It’s said that when God closes a door, he opens a window. Well, when Australia closes a venue, we… just open another one. As the owners of The Boston in Perth gear up for their launch next month, punters in Darwin have been met with the sad news that beloved arts space The Chippo has been forced to close.
As The Music reports, The Boston will be located on Milligan Street in the heart of Perth’s Northbridge. The venue is slated to open its doors on Friday, 24th July and will boast original live music every Friday and Saturday night, giving a boost to a live scene that is rapidly expanding.
As Tone Deaf reported earlier this month, the owners of Jack Rabbit Slim’s are readying their own launch for late next month. The new multi-purpose venue will be serving Perth punters with the “comfort, sociability and bespoke beverage and food options of a small bar” with the full stage setup and a state-of-the-art sound system.
The Boston, meanwhile, will have a capacity of 200, making it the perfect size for up-and-coming local bands or interstate touring acts who are looking for more of an intimate vibe. The venue will be booked by Monster Management, who also look after Amplifier/Capitol, Metropolis Fremantle, and the Newport Hotel.
However, it’s not all good news for Australia’s live scene, with a much-loved music venue set to close in a city where the live scene needs all the help it can get. According to The Music, Darwin arts and cultural hub The Chippo, which often hosts live music, has been forced to close its doors.
The venue has reportedly been forced to close after issues with building regulations. Earlier this month, Northern Territory Fire Services issued venue owners with a cease trade order for not having the correct permits to be operating as a live performance venue.
[include_post id=”452003″]
The Chippo relocated from Coconut Grove to an industrial area last year after property owners forced the business out. The space was launched as part of an effort to stimulate creativity in Darwin. The Chippo became known for frequently hosting live music, comedy, and fringe events.
According to The Music, operators Rod and Renee Fitzgerald are in the process of obtaining the correct licenses to open again, but two months’ worth of programming, including fringe events, have had to be cancelled as a result of the cease trade order.
The past month has seen a lot of activity in Australia’s live music sector. Tone Deaf recently reported on the launch of a new venue which is set to open inside of Melbourne’s Lido cinema, in addition The Albion Rooftop, a new Melbourne venue owned by several former Aussie footballers.
