The Fortitude Music Hall brings mid-sized venue back to Brisbane
Fifteen years after the demolition of Brisbane’s beloved Festival Hall, a new hot spot is finally ready to fill the void for mid-sized venues in the city. TAKE A TOUR
Confidential
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A NEW music venue paying tribute to the days of old, where seedy dive bars were the breeding ground of young music talent, is set to revolutionise Fortitude Valley.
Opening its doors for the first time tonight, The Fortitude Music Hall will fill the void of mid-sized music venues in Brisbane since the demolition of Festival Hall in 2004.
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Situated in the heart of Brunswick Street Mall, the project is the brainchild of Powderfinger bassist John “J.C.” Collins, former Powderfinger manager Paul Piticco and building industry heavyweight Scott Hutchinson.
Taking almost two years to construct, the old Optus call centre has been gutted and transformed into an art deco-inspired 3000-person venue that has already attracted big performers, including Grinspoon and The Jungle Giants.
Speaking to The Courier- Mail, a humble J.C. said he was quite nervous about the opening, hoping Brisbane accepted the hall.
“I just want people to come here on a Friday or Saturday night, see shows and think ‘that was awesome’,” he said.
“It is a really good thing for Brisbane moving forward, having a big venue in the entertainment precinct (Fortitude Valley).”
Accompanying the venue, a smaller stage and bar named The Outpost is an ode to an old Valley dive bar, where a young 16-year-old J.C. started making his mark on the Australian music scene — before the days of Powderfinger’s success as a global rock band.
“My first ever gig was at The Outpost,” he said.
“I was 16 and was hyper-aware to a new world opening up to me.
“However, this Outpost is no Dive Bar.”
The venue director of both the music hall and The Triffid said “you can tell there has been musicians involved” in the design process, with thought put into the experience for the crowd as well as the touring musician.
The musician-turned-manager hopes that the venue spurs a mid-week entertainment culture in Brisbane, as seen in Melbourne.
“I’m hoping having a venue like this for 3000 people on Wednesday and Thursday night, brings this culture where all the bars are packed,” J.C. said.
“I know a lot of bars and venues have been looking forward to us coming here.”
In the next year, J.C. is aiming for the venue to have consistent bookings.
“I want Brisbane to be a really good market for selling tickets off the back of this space,” he said.
Headlining opening night will be Ball Park Music, DZ Deathrays and Tia Gostelow, with additional performances by Powderfinger’s Bernard Fanning and Ian Haug, The Grates’ Patience Hodgson, Custard’s David McCormack, Busby Marou, Sahara Beck and Jeremy Neale.
Despite denials by the band members, hopes remain high for a Powderfinger reunion of sorts.
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