The Zoo celebrates 30 years: Best memories from iconic Brisbane music venue

After three decades of Brisbane’s most iconic live music venue, owners of The Zoo both past and present have reminisced on their favourite moments from across the years.

Brisbane’s most iconic hole-in-the-wall music venue is celebrating three decades in the business full of live bands, famous faces and sweat-filled dancefloors.

The Zoo has long been a staple in the nightclub strip of Fortitude Valley, and this December marks 30 years of getting local Brisbane bands onto the main stage.

The grungy gig centre was born from a simple idea in 1992 when founders Joc Curran and C. Smith stood around a pool table complaining that there was nowhere for their girl band to play.

When the pair, who were then in their early 20s, walked up the stairs of The Zoo for the first time, Ms Curran said it was a “magical” feeling.

The Zoo co-founder Joc Curran with co-owners Luke Johnston and Cat Clarke. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“The building has embraced us as much as we’ve embraced it over the years, it’s such a special building,” she said.

“During my time, we had four weddings, two funerals and I hate to think of the countless conceptions. It’s a living, breathing entity.”

Performing at The Zoo was a rite of passage for up and coming Brisbane bands and a landing pad for some of the biggest musicians in the world including The Pixies, Silverchair, The Black Keys and Lorde.

Even The Zoo’s former cleaner, Ian Haug from Powderfinger, got the chance to perform a sellout show at The Zoo that helped launch the band to stardom.

“It was a rite of passage for Australian bands, and for international bands, The Zoo was usually their first show in the country. I think because it was so warm and inviting,” she said.

Powderfinger give a free concert to fans under the name of Denim Venim at the Zoo in 2007.

Ms Curran said the venue has long kept the same heart and soul, with just one major change rearing its head in its entire 30 years.

“Airconditioning was the biggest change. Imagine back in the day with no aircon, we look back at the photos and we were always sweating,” she said.

In what was described as an “absolutely insane” move, current owners Luke ‘Boo’ Johnston, Cat Clarke and Shane Chidgzey bought the venue from the second owner in the middle of the pandemic.

Ms Clarke said there would always be a legacy to maintain to ensure the venue continued to support up and coming artists and give them a foot in the door.

“The Zoo belongs to Brisbane. Whoever buys it is just the caretaker of the building looking after it for Brisbane and the Valley,” she said.

“Thirty years and 30 more - we just want to keep going for as long as we can.”

The Zoo’s 30th birthday celebrations will kick off in December, with the full program available online.