Originally Posted by
sammydog
When we talk about up and coming acts, are people talking about new local original music scene being newcastle bands, or new(wish) national talent that has gotten to the level to tour small venues nationally?
Id still argue that the scene is a shadow of its former self. Many of those venues listed don't play local music to the extent that venues used todo. Venues used to have live original acts up to 5 nights a week, if you were a local band you could easily play every week (more if really keen).
You got paid for it. Punters came out to watch and pubs were packed.
Just in the city centre we have lost to local bands (and this is off the top of my head from the 90's). these venues used to cater mainly for live music and I haven't included a lot of other venues that were primarily cover bands. By 2000 a lot of this list had disappeared or the writing was on the wall. Others went through a change to attract different clients.
The Ambassador
The Family
Hunter On Hunter
Bellevue
Morrow Park Bowlo
Empire
JR (mix of original and live bands, original stuff was generally mid week)
The Star (Still miss the room downstairs)
National Park Bowling Club
Newcastle Workers (small auditorium)
Lucky Country (used to be a shocker lugging gear upstairs, as was the JR)
Newcastle Leagues
The Basement (cant remember the pub across from the police station, always had great Jazz, Blues and Funk)
Newcastle Airforce Club (was where the Porkers got their start)
Tattersalls Club
SJ's (like the JR, original stuff was welcome during the week)
Similarly to the above venues, you could go to Maitland and there was a heap of venues close to each other.
While my memories of the 90's music scene were awesome, many older muso's tell me that in the late 70's and into the 80's there was even more venue choice to play at so I guess the venue availability and perception of the health of the scene depends on when you came into it.
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