An events space dedicated to slower, more peaceful moments of connection.
Live music: may be a rarity at Tender, but good things come to those who wait. The multi-use space, which has been open for just over six months, has hosted sporadic live events, as well as exhibitions, workshops, film screenings and deep listening sessions.
Famous for: minimal fuss, maximal feeling. Tender is a low-key studio-slash-community-space tucked behind a Sydney Road shopfront, but don’t let the discreet façade fool you. It’s a “third place” for those seeking connection beyond pub noise and club chaos.
Infamous for: not being easy to find (access is via the rear – follow the signs, or the softly glowing lamps). And for making you question what a “night out” even means anymore. Here, silence can be a headliner.
Tender is not a bar, not quite a venue, and definitely not a club. It’s somewhere in-between: a shape-shifting room that hosts yoga by day, deep listening sessions by night and the occasional after-hours epic with international experimentalists on the decks.
Everything at Tender is well considered, including the serious Pitt & Giblin sound system, which not only is at the forefront of the weekly Deep Listening sessions but also provides the sonic accompaniment to the yoga classes as well.
The listening sessions, which take place most Thursday evenings, offer guests an opportunity to soak in the sound in a relaxed and laidback environment.
The rules? No booze and no shoes – take ‘em off and find a seat on a cushion or a yoga mat. The team recommends engaging in a chilled-out activity while listening, like sipping tea, reading, playing chess, drawing or stretching. The goal is to relax the nervous system and try to “live more consciously, joyfully and vibrantly”.
The one-off gigs are extra special, featuring DJs, vocalists, and who knows what else? The Tender team has proven themselves to be trustworthy curators, so if they’re booking it, you know it’s going to be interesting. It’s also one of the few venues in town offering free entry for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander attendees.
For a night (or day) where the music matters, the lights stay low, and you can actually hear yourself think – Tender delivers. Quietly, beautifully, and on its own terms.
WHERE: 535 Sydney Rd, Brunswick VIC 3056
OPEN: MON-THUR 7am-11pm
