NewsBite

Adelaide laneways to be named after local music legends Cold Chisel, The Angels, Paul Kelly and Sia

Fancy a cold beer on Cold Chisel Lane? This will soon be a reality as the city finally honours its musical icons.

Adelaideans will soon be able to drink a beer on Cold Chisel Lane or grab a coffee in Angels Alley, with four laneways to be renamed in honour of the city’s rich musical heritage.

Singer-songwriter Paul Kelly and pop singer and writer to the stars Sia will also have thoroughfares named after them after the City Council approved a plan first mooted by the Sunday Mail in 2018.

The move reflects efforts in other cities to recognize their musical heroes, such as AC/DC Lane in Melbourne and Go Betweens Bridge in Brisbane.

The Lord Mayor of Adelaide Sandy Verschoor said that the City of Adelaide was proud to honour its music history.

“The City of Adelaide is committed to celebrating Adelaide’s status as a world UNESCO City of Music, promoting our renowned musical heritage and thriving music industry,” the Lord Mayor said.

MUSIC LEGENDS: 'The Angels' (L-R) Buzz Bidstrup, John Brewster, Doc Neeson, Rick Brewster and Chris Bailey Photo: Lloydjustin
MUSIC LEGENDS: 'The Angels' (L-R) Buzz Bidstrup, John Brewster, Doc Neeson, Rick Brewster and Chris Bailey Photo: Lloydjustin

“This project is a way that we can showcase our live music culture while celebrating these musicians who had their roots in Adelaide and then went on to take on the world.

“Naming a laneway after these wonderful artists allows us to applaud their contribution and influence on music while also inviting members of the public to visit the sites as a music tourism destination.”

Angels guitarist and founding member John Brewster-Jones said the band was honoured to have a city lane named in its honour.

“The Angels connection to Adelaide began in 1970 as the Moonshine Jug and String Band, with four wonderful years playing music from the 1920s and earlier blues music with kazoos, washboard, washtub bass, harmonica, banjo and guitar. It was because we started writing contemporary songs that Rick Brewster, Doc Neeson and I formed a rock band, initially called The Keystone Angels,” Brewster-Jones said.

Cold Chisel. Photo Daniel Boud
Cold Chisel. Photo Daniel Boud

“Adelaide has always held a very special place in our hearts not only because of our formation here but also because of our influences, from family classical musicians to the great bands that were around in our early days, such as Cold Chisel and Fraternity to name a couple. Rick and I grew up surrounded by musicians, classical, folk and rock. Adelaide was alive with all forms of the arts and I believe it still is.”

The four renamed laneways, which won’t receive their new monikers until next year, will all have a connection to their corresponding artists.

Cold Chisel, which formed in Adelaide in the early 1970s and went on to dominate the charts with hits like Bow River, Khe Sanh, Choir Girl and Flame Trees, will have a West End lane off Hindley St named in its honour.

The lane is close to a cluster of live music venues and what used to be the Mediterranean Hotel (now Red Square) in which Cold Chisel held their first regular residency.

Adelaideans will soon be able to stroll down Sia Lane. Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images.
Adelaideans will soon be able to stroll down Sia Lane. Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images.

Sia, who has become a superstar in the United States after releasing hits like Chandelier and writing songs for singers like Beyonce and Rihanna, will have naming rights over an alley near the now-demolished Cargo Club, where she cut her teeth with acid jazz group Crisp.

Paul Kelly’s lane will run behind the Town Hall, a venue that the now Melbourne-based sing-songwriter, famous for tracks like How to Make Gravy, To Her Door and Dumb Things, has performed at.

The Angels laneway will run off Gawler Place, close to where the Brewster brothers’ grandfather Hooper Brewster-Jones co-founded the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.

The renaming of the four laneways will happen over the next twelve months, and a plaque or public artwork will provide information to visitors about the music identity and the relationship to the location.

Paul Kelly. Photo: Glenn Hunt / The Australian
Paul Kelly. Photo: Glenn Hunt / The Australian

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/confidential/adelaide-laneways-to-be-named-after-local-music-legends-cold-chisel-the-angels-paul-kelly-and-sia/news-story/75e07ff17c2dae1df3b4714e09fcb76b