Harvey Sutherland, Jen Cloher, Ausecuma Beats, Danika, Black Jesus Experience, Horatio Luna and so many more extraordinary acts for free, at the Punters Club over the next few weeks.
The Punters Club are kicking off their new era this Thursday with no less than local legend Harvey Sutherland, before they pull out all the stops with a massive month of free gigs from renowned Naarm talents.
The new owners of 376 Brunswick St, Fitzroy (formerly Kewpie and Bimbo) are reopening the venue next month as the legendary Punters Club, replete with original decor.
The new owners of The Punters Club are Dylan Marshall and Matt Francis, Jason Cameron (who owns Near & Far across the road), Britt King of creative agency Akcelo, and Mark Wilson – the bassist from Jet – who we asked about the new venue.
So was Wilson a regular?
“I was right on the tail end, so I played there a couple of times – I wouldn’t say I was a regular,” he tells us. “I worked down the road, behind the bar at The [Fitzroy] Pinnacle, so I’d often end up there after a shift or something like that.”
The Punters Club
- One of Melbourne’s most legendary live music venues is reopening on August 22
- The Punters Club is located at 376 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
- Under new ownership, they aim to restore the original decor
- The venue has more recently been home to Kewpie and Bimbo
- They’ve announced a massive lineup spread over the next few weeks
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So how did the restoration of Punters come about?
That started as a bit of a dream that my mate Jason [Cameron] had ‘cause he owns a bar over the road from it and he’s been sitting there looking at the pub thinking, ‘That’s such a good pub!” Wilson says.
“He’s not from Victoria originally, so he didn’t know as much about the history of the place, but just was like, ‘Oh, that’s such a great pub, but it’s sorta open two days a week to be a nightclub.’
“So, when the opportunity came to grab it, he rallied a bunch of hospitality people and there were a few others that were able to then start working on a new concept there.”
Given plenty of discussion around re-fitting the venue in original decor, replete with jukebox and old posters across the walls, just how closely are they aiming to replicate the Punters?
“I mean, look, it’s not gonna be what it used to be – it never could be – but there’s gonna be much more live music stuff and a good front bar and a warm, cosy vibe, good food, you know, a bit of entertainment and stuff like that so, yeah! A good Fitzroy pub, basically,” Wilson explains. It aligns with the pub’s announcement, calling the new venue a “love letter”.
“We see this new era as a love letter to the original pub which Matt and Penny Everett so beautifully created,” the owners stated. “We plan to focus on music and music events but also create a community for all music lovers and locals. We want to honour what it once was while also creating something new.”
A history of The Punters Club
The Punters Club is widely recognised as one of the best music venues to have existed in Melbourne. Coming into being back in 1987 (when the Moonee Valley Hotel was taken over), it was given its moniker and refurbished to serve as a live music hub on Brunswick Street. It was the heart of music in Fitzroy, famous for its grungy vibe, bare floorboards and raw live performances, with the venue helping launch the careers of countless bands, including Frente!, Magic Dirt, Something For Kate, Spiderbait and You Am I.
As Brunswick Street started to gentrify, it remained one of the last grimy stalwarts on the street before finally succumbing to the higher rent on a new lease. In 2002, The Punters Club closed for the last time after a 12 hour music marathon, and the site became Bimbo Deluxe pizza bar.
It was an incredible place, home to a musical scene that is remembered fondly by people who were not even there. The Punters Club had a rare synergy between bands and the scene surrounding them. Likeminded people clustered around the music, with labels, A&Rs, staff and fans all contributing towards making great music. The Punters was part of a golden era of Australian music, and a group of people who made it special back then are resurrecting it for two special Punters Club Reunion Shows, which will raise money for charity, and will be held at the Corner Hotel.
The Punters Club reunion shows
Craig Kamber, a long time music industry player who has worked in artist management, radio, music journalism and as a record company executive, remembers a venue that had a lot to offer Melbourne music. Kamber used to work with and hang out at The Punters Club, seeing and developing bands, and was instrumental in producing early reunion shows. We interviewed him a few years back about why the venue has remained so fondly in the memories of Melburnians.
“I decided early in 2010 that I want to produce a project every year that raises funds for worthy causes,” he explains. “Like many others, I have fond memories of The Punters Club – especially the great community spirit and camaraderie.
“It has been great to see the enthusiasm for shows in different areas grow and snowball since then. The Punters Club was important to the Melbourne music community on many levels. Especially when you look back and consider at the time; especially pre-internet / social networking, it was where connections were made with like minded souls and great long lasting friendships were forged,” Kamber muses.
“Also it was where a lot of acts played in their formative years – including bands such as The Cruel Sea, Powderfinger, Frente!, The Fauves, Underground Lovers, Magic Dirt, Spiderbait – the list is endless. A lot of acts launched their debut or early releases – such as The Avalanches with their debut 7” Rock City on the great label Trifekta Records. I love that a diverse group of people came together through a love of music and could inspire each other, share ideas for great projects, or simply share the experience of seeing some incredible music from local and international acts.”
The interest in the Punters Club has never waned. Leaps and Bounds Festival – which returns this month – has previously programmed Punters Club Reunion Gigs – paying homage to the iconic venue once located where Bimbo and then Kewpie have more recently called home on Brunswick Street.
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