Adelaide venue Fowler’s Live to close — but the music won’t stop
THE team behind Fowlers Live, one of Adelaide’s best-loved live music venues, has been punted from its home in the Lion Arts Centre — but the building will continue to operate as a live music venue under different management.
THE team behind Fowlers Live, one of Adelaide’s best-loved live music venues, has been punted from its home in the Lion Arts Centre.
However the building will continue to operate as a live music venue next year under the management of local music and events company Five Four Entertainment, the group behind the SPIN OFF festival and last year’s indie music concert OH YES.
The venue, located in a 112-year-old former flour factor on North Terrace, has for the past 15 years been an unofficial home for touring metal and punk bands in Adelaide.
Fowlers Live’s management said in a statement yesterday that their bid to renew the lease on the building had been unsuccessful.
“In August, Peter (venue operator Peter Darwin) reapplied to continue, but was advised today that he was unsuccessful in his application, which will now bring an end to one of the best live music venues in Australia and one which continuously offered licensed all ages events to build audiences for original live music.”
In the statement, Fowlers management said it was advised by Arts SA back in 2014 that the organisation was looking at different uses for the space.
“Since then, Fowlers Live has been seeking other premises but has been unable to locate a suitable building that would suit the operation as an original live music venue. Fowlers Live has operated for just over 15 years and gained a national reputation as a quality venue that filled a significant place in the live music industry, and has hosted countless shows that would otherwise have bypassed South Australia and was at the forefront of showcasing emerging artists.”
New lessees Five Four Entertainment moved to reassure punters that the venue would continue to host live bands, and that the team was planning renovations for the building.
“We are thrilled to take on such a beloved music and arts space, and continue its legacy as one of Adelaide’s premiere live music venues,” Five Four Entertainment co-director Craig Lock said.
“We have been booking venues and events in Adelaide for many years, and are very excited to now have our very own space to operate.”
Five Four take over the building’s lease from January 1 and is currently taking bookings and expressions of interest from musicians and bands for 2019.