Melbourne live music: Ringwood’s Baby nightclub to host heavy music gigs

It’s the spiritual home of skittlebombs and dance cages. But a reborn nightclub in Maroondah is set to crank things up for a different crowd.

Metalcore band Thornhill will play the first live music gig at Ringwood's new Baby nightclub on May 1. Picture: Supplied.

Live music has scored a new home in Melbourne’s outer east, with a reborn nightclub which usually pumps out dance and R & B to start hosting hard rock and metal gigs.

Ringwood’s Baby nightclub will host its first concert this weekend, with Sydney metalcore band Thornhill to perform on May 1 from 6pm.

The club will then be packed up and reopen about 10pm for Baby’s usual dance and R & B night.

Baby opened earlier this month at the site of the former Dakota nightclub on Maroondah Hwy, which burnt down in 2016.

The rebuilt $10m complex also contains The Bungalow beer garden and Hyde function centre, which opened at the end of summer.

Owner Joe Cassari said Baby had room for 400 fans to enjoy gigs and was part of the complex’s vision to cater to different demographics including heavy music fans.

Baby nightclub's Joe Cassari, Lizzie Walton and Kane Pettifer. Picture: Kiel Egging.

“It’s a live entertainment venue as well as a nightclub,” he said.

“We’ll be running the band nights early on Saturday nights, sometimes on Fridays as well, and then we’ll have the traditional club nights after that.”

Along with Saturday’s gig, promoter Your Local plans to stage its new pop punk and emo music night, Jawbreaker, monthly at the club.

Mr Cassari said the venue could host gigs with bands and artists from other genres depending on interest from its customers.

“There will be a bit of everything, it depends on what’s available and what people want,” he said.

“There’s a lot of flexibility in the venue and we just want a broader spectrum of entertainment.”

Limited tickets remain for Thornhill’s show at Baby on Saturday night and are available through Eventbrite.