After 45 years, Sydney’s much adored music venue The Basement are shutting their doors in less than a week.
The cosy venue has always been the place to wrap your ears around some quality jazz and music tributes by some of the country’s best local talent. The Basement held live shows almost every night of the week.
Though once just a jazz club, The Basement evolved hosting musicians of every genre like burlesque, rock, rap, indie acts, and even the occasional comedy show.
News of the closure came after musician Danny G Felix posted on his Facebook. Danny’s original post stated how landlords AMP intend to turn the venue into an office space but this is not true.
In a statement the AMP wrote,
“AMP Capital has enjoyed a great relationship with The Basement for more than 10 years and has been strong supporters of the venue, their artists, patrons and live music in Sydney. Like our partners at The Basement, we are equally disappointed the partnership and venue won’t continue after a decade of working together. We have worked with the management of The Basement for more than six months to ensure an appropriate transition could take place and have amicably agreed to end the lease. While it’s too soon to say whether another music operator, bar or restaurant will move in, there is absolutely no intention to convert The Basement into office space.”
Danny also took the moment to invite fans and friends for one last Monday Jam at The Basement. The Monday Jam had been held weekly since 2010.
You can read Danny’s full post below.
Local singer song-writer, Francine Bell also took to her Twitter and Facebook to share her sadness.
Another wonderful music venue bites the dust. 😥 #thebasement https://t.co/Lhc5WOeCMj
— VIO_VeryInterestedOne 🇺🇦 (@one_interested) March 25, 2018
The Basement has hosted jazz musicians like pianist Aron Ottignon and Felix Bloxsom, an incredible jazz drummer. Up and coming local musos knew to go up, they had to go down underground first. Many consider performing at the venue as a sort of rite of passage.
The Macquarie venue first opened its doors in May 1972 and has hosted international acts like American jazz singer Betty Carter and English singer and song-writer, Richard Thompson.
The venue site has yet to officially announce the news.
