Studebakers nightclub returns to Parramatta for ‘80s, ‘90s special from July 2

Get ready to rock steady, Parramatta. A nightclub is staging a comeback to showcase the best of the ‘80s and ‘90s for everyone from mums to millennials.

It was a time sans social media but with music that we still yearn for, and now clubbers of the ‘80s and ‘90s get to rekindle their youth and show the younger generation how good the beats were thanks to the return of Studebakers nightclub at Parramatta.

From July 2 at the Crown Hotel, the sounds of Madonna, Stevie B, Kurtis Blow and Whitney Houston are to pull anyone north of 25 on the dance floor quicker than you can order a Midori Illusion.

Troy Tannous, aka DJ Troy T, is spinning the decks while long-time mate, comic Rob Shehadie, is hosting the event, peppering it with breakdance competitions and giveaways.

Both are keen not just to give the older generation a place to dance close to home but introduce the younger crowd to an era of music that was best enjoyed while sporting a perm, mullet, keppers, Olympic-sized shoulder pads and blue eyeshadow.

“They missed out on what we had,’’ Shehadie says.

“We just had fun vibes. We socialised. There were more nightclubs back then than we have now. We actually talked to each other but I see the younger generation are tapping into the ‘90s now with fashion, so why not see what it was all about and why not come to Parramatta?

“There’s going to be some serious dance movies, gold chains and hairy chests.’’

Rob Shehadie and DJ Troy T are pumped for the return of Studebakers nightclub.

Shehadie, who clearly recalls the glory days of Parramatta’s night life when clubbers would spill from Studebakers and Traders into City Extra for a 2am feed (pumpkin soup was his go-to) is passionate about reinvigorating the CBD and giving gen Xers somewhere to socialise locally.

“The problem is people our age want to go out but going into the city, they’re surrounded by young people, 19-year olds,’’ the 45-year-old says.

“You’ve got to remember, everyone that goes to the city is from the western suburbs so why take them to the city?’’

The music from the last two decades of the 20th century was “just a happier vibe”.

Tannous, 41, agrees.

“Over the last 10 years there’s been some good stuff that came out but there’s nothing like the old music,” he said.

“This will definitely be going back to the way the old Studebakers used to be. We’ll play everything like UB40 reggae to technotronic.’’

The North Rocks DJ, who will share the turntables with Nasser T, Sam Boutros, Pepe, Jimmy Jam and Danny K, also wants Gen Z and Millennials to hit the two dance floors at the recently renovated Crown.

“A lot of the older brothers and sisters who came here are going to tell their nieces and nephews to come here too,’’ he says.

Studebakers’ return coincides with bands performing and Troy T spinning the decks at the Crown Hotel for the past three months for Eve Saturdays.

“I think the atmosphere is as good as you get at any nightclub,’’ Tannous says.

“A lot of people are singing and dancing. It’s definitely a fun vibe, it’s close, it’s local, it’s not pretentious.

“This will be the new place to be.’’

Studebakers runs from 9pm to 3am.

MORE NEWS

Calls to enrol in butcher courses at TAFE as demand for meat increases

Neighbourhood shops: Winston Hills’ The Chisholm Centre

Originally published as Studebakers nightclub returns to Parramatta for ‘80s, ‘90s special from July 2