The new owners and operators of the beloved Australian Hi-Fi Bars have announced the venue will be operating under a new name soon, with all future music bookings and social media marketing to be undertaken by promoters The Venue Collective.
All three venues in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane will soon operate under the name Max Watt’s – the name of the Australian-based company that bought the venues after they were placed in administration last month.
“Max Watt’s is a new business and what we’re planning to do is create a new live music venue business where we’re going to improve the patron experience and also improve the facilities for the bands and also look after the promoters,” Max Watt’s CEO Greg Bourke told Music Feeds. “So we can get more people coming through for the gigs.”
Max Watt’s have also announced a collaboration with The Venue Collective – who also take care of bookings at The Corner Hotel, 170 Russell and the Newtown Social Club in Sydney. Greg Bourke said the decision is good from both a financial and operational perspective. “TVC are by far the largest booking agency in Australia and they have the best contacts with all the promoters.”
The Venue Collective director Ben Thompson told Music Feeds they were approached by the venues’ new owners to provide an alternative to the usual in-house booking and promotions team which can be an unaffordable model for music venues today.
“They knew that we worked with a handful of different venues and different owners and provided a service that would perhaps lower those traditional overheads,” he explained. “We got to know them and were pretty impressed that they were keen to provide a high-quality service to their patrons and to acts, and that’s the type of venue we’d like to work with.”
“I’m so thrilled that those three venues have been saved and will be around in the future because they’re such important venues.” Max Watt’s have indicated they will be also be undertaking a series of upgrades at the venues, to be put into action sometime after the events at the Melbourne Comedy Festival finish up.
Max Watt’s have pledged to honour all existing bookings and tickets at the three venues and according to Ben Thompson TVC are already in talks with promoters to take future bookings for Max Watt’s.
“We’re into action from today. We’re speaking to promoters and agents from around Australia today, they know that we’re now booking the venue and are taking their bookings for upcoming shows, so I imagine we’ll be announcing new shows under the Max Watt’s name within the next fortnight.”
The Venue Collective’s Ashlea O’Loughlin will be the booker for the Max Watt’s venues. The new Max Watt’s website is live today and physical re-branding in the venue will take place gradually, with new signage expected to be in place by the end of April.
Gallery: Millencolin, The Vandals @ The Hi-Fi, Melbourne 23/02/15 / Photos by Tony Proudfoot
Millencolin, The Vandals, The Interrupters - The Hi-Fi, Melbourne 26/02/15
-
03MillencolinHiFiBar016
Millencolin -
03MillencolinHiFiBar024
-
03MillencolinHiFiBar023
-
03MillencolinHiFiBar022
Millencolin -
03MillencolinHiFiBar021
Millencolin -
03MillencolinHiFiBar020
Millencolin -
03MillencolinHiFiBar019
Millencolin -
03MillencolinHiFiBar018
Millencolin -
03MillencolinHiFiBar017
Millencolin -
03MillencolinHiFiBar015
Millencolin -
03MillencolinHiFiBar014
Millencolin -
03MillencolinHiFiBar013
Millencolin -
03MillencolinHiFiBar012
Millencolin -
03MillencolinHiFiBar011
Millencolin -
03MillencolinHiFiBar010
Millencolin -
03MillencolinHiFiBar009
Millencolin -
03MillencolinHiFiBar008
Millencolin -
03MillencolinHiFiBar007
Millencolin -
03MillencolinHiFiBar006
Millencolin -
03MillencolinHiFiBar005
Millencolin -
03MillencolinHiFiBar004
Millencolin -
03MillencolinHiFiBar003
Millencolin -
03MillencolinHiFiBar002
Millencolin -
03MillencolinHiFiBar001
-
02TheVandalsHiFiBar015
-
02TheVandalsHiFiBar014
The Vandals -
02TheVandalsHiFiBar013
The Vandals -
02TheVandalsHiFiBar012
The Vandals -
02TheVandalsHiFiBar011
The Vandals -
02TheVandalsHiFiBar010
The Vandals -
02TheVandalsHiFiBar009
The Vandals -
02TheVandalsHiFiBar008
The Vandals -
02TheVandalsHiFiBar007
The Vandals -
02TheVandalsHiFiBar006
The Vandals -
02TheVandalsHiFiBar005
The Vandals -
02TheVandalsHiFiBar004
The Vandals -
02TheVandalsHiFiBar003
The Vandals -
02TheVandalsHiFiBar002
The Vandals -
02TheVandalsHiFiBar001
The Vandals -
01TheInterruptersHiFiBar015
The Interrupters -
01TheInterruptersHiFiBar014
The Interrupters -
01TheInterruptersHiFiBar013
The Interrupters -
01TheInterruptersHiFiBar012
The Interrupters -
01TheInterruptersHiFiBar011
The Interrupters -
01TheInterruptersHiFiBar010
The Interrupters -
01TheInterruptersHiFiBar009
The Interrupters -
01TheInterruptersHiFiBar008
The Interrupters -
01TheInterruptersHiFiBar007
The Interrupters -
01TheInterruptersHiFiBar006
The Interrupters -
01TheInterruptersHiFiBar005
The Interrupters -
01TheInterruptersHiFiBar004
The Interrupters -
01TheInterruptersHiFiBar003
The Interrupters -
01TheInterruptersHiFiBar002
The Interrupters -
01TheInterruptersHiFiBar001
The Interrupters