Young Henrys kicked off its Best Served Loud series last month with Dumb Punts and Vertigo performing live at The Labour in Vain.
The Melbourne gig series continues this month with Jade Imagine and Gena Rose Bruce at The Tramway Hotel in Fitzroy North.
Best Served Loud is a series of free-entry gigs held at intimate venues and it’s set to continue throughout the year.
“Basically the idea is to throw a really fun party and shine a spotlight on an institutional Melbourne venue that’s doing daring programming,” says curator Ryan Kemp.
Melbourne band Jade Imagine have built a strong national following over the last couple of years. Led by songwriter Jade McInally, the band released their debut EP, What the Fuck Was I Thinking?, via Milk! Records in 2017. Last year the band played a series of showcases at SXSW and joined Julia Jacklin on a sold-out UK tour.
A new single is expected imminently, with the project’s debut LP due later in the year. Their appearance within the intimate confines of the Tramway Hotel is indicative of Kemp’s overall intentions for the Best Served Loud series.
“We came up with a list of our favourite Melbourne venues/watering holes then tailored a sweet bill that would fit that venue’s unique vibe,” he says. “The idea was to have a mix of emerging, local talent coupled with a bigger profile band. Emerging acts get a chance to play to a larger crowd and the bigger acts get to bring it back to a smaller venue.”
The series got off to a hot start in The Labour in Vain front bar last month and Young Henrys promise plenty more excitement in the coming months.
“Over the remainder of the year we’ll be serving up an eclectic mix of gigs, rocking up at venues like The Tramway, The Standard, Nighthawks and Bendigo Hotel,” Kemp says. “In May, we’ll be heading to Northcote Social Club for an extra special event as part of Melbourne’s Good Beer Week. It’ll be a Victorian first.”
Melbourne’s live music scene is already impressively active. There are stacks of great venues of various sizes all over the city map, which is precisely what the Sydney-based beer company wants to tap into.
“Melbourne has always had an amazing and vibrant live music scene,” Kemp says. “Our main goal with these shows is to put on a series of free kick-arse gigs that everyone can come to and enjoy some music and beers with their mates. We might even shout you guys a few too.”
Launched in 2012 out of an industrial warehouse in Newtown in Sydney’s inner west, Young Henrys has always been immersed in the local music scene.
“From our founders making music and touring in live bands to our brewers, bar staff and office nerds, Young Henrys is littered with functioning musicians and music lifers,” Kemp says. “We love supporting local and internationally touring bands of all levels and we’re in cahoots with lots of music festivals, Download being the most recent.”
The initiation of Best Served Loud is a sign of Young Henrys’ desire to become even more integrated in the Australian music community.
“Watch this space. We’ve always supported live music and will continue to do so in any way we can. We’re constantly looking for new and exciting ways to support new music and the venues who support the artists.”
Young Henrys beer will be in plentiful supply at all Best Served Loud events. Punters can look forward to sampling some special variations and possibly even nabbing a few freebies.
“We’re hoping to showcase as much brew as possible,” Kemp says. “I’ll be down there at each gig making sure no one goes thirsty, so make sure you come and say g’day.”
The second instalment of Young Henrys’ Best Served Loud welcomes Jade Imagine and Gena Rose Bruce to The Tramway Hotel on Saturday March 23. Check out the event information via the venue’s Facebook page.
