The Hi-Fi bars have been rebranded

The three Hi-Fi bars in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane will be booked by The Venue Collective (TVC) and rebranded.

The announcement was made today by the new licensed manager, Max Watt’s Operating Pty Ltd, which took over the titles earlier this month.

Taking over from previous booker James Power, TVC will handle band bookings nationally and social media marketing. The move marks the beginning of a new business model with Max Watt’s CEO, Greg Bourke revealing all three venues “will be rebranded to Max Watt’s over the next few weeks with renovations and upgraded sound and light systems.”

“We’ve been able to save these venues from certain closure and believe there is a bright future given a professional management regime,” said Bourke. “Recent failures of venues across Australia are evidence of the poor returns for venues - now is the time for a new business model.”

The bars entered administration in February when a dispute between operator The Hi-Fi Group and the major creditor could not be resolved.

Ashlea O'Loughlin at TVC is the current booker for all three venues while all existing Hi-Fi venue staff staying on.

The Venue Collective is an independent venue programming entity formed last year by former staff of Way Over There and the Corner Hotel. It looks after the Corner Hotel, Northcote SC, Newtown SC, Shebeen, 170 Russell and Woolly Mammoth.

Ben Thompson, Director of TVC, said: “Many classic and iconic Australian venues have closed down in recent times. It now seems a simple fact that venues cannot afford a dedicated programming and publicity team in-house. The prime objective of The Venue Collective is to lower the overheads involved with booking, publicity and advertising, with the aim to keep live music venues sustainable so that they can continue providing artists with places to play around Australia.”

Upcoming shows posted on new Hi-Fi website www.maxwatts.com.au include Blackstreet, Architects, Peaches, You Me At Six and A$AP Ferg. Max Watt’s will honour all existing bookings and tickets.