The Troubadour's farewell

Tue 23rd Nov, 2010 in Features

Ah The Troubadour, that lounge room of the Valley that guaranteed not only a good night out of music, but for the last few years refuge from the increasingly foul environment of the Valley Mall, ‘Entertainment Precinct’ that it is.

Since 2003, the elongated room that was 20 literal steps and worlds above the rest of the venues of Brunswick St mall has showcased a consistently stunning array of local, national and international talent. Full of couches, 70s kitsch, good liquor, a tiny elevated stage and a load-in from hell, The Troubadour hosted hundreds of intimate shows, industry showcases, gave birth to a bunch of bands, even more romances (some listed on their chalkboard on closing night) and generally cemented itself as so much more than a venue. The Troubadour was a scene that all self-respecting (or disrespecting, come 4am and gin in jam jars) musicians and music aficionados made themselves a part of.

Whilst the close seems sudden, murmurs of the reason for The Troubadour closing had been around for months. The simple answer was that The Troubadour owners Jamie Trevaskis and Corrina Scanlon simply couldn’t work with the building landlord any longer. With this year seeing The Troubadour experience the fallout of nearby fires, electricity blackouts, broken airconditioning and a floor in disrepair, things just weren’t being fixed or maintained to the point where Trevaskis stated in detail in last week’s Time Off that the continuation of the venue had become impossible. With Trevaskis now involved in another fabulous watering hole (but sadly not a dedicated live music venue) – the Junk Bar in suburban Ashgrove – it’s unfathomable that The Troubadour would continue on in other premises. The Hangar has also succumbed to a similar fate in Red Hill, with venue owners pre-empting their impending doom by closing down before noise complaints and rental issues forced their hand.

Where to from here?

The place is up for lease, but I fear the space will suffer the same fate as New Farm’s The Alibi Room – though not a music venue, the iconic musician hangout and taco factory lost any gravitational pull almost overnight when management changed hands about a year ago.

The Zoo is still standing strong around the corner on Ann Street, making room for displaced Troubadour shows and hosting local and international acts week after week, and newcomer Woodland (above The Mustang Bar, and accessible down the laneway next to Alhambra from McLaughlin St) shows amazing promise as a venue with Best Coast, Metronomy, Health and others booked there in coming months. Ric’s Café is still showcasing live music, albeit with less pizazz now it’s become part of the RGs and Bank Bar conglomerate, and Step Inn has extended its stage to accommodate larger bands.

Brisbane’s musical landscape is certainly changing, with venues decentralising from the council declared Entertainment Precinct of Fortitude Valley. One thing’s for sure, there won’t be another venue like The Troubadour anytime soon.

The Troubadour’s grand finale on Sunday 21 November, 2010 saw -Texas Tea, Mexico City, Edward Guglielmino & The Show, P-Uke, Cori, Los Huevos (in which Trevaskis plays saw) and not so secret bands Gentle Ben & His Sensitive Side and The Gin Club soundtrack the venue’s wake. Many a Troubadour shot (tequila followed by a mini virgin mary chaser in separate shot glasses) was had, and everyone in attendance shared stories of their own special bond with the place. That The Troubadour team manned the bar, door and collected glasses to the very end is an enormous credit to their dedication to both the place itself and its loyal punters.

Thank you Jamie, Cori and team for seven years of unforgettable shows and jovial times. Your venue will be sorely missed by Brisbane and those who ventured from afar to visit it.