Noise complaints threatening live music in West End, Gabba, South Brisbane, Valley

Live music venue owners say they fear being shut down because of unfair noise complaints. One well-known Valley club has already lost its music licence because of a single person who moved into a unit above it, with others in West End under siege.

(clockwise from top left): The old Milk Factory; The Burrow; Bearded Lady; It's Still A Secret.

Brisbane’s struggling live music scene, which barely survived lockdowns, labour shortages, inflation and rising interest rates, is now under siege from noise complaints as the trend to inner-city living picks up pace.

Venue owners were left reeling in February after O’Skulligans in Fortitude Valley had its live music licence taken off it following complaints from a resident who moved into a nearby unit.

What shocked the industry most was that O’Skulligans was a purpose-built live venue that had been running for years, with a previous owner also hosting live acts.

Local act Apparitions promised fans that they would turn the volume up “extra loud’’ at the final show to “really annoy the hell out of these … people”.

In the latest case, The Burrow in West End has been fighting a complaint from a single neighbour, believed to be a woman who lives only part-time in the hipster suburb.

The Burrow in West End.

The Burrow did not respond to requests for comment by time of publication, but posted about the problem on its Facebook page.

“We are big believers in community here. We cherish being a part of the West End community and feel proud to uphold the vibrant and free spirit that makes this little neck of the woods so special,’’ the owners wrote.

“It may come as a surprise to some of you that we have been facing some big challenges over the last year or so — keeping up with ever-rising costs, combined with costly attempts to appease one disgruntled neighbour weaponising the indiscriminate power of bureaucracy in order to have us shut down.

“There have been many weeks where we have felt like The Burrow dream is hanging in the balance.’’

The Milk Factory Kitchen & Bar, which closed during lockdown, was also believed to have had its fight to stay open made much more difficult after a noise complaint from a single neighbouring unit owner.

It's Still A Secret in West End.

Emily Dennis, owner of It’s Still A Secret on Montague Rd, which has taken over the old Milk Factory, and Can You Keep A Secret on Stanley St in Woolloongabba, said the situation was extremely stressful.

“Two people (living near the Montague Rd venue) have been constantly complaining. I have had to order my staff not to speak when they get in their cars to leave,’’ Ms Dennis said.

“Liquor Licensing have tried to offer mediation but they (the complainants) won’t accept it.

“I’ve had to spend a lot of money I don’t have after Covid and after we got flooded (last year) on buying noise monitoring equipment and hiring sound engineers.

“They were complaining even before we opened our doors. I’ve had Council officers come out at 1am.’’

Ms Dennis said there was also a licensed venue nearby which also generated some noise, as well as an overhead train line and 24-hour truck deliveries at The Milk Factory on the opposite side of the road.

“But we get blamed for everything. I’m worried if the number of complaints gets to a threshold that we could be shut down,’’ she said.

The Bearded Lady in West End. Picture: Adam Smith

The situation was now so bad even The Bug folk music venue, at the New Farm Bowls Club, has been feeling the heat from some neighbours.

Staff warn performers to finish up at 10pm sharp and remind customers to exit the building quietly but still get complaints.

Jamie Simmonds, owner of landmark West End venue the Bearded Lady, said he was lucky because he had no surrounding residential neighbours and his building was well soundproofed.

“This is a problem not just in West End, but across Brisbane and around Australia,’’ he said.

“Councils everywhere say they support live music, but venues are living under the threat of losing their licenses from anonymous complaints.

“These could be from a business rival trying to shut you down, but if I was to get a complaint I would not be allowed to find out who it was from.’’

Mr Simmonds said decibel limits were also part of the problem because of variations in sound output from different instruments, which made it difficult to host bands.

A Council spokeswoman said they did not have a record of any noise complaints for the West End venues.

“However, because these venues have liquor licenses, the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation regulates noise for them.

“Further, Council is not currently considering a special entertainment area for parts of West End.’’

The Milk Factory was one of only a handful of live venues in West End until it closed.

An OLGR spokeswoman said it assessed noise complaints on a case-by-case basis.

“The OLGR considers a range of perspectives and factors which include the number of noise complaints received about a venue, the venue’s compliance history and the impact overall on the community,’’ she said.

“In regards to The Burrow, the OLGR has been working with the licensee on strategies to manage their noise and operate in harmony with the community.

“Due to the confidentiality provisions of the Liquor Act 1992, the OLGR is unable to provide any further details.’’

The OLGR always tried to mediate in cases of one-off instances or complaints from one, or very few, people.

Councillor for West-End based The Gabba ward, Trina Massey, said West End had for decades enjoyed a distinct artistic and cultural character.

“Beloved venues like The Burrow have played an important role as a hub, enabling the creation, nurturing and connection of a unique arts and music community,’’ Cr Massey said. “The Borrow has been around for nearly 10 years.

“Venues like it become threatened when a vocal handful, separated from the local community, complain and are unwilling to mediate.”

Cr Trina Massey with former councillor for the ward, Jonathan Srirangathan, who tried ot personaolly mediate with the complainant in The Burrow noise issue. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“Residents and people from across Brisbane come to West End for its unique cultural energy and vibe, which has long existed.

“Unfortunately, our cultural and artistic experiences are threatened by a lack of protection from zoning.

“I’ve often said that West End could be a cultural precinct, different from the Valley Entertain Precinct.

“Rather a precinct focused on protecting its unique character and supportive of independent artistic creation.”

“Independent local venues like the Burrow are critical to developing local musical talent. “Without them, our growth as a cultural city will be stifled.

“The Entertain precinct/Valley Harmony plan was created to protect The Valley’s creative character while our city changed.

“The city is changing again and venues like the Burrow should be protected to continue the long history of artistic and cultural expression unique to West End.”