Beloved Fitzroy institution The Rochey is back in business this November with a collection of music events upstairs to back up the parties downstairs.
If you’ve ever felt like there’s been something missing from the music scene of Fitzroy, you may have just found your answer. The Rochester Hotel – known affectionately as The Rochey – has been a treasured icon of the inner northern suburbs since the 1970s.
Now – with a fresh lick of paint, a new team at the reigns, a menu to make your mouth water and an upstairs gig space that will answer all your late-night wanderings – The Rochey is back.
The Rochey
- Open Wednesday to Monday
- Music room Upstairs @ The Rochey
- Keep up to date here
Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Not back quietly, either. If you can hear the hum of music and the beat of bass as you traverse the streets of Fitzroy on the weekends, bets are it’s coming from The Rochey. Upstairs @ The Rochey is the newest and slickest live music series to be hitting this hot pocket of the city. Housing both local party legends and intimate gigs, this renovated pub’s music room is very loudly on its way to becoming Fitzroy’s best new club space.
Intimate shows by massive music makers
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These shows aren’t any ordinary pub gigs. Forget cover bands and acoustic guitars – think locally loved DJs and iconic party starters. The Rochey already have a stellar lineup of some of the country’s best electronic musicians programmed for the next couple of months, beginning with a November of gigs that might just blow the roof off the pub before the dust from the reno has even settled.
The gig space boasts an intimate 150-capacity, meaning that you can catch some of your favourite musos within the closest of quarters. With music from 11pm, the party each night will be pumping all the way to 3am.
Tickets for the gigs are $20 on the door, and downstairs also hosts the cosy Front Bar, the cocktail-friendly Bowie Bar and a Beer Garden just begging for you to be drinking the balmy nights away in.
Besides the program of music upstairs, The Rochey also has something for everyone to be making an excuse to pop into the heritage pub any day of the week (besides Tuesdays when it’s closed).
Happy Hour galore
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Monday night is the home of Happy Hour with crazy cheap specials from open to close. Wednesday has got your stomach and brain covered with a $15 burger night and Shit Pub Trivia. Thursday is pretty much the weekend with The Rochey’s $22 Porterhouse steak night. If you’re hungry for a feed during Friday daytime, they’ve got your back with a $20 workers lunch special. Saturday is also showing off with $20 lunch specials, while Sunday boasts the classic roast special for only $25.
Happy Hour – deserving of its own important and very special mention – is Wednesday to Sunday, 4pm-7pm (plus all day Mondays), so you’ll never be stuck for places to put down a ($8!) pint.
Still hungry for more? Read on to find out which cool cats who are hitting up The Rochey’s music room this November.
Amraks
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- Friday November 15
Despite only moving to Naarm in 2021, Amraks is already making a massive name for himself in the Melbourne music scene. Originally from the nation’s capital, Amraks has swapped out Questacon for none other than The Rochey this Friday night in November. A master of combining groovy house, garage and original tracks in his sets, Amraks is sure to deliver a show of unparalleled dance floor driving beats.
Hybrid Man
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- Saturday November 23
Hybrid Man – AKA Will and Julien – are no strangers to Naarm’s dancefloors. This duo have been starting parties and keeping them going for a few years now, making a name for themselves all the while. Fresh off the back of a Music Victoria Awards win for Best Electronic Work, Hybrid Man are keeping the ball rolling with appearances at gigs to tide you over and into summer. Next up: The Rochey, of course. Catch them this Saturday night in November.
Miki
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- Saturday November 30
Up and comer Miki is a DJ to catch while you still can. Making soundwaves across the Naarm scene with infectious beats and considered selection, if you’re doing anything this last weekend in November, cancel it. Come to The Rochey instead. Miki will have your night out covered with tracks old and new, rare and loved, nuanced and simple. If anyone knows how to command a dance floor, it’s no doubt Miki.
Keep up to date with everything going down at The Rochey on IG here.
This article was made in partnership with The Rochey.
