newsltd.com.au
Music SA have a gig guide and tour guide (as well as a guide to Adelaide bands playing elsewhere). http://www.musicsa.com.au/
Nice!
And Five Thousand online magazine!!!
http://thethousands.com.au/adelaide/
So, where do Adelaide bands record then? I'm coming over to do bass and guitar overdubs for three days. All I need is two separated rooms, some speakers, leads and stands. I'll be bringing mics and ProTools rig. Any suggestions for cheap studio/space?
Hmm i dunno. Mostly record at home. i'm outta touch!!
Have recorded at Broadcast, and Hillside. Mixmasters would be a bit more pricey... Matt Hills also has some rehearsal rooms that would be suitable i reckon...
http://spoz.blogspot.com/2010/03/behind-scenes-at-hillside-studios.html
http://www.myspace.com/hillsiderecordings
http://www.adelaiderecordingstudios.com.au/broadcaststudios.htm
http://www.mixmasters.com.au/studio/mixstudio.htm
I know some peeps have gotten ace recordings using Format basement venue as a makeshift studio, with the help of Pat Lockwood.
http://www.facebook.com/patchlockwood
There's also Capital Sounds.
http://www.myspace.com/capitalsoundstudios
Jetty Bar is also a great gig for rock bands:
Saturday Nights Only - Front bar of modern hotel fronting on Jetty Rd Glenelg
150 capacity? good possibility of walk ins from Jetty rd
solid guarantee. mixer provided
Alana St. Vincent: alana_stvincent@yahoo.com.au
X L N T
hey peeps,
i manage steering by stars, used to manage others and book the hotel metro (w/ banham), live with pat lockwood (and can always offer a free couch at our place in exchange for the same courtesy in your hometown sometime) and can generally help with shows if need be.
drop us a line if you need help in adelaide! it's not that bad a place really!
matthayward.management@gmail.com
I can vouch for Phallic
Not that it really affects many bands, but the [Crown & Sceptre has closed](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-07-18/crown-and-sceptre-closes-hotels-associatio n/4137706?section=business).
Try that again...
Crown & Sceptre has closed.