Powerfinger’s John ‘JC’ Collins explores plan for new Toowooomba live music venue

A member of one of Australia’s greatest musical acts is sizing up Toowoomba as the location for his next music venue — and while it’s early days, he likes what he sees.

Music promoter and Powderfinger bassist John Collins inside The Goods Shed during a tour of the city's potential live music venues. Picture: Kevin Farmer

He’s played on the biggest stages in Australia in one of the nation’s most beloved acts — now Powderfinger’s John “JC” Collins is hoping to bring some of that live music magic to Toowoomba.

The bassist and director of popular Brisbane venues the Triffid and Fortitude Music Hall is scoping out opportunities to establish a new venue that could kickstart the local sector and inject millions into the CBD.

Mr Collins, who first played in the Garden City in 1993, was in Toowoomba on Friday to meet with stakeholders and find out gaps in the current suite of venues.

He said while the process was in its infancy, he believed a suitable venue should attract national touring acts regularly.

“We’ve got two venues in Brisbane, we’re opening another in Adelaide in August, so it’s important for us to expand,” Mr Collins said.

“We come with a lot of experience, we’ve got a great booking team and managers, so it’s about coming up and having a look at the opportunities here.

“I don’t know much detail, so we’re going to look at the existing venues, get a feel and see what’s required.”

Mr Collins said with the live music industry finally picking up after a horror two years during the pandemic, national bookers were looking to expand tours with suitable regional dates.

Independent candidate for Groom Suzie Holt shows music promoter and Powderfinger bassist John Collins inside The Goods Shed during a tour of potential live music venues. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“People are starting to go back out again, there are still nerves for older demographics about going out, but the industry is feeling the best it’s felt for two and a half years,” he said.

“My gut feeling is a venue of about 600-1200 capacity, because then you get regular touring.

“We do that with Fortitude Music Hall, so bands who play the Triffid will tour up here if there’s a really good room and then if you scale up to 1200, maybe you get the bigger bands that could do two nights.

“It should have the capacity to do a couple of things. You don’t want just a gig every two weeks.

“I do believe in the field of dreams concept - if you build something, people will go there and bands will want to come.”

Mr Collins was brought up to Toowoomba by independent candidate for Groom Suzie Holt, who said reviving the city’s live music scene could boost liveability.

“We want to address the liveability in Groom, and one of the things we’ve been talking about is bringing live music back and looking at a venue to see if we could make it happen,” she said.

“We want to encourage people to come and also stay.

“It’s actually about working together, collaboration with local governments and private industry.”

Ms Holt said if elected she would push for greater investment into the arts.

She added she would consider supporting a $250 per gig minimum wage call by Musicians Australia, which has been supported by the Greens.