Cherry Bar to farewell AC/DC Lane after 20 years
Ending a 20 year era, live music venue Cherry Bar will cease trading from its understated site in AC/DC Lane this weekend.
The popular rock venue – which Oasis co-lead vocalist Noel Gallagher reportedly offered to buy during a 2002 tour – is set to reopen elsewhere in Melbourne though relocation details have not yet been disclosed.
Cherry Bar co-owner James Young revealed in January that he had failed to secure a long-term tenancy for the existing premises.
The publican took over the venue, in the shadow of landmark office building 101 Collins Street, 13 years ago.
Prior to 1999, the road it was on was called Corporation Lane.
In a statement, Mr Young said “it is my intention to take the name, the staff and the sticky carpet to a new Melbourne address with a long lease and a safe and secure future for live local music and late night rock and roll revelry”.
It was reported two months ago that the businessman was in negotiations with ten “future homes” (story continues below).
The outgoing Cherry Bar space has been leased to Eve nightclub owners, brothers Nick and Daniel Russian, who will reopen it as a new venture.
Elsewhere in Melbourne’s CBD, underground dance club Lounge is set to vacate the 243 Swanston St premises it rented for nearly three decades, so the site can be redeveloped.
That business is hosting a series called 29 Parties For 29 Years ahead of its closing in mid-April.
“As Lounge has bought so much joy to so many people over such a long period of time, we aim for this period to be a series of celebrations, rather than a funeral,” a statement from the owners said.
The late Jeff Buckley and Gil Scott-Heron have performed there.
