Another vital live music cornerstone is set to be lost to the sands of time, with Melbourne institution Ding Dong Lounge revealing they’ll be closing up shop for good in just a few short weeks.
The CBD venue, which opened in 2003, will cease operations on Saturday, January 13th, owner Bill Walsh confirmed in a statement to media this afternoon.
Ding Dong, tucked away on Hardware Lane in the heart of the Melbourne city, had been feeling pressure from a string of small bars and clubs that have opened in the inner-northern suburbs in recent times, driving crowds out of the city as more and more venues closed up shop.
Walsh, who was the original drummer for Melbourne rock royalty Cosmic Psychos, stated that a combination of increased competition in the inner suburbs combined with issues of homelessness and late night violence have all contributed to the decision to close the venue’s doors.
I’m proud of the venue and what we were able to achieve in helping to create an important part of the Melbourne music fabric.
We’ve always been a venue that presented unique offering in the Melbourne CBD and people embraced us. We didn’t big note ourselves, we tried to be hospitable, caring and fair, although, there have been times when we struggled to make ends meet. We received wide support from all quarters, including band managers, agents, touring companies, media, and most importantly the musicians themselves. Our staff really cared about the welfare of our customers and we stayed true to ourselves.
It’s an open secret that venues in the Melbourne CBD have been struggling lately due in part to the broader proliferation of similar clubs and bars across the inner north and combination of the heartbreaking homeless issue and ongoing late night violence in the CBD the time is right to pull up stumps.
We’ll be going out with a huge bang, so look out for our last gigs leading up to our closing party on Saturday 13th January. Until then, have a safe and happy Christmas.
Over the years the venue has been a favourite of international and local touring bands, hosting the likes of Queens of the Stone Age, The White Stripes, You Am I, Leonard Cohen, Ed Sheeran, The Melvins, Jimmy Barnes, Fucked Up, and a raft of others.
The details of the final gig at the venue are yet to be announced.
