Abbotsford stalwart Lulie Tavern is celebrating a decade of rock 'n' roll revelry with a massive week-long party featuring world record attempts, disco and country throwdowns.
Since opening in 2015, the Johnston Street haunt has become a cornerstone of Melbourne’s live music scene, surviving venue moves, lockdowns and the general chaos of hospitality to cement itself as a beloved local institution.
Co-owners Jon-Lee Farrell and Brendan Kennedy have planned seven days of celebrations to thank the punters who’ve made Lulie what it is today.
10 years of rock ‘n’ roll mayhem
- Monday 31 March: Split the G Challenge – world record attempt with 225 participants
- Tuesday 1 April: Local All Stars Pool Comp – $500 bar tab prize, hosted by Our Carlson
- Wednesday 2 April: Locals Night – $12 burgers and $18 jugs
- Thursday 3 April: Heartache Tonight Country Extravaganza – featuring Henry Wagons and “Hank & Queenie”
- Friday 4 April: Free Gig – lineup to be announced
- Saturday 5 April: Birthday Disco Fun – DJs and light-up dancefloor
- Sunday 6 April: Family-Friendly Party – daytime disco with kid DJs and live bands
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“Lulie’s been a passion project from the beginning. Our goal was to create a ‘local’s tavern’ with ties to the local music and arts scene—somewhere everyone felt at home. As we’ve grown, (from our move to Johnston Street to adding the rooftop) those values have remained the same,” says Jon-Lee Farrell.
The venue has weathered Melbourne’s notorious hospitality climate by building genuine community connections, notably delivering fresh kegs to 40-60 local households during lockdowns via their Van with a Can initiative and raising funds for bushfire relief through Wine Relief in January 2020.
Their music program has flourished against the odds, with LuliePalooza returning for its fourth incarnation in 2024 and the venue scoring nominations for Best Metro Venue and Best Metro Festival at this year’s Music Victoria Awards.
The 2022 addition of rooftop bar Full Moon Fever marked another significant milestone in the venue’s evolution.
“As we kept investing in the venue and growing the music side of things (with Luliepalooza & more shows) we realised it had become a staple in ours and so many others lives. The mission became to create something everlasting—a venue that will be here in ten, twenty, thirty years time,” Jon-Lee explains.
“Discovering the fresh and new is exciting but there’s something special about heritage and making things for the long term. We look up to similar venues—ones that are loved by punters and the arts community. They’re something reliable for people—to relax, feel at home, nostalgic while at the same time a place to discover new music and new friends. This is what we wish for Lulie’s future, to become part of the fabric of the Melbourne lounge room music scene.”
Lulie Tavern is located at 225 Johnston Street, Abbotsford. Trading hours are Monday-Tuesday 4pm until late, and Wednesday-Sunday 12pm until late.
For more information, head to www.lulietavern.com
