The Workers Club Geelong shuts down due to COVID pandemic, owner recalls greatest gigs

With the doors closing on Geelong live music favourite The Workers Club, owner Steven Nichols recalls some of the best performances to grace the venue’s stage.

Popular live music venue The Workers Club Geelong is the latest victim of the coronavirus pandemic.

Owner Steven Nichols announced the venue would be closing its doors after the live music industry was “decimated” by the coronavirus pandemic.

“Proud is a word to describe the level of achievement that’s been made over the last decade and a bit,” Mr Nichols said.

“Hosting the likes of Passenger, Gang of Youths, Parkway Drive, The Amity Affliction and The Butterfly Effect, to name only a few, is just the tip of the iceberg – not to mention fostering so many local musicians and providing stages for them to play on.”

Mr Nichols said 2020 was a year of “massive change, sadness and adaptation” that had led him to decide to close the doors of the popular venue.

Workers Geelong. Picture: Mike Dugdale

He said losing 65 tour dates within a two-day period at the start of the pandemic last year was devastating, but had helped the business pivot towards a food delivery service.

“It is with a heavy heart that a full stop comes to the end of this chapter – the closing of the doors of The Workers Club Geelong,” he said.

“After struggling through COVID-19 within a decimated music industry and grieving the loss of my father and adviser, the decision has been made to focus a little more on – life.”

He said highlights of running the business included spearheading a campaign against sexual harrassment at music venues and being named the best regional venue in the 2017 music awards.

A Geelong Workers Club owner Steven Nichols. Picture: Mark Wilson

The Workers Club Geelong first opened in 2015 in the former Kitty O’Shea’s venue along Little Malop Street.

Mr Nichols said the Workers Barbecue restaurant, which had been co-located at the venue, could continue to operate at a new location.

“American barbecue has always been a deep-seated passion and will continue on as ‘Workers Barbecue’ in a new space, that we will fill you in on soon,” he said.

“So never fear, Geelong’s first barbecue joint will smoke on.”

The new location for Workers Barbecue will be announced soon.

STEVEN NICHOLS’ TOP WORKERS CLUB GIGS:

– Gang of Youths 2015

“Asold out show, when they toured in a giant signed tour bus that blocked the whole of little Malop Street for the whole night to the delight of everyone.”

– Teskey Brothers

“When they played for our 2nd Birthday Party Bash. Some of the nicest guys we’ve ever met, and who were the first to give us hugs on the night we won best regional venue that very same year.”

– Jeff Martin (of The Tea Party) was always a pleasure to host and the last time he visited in 2019 was nothing short of amazing.

Other favourites include: The Kite Machine, The Run, Famous Will, Modern Divide and Ambeyse, Polish Club, James Reyne, Clint Boge, Paul Dempsy, Marlon Williams, Thirsty Merc, British India, The Bennies, Reece Mastin, Client Liaison, Ocean Grove, Northeast Party House, Luca Brasi, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Feaver & Bob Evans.

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Originally published as The Workers Club Geelong shuts down due to COVID pandemic, owner recalls greatest gigs