Venue woes: what’s ahead for Howler and the Cambo?

Several iconic music venues around the country are facing their share of challenges. 

Howler on Michael Street in the Melbourne suburb of Brunswick is under threat from inner city developers. Plans filed with Moreland Council for a new eight-storey apartment block saw some of the bedrooms overlook the venue’s 400-capacity bandroom. 

This of course leaves Howler vulnerable to noise complaints – even though it is technically protected by the Agent of Change provision which would see the developer responsible for sound proofing.

Public consultation ended on July 10. The next step, co-owner Brendan Brogan told TMN, is a roundtable meeting with Council and developers, probably in three weeks.

A social media campaign to protest to the Council “had a fantastic response, astronomical, better than we expected. It went wider than Howler patrons, which was encouraging.”

The future of Newcastle’s Cambridge Hotel as a music venue still remains hazy after it was put on the market for the first time in 20 years, along with the adjoining site, in late June. Expressions of interest close on August 8, with “a conceptual scheme for 153 apartments”.

The ad, which is appearing in current real estate listings, states that the venue operator “has expressed a willingness to re-establish within a new project.”

“From where we stand, we have six years remaining on our lease and have no intentions of going anywhere anytime soon,” The Cambridge’s management said when the news emerged.

“We have been in discussions with the current and potential new owners of The Cambo to do everything we can to keep Newcastle’s most iconic live music venue true to its name.”

Meanwhile it’s business as usual, with bookings continuing. Josh Pyke plays on July 29, Tex Don & Charlie on September 8 and Tonight Alive on November 3.

And a longtime Adelaide live music spot The Colonel Light Hotel in Currie Street has closed its doors for the second time in two years. 

In 2015, it closed its doors briefly because of tough trading conditions. 

This time it’s because its parent company, Darren Ireland’s Dare N Hotels and Entertainment Pty Ltd, saw the Federal Court approve a winding-up application. 

The action was brought by lender Scottish Pacific Finance in April. Worrells Solvency and Forensic Accountants were appointed liquidators.

The Canberra Stadium is also facing the bullet. The ACT Government, which rents the 40-year old venue for $350,000 a year, has said that it would buy the stadium “if the price was right” but would then demolish it and sell the land to fund the building of a new venue in Civic for $400 million to $500 million.

But it’s not all doom and gloom in venueland. Last week, TMN reported that Bunbury’s only nightclub The Exit had abruptly closed, blaming a poor economy and "the negative public opinion for the lifetime of the club’s operation". 

But last weekend, the club was revived under new management and ownership.

They’ve initiated a new dress code (no sneakers, thongs, beanies or steel-cap boots) and will re-open it this Saturday from 9pm to 4am.

Want more venue news? Christie Eliezer’s Festivals & Venues Update is a weekly column exclusive to TMN members. Send tips, press releases and questions to info@themusicnetwork.com