Now Sydney’s Newtown Social Club Is Closing Down

January 25, 2017

FFS! Live music in Sydney has been dealt yet another crushing blow today, with the announcement that YET ANOTHER iconic venue will be shutting its doors for good.

But not just any venue. Today, friends, we are bidding farewell to the Newtown Social Club: the iconic King Street watering hole that was reborn from the ashes of the old Sando just three years ago.

Taking to Facebook to share the heart-crushing news tonight, the old girl’s owners have blamed Sydney’s “current regulatory climate” and “the inherent challenges therein” for making the business “unsustainable” (#nannystate).

Their statement reads:

Dear friends,

Three years since saving the venue from the hands of developers, it is with a heavy heart that Newtown Social Club announces it will be shutting its doors on April 23rd 2017.

Whilst the live music part of the business was a resounding success, the current regulatory climate in Sydney and the inherent challenges therein have made it unsustainable. We look forward to exploring new opportunities in the future.

We’d like to thank our amazing staff, as well all the artists, industry, media and punters that have supported us along the way. We’ve had so many incredible shows and dealt with so many fantastic people over the last few years.

We’ve got an exciting run of shows over the coming months including Methyl Ethel, Camp Cope, Frankie Cosmos, Margaret Glaspy, Cosmo’s Midnight, Holly Throsby, Things Of Stone And Wood, Turin Brakes, plus loads more. Head to www.newtownsocialclub.com to grab tickets to our final shows and we hope to see you all over the next few months for a farewell beer.

We’re looking forward to going out with a bang so if you’d like to put on one final show at Newtown Social Club drop us a line via bookings@cglive.com.au.

Much love,

NSC

As per the above statement, the venue — which has seen performances from the likes of The Vines, SAFIA, Stonefield, KLP, City Calm Down, Kingswood, Primal Fear, Gang Of Youths, former Prime Ministerial contender turned DJ extraordinaire Anthony Albanese plus too many more incredible acts to name since its 2014 facelift — has called last drinks on April 23rd of this year.

As most of you would know, Newtown Social sits comfortably outside the lockout zone so those loathsome laws can’t be directly blamed for this particular chorus of “Another one bites the dust”, but the NSW Government is far from off the hook here.

The state liberal regime’s current suite of alcohol and licensing restrictions have claimed too many venues to count, including this favourite, this one, this one, this one, this one, this one, this one and oh yeah this one.

Goddammit Sydney. When will it end?

Gallery: Stonefield – Newtown Social Club, Sydney 2016 / Photos By Joelle Miller