Sydney CBD country bar Jolene’s begs music festival not to take their name

Nashville-inspired Sydney bar Jolene’s has found itself linked to the upcoming Ridin Hearts Music Festival, with a namesake bar at the event. Problem is, they have nothing to do with it.

If imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, then Sydney CBD country and western bar Jolene’s should feel flattered.

The independently owned, Nashville inspired bar has found itself linked to the upcoming Ridin Hearts Music Festival, with a bar at the event named Jolene’s. Only thing is, they have nothing to do with it.

In its second year, Ridin Hearts is a music festival with a line-up of country and western artists playing at the Sydney Showground in Sydney Olympic Park in November.

The festival has launched a Jolene’s Diamond Club which offers, among other things, express access to the bar line, exclusive food, and a welcome cocktail.

However fans of Jolene’s have called out the Diamond Club for its similarity to the York St bar.

Jolene’s Diamond Club at the Ridin Hearts Country Music Festival, which the CBD bar says is unaffiliated with them. Picture: Supplied

The sincerest form of flattery? Picture: Supplied

Responding to a post on social media, Andy Tsai asked whether it was “run by the awesome guys that own Jolene’s on York St? Coz [sic] it sure as shit looks like their logo.”

In a statement, the owners of Jolene’s – husband and wife Lucille and Simon Rose-Hopkins – confirmed they had “no affiliation or involvement” with Ridin Hearts.

Jolene bar owners Simon and Lucy Rose-Hopkins say patrons have been confused about the name of the VIP club, assuming it gains guest entry into their bar. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

It comes after guests at the festival tried to skip the queue at Jolene’s.

“We were quite surprised to see them use the name again after the issues we faced last year,” they said.

“A purchase of a VIP ticket does not gain you anything extra or special at our venue … the likeliness to our venue is still proving to cause some confusion.”

The Daily Telegraph reached out to Ridin Hearts for comment.

Jolene’s, meanwhile, has become a Sydney success story.

Just two years after opening, the basement bar on York Street has become a city hotspot.

On Friday and Saturday nights, thanks to its roster of live country and western music, the venue is at capacity at 9pm and there is often a line snaking down York Street to get in.

The success of the venue has led the husband and wife team to start on plans to open a second location in Western Sydney.

The queue to get into Jolene's in the CBD. Picture: Supplied.

“We always knew that Jolene’s Sydney wouldn’t be the only Jolene’s, it’s why we put ‘Sydney’ after the name,” Rose-Hopkins told The Daily Telegraph.

“When Lucille and I talked about opening the bar we knew it would be a success, we knew we were not the only country music fans looking for a great night out.

“We have plans to possibly expand to Western Sydney and North Queensland, where Lucille is from,” he said.

There is no doubt country and western music is having a rival in Australia and around the world. Artists like Beyonce and Post Malone have released country records, while closer to home country legend Troy Cassar-Daley found his latest album, The World Today, debuted at #3 on the ARIA Album Chart and became his highest charting solo release.

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