Since the closure of Nightquarter, you might be wondering what venue to hit up to see live music.
Lucky for everyone on the Gold Coast, there are still venues alive and kicking, some new and some that have been around a while (minus the food trucks and expensive rent).
No matter what you’re into, you’ll most likely find it at one of these venues. And to help stabilize and grow the music industry on the Gold Coast, it’s important for everyone to get out and support, not only the bands that play, but also the music venues who work hard year in and year out to provide awesome nights of entertainment.
MO’S DESERT CLUBHOUSE
Mo’s Desert Clubhouse is a cool venue located in Burleigh Heads and has a stage, rehearsal rooms and some share spaces upstairs for those who need it.
Mo’s gets a variety of artists there from blues to rock to surf rock to heavy metal. Ticket prices are usually affordable (depending on the artists(s) playing) and it is BYO (for now).
From their website:
“Mo’s Desert Clubhouse is a community hub for musicians, artists, creatives and industry-related crew, designed as a safe haven where you can dream, create, collaborate, inspire and motivate.”
“With a wide range of activities and events each month, we aim to create an inclusive and safe space for creative expression.”
They are currently going under a Impact Assessment DA with the Gold Coast City Council and need support from locals to keep their dream alive. Learn more here: https://readyfundgo.com/project/mosdesertclubhouse/
In the meantime, check out some cool bands and artists in the coming months!
VINNIE’S DIVE BAR
A relatively new venue to the Gold Coast, and it’s based in Southport!
Named Vinnie’s Dive Bar, it puts on live bands that play anything rock, heavy rock, punk etc. So, if you like things a bit heavier.
They always have some awesome local and touring talent so get in there and check em out when you can!
April 25th, 2019 sees American pop-punk dudes, Zebrahead, will be playing there along with Death by Stereo. One can only imagine how awesome the show will be, and such a great line-up for a venue on the Gold Coast.
Get more info on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/vinniesdive/events
CURRUMBIN PUB
The Currumbin Pub is found on the same street as the Balter brewery and is a great venue to see local, original bands play a live show.
The stage area is upstairs and has a nice sized stage, a bar, and if you get there a little bit before the show, you can get a feed from the restaurant too.
Other benefits include the courtesy bus. If you are in the surrounding regions (Currumbin, Palm Beach Miami etc) they will pick you up and drop you home… for free! This way, you can have a drink at the venue and not worry about drink driving.
Some events are also friendly to those under 18, though they would need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 18; it’s still a great benefit to consider before heading out!
The Currumbin Pub get in a variety of acts from dance to indie rock – be sure to check out their schedule to find something that suits your taste. https://www.facebook.com/currumbinpubgoldcoast/
MIAMI SHARK BAR
Closing down mid-2019
The Miami Shark Bar used to host local bands with a smaller following, though now it’s a venue that hosts larger scale bands and touring artists. The ALH owned and run venue has a great set up, stage and sound and is definitely worth checking out if your favourite band happens to swing by.
The Shark Bar is also behind some cool events that pop up around the Gold Coast, like Hotter Than Hell, which in 2019 is hosting bands like Killing Heidi, Bodyjar, 28 Days and more. Sort of a late 90’s to early 00’s nostalgia fest. Check it out!
CONCLUSION
There is a heap of venues around the Gold Coast to catch live, original music. And although the majority of music venues are the southern end of the Gold Coast, you can still have an enjoyable night out, and if you’re getting accommodation nearby, you can’t beat the beach vibes the next morning.
The venues listed above are just a few and there are other venues that you can check out, like Elsewhere and places like Miami Marketta.
The best way to keep these venues in business, and to grow the local music scene, get along to one of these venues and support live, original music. Nothing beats it.
