Music on the Mountain

Lifestyle

2 Nov

If you're into your local music, you'll know we have a healthy amount of musical talent in this city. And with so many venues serving up live music all through the week, you’re guaranteed an unforgettable night, no matter what your vibe.

Written by Veronica Dawson

Photography by Formed Visuals

No matter if you’re more into Andre Rieu or Andre 3000, music offers an escape, builds a connection, drives identity, marks a moment, unifies people and makes us feel. So many memories have been made and relationships solidified through music, whether via clumsy choreography on a dancefloor, the perfect goodbye at a funeral, or a slow dance at a festival.

Toowoomba is home to an incredible variety of musicians from all different genres, backgrounds and cultures. And you can venture out to see them every single day of the week, thanks to the hospitality and live music venues that champion the local talent. United with our local musicians, they share an overarching and simple mission: to create an atmosphere good enough to leave your house for.

Fitzy’s has been a live music hub before it was even Fitzy’s, celebrating live and local tunes for more than 20 years. Owner Anita Armanasco and her family believe that live music is the lifeblood of a venue, and as fourth generation publicans, there’s certainly no doubting their authority on the matter. “A pub wouldn’t be a pub without great music.” she says. “Choosing the right entertainers to create the right mood at the right time is crucial. It’s a huge part of what we do.”

Another iconic venue that has spent decades uniting audiences and musicians alike is The Powerhouse, which has been bringing massive names like Joe Cocker, The Angels, Jimmy Barnes, Ice House and many more international and Aussie acts to Toowoomba since 1983. Custom-built for live music, from the acoustics to the sound and lighting, the venue was designed to ensure Toowoomba could access the same quality of music that audiences experience in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne or any large city in the world.

Owners Jim and Kath Aspromourgos said that while in previous decades the venue would see thousands of people through its doors in just one night, their focus has shifted to supporting the musicians and industry that were hit hardest in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak.

“When we reopened we started this regular live music event, Live and Local, for bands that didn’t have a lot of work or were completely new to the industry and trying to land gigs,” Kath says. "We could provide an amazing sound and light show, the largest of any outside of Brisbane in any venue, for these guys to play in.

“We promote the events and we invite the community to come down and support them, but it’s also an opportunity for musicians to have videographers and photographers produce great promotional materials, which will hopefully help put their names out there and get them more gigs.

“We have amazing musicians in Toowoomba - amazing singers, guitarists, drummers. There’s so much talent.”

A more recent addition, The Met Hotel has quickly established itself as one of the region’s best live music venues through the same mantra of offering quality sound and lighting, and a platform for a diverse range of artists from all genres to share their talent. Owner Kosta Theodosis has performed as a drummer in renowned venues around the world and maintains there’s no difference in the live music offering in Toowoomba compared to larger cities.

“The music scene in Toowoomba is of course smaller than a larger city, but the quality of musicians and artists is equal to anywhere I’ve been. Plus, we’re truly blessed to be the home of some of Australia’s finest musicians who have been hiding away in Toowoomba.” There’s everyone from those gigging as a side hustle all the way through to musicians such as Cloe Terare, Mason Watts and Benny Nelson who are recording albums, touring (when they can) and gaining significant recognition professionally.

The Met holds gigs from Thursday to Sunday each week, showcasing local acts across a range of genres including punk, country, jazz, rock, metal and more – a deliberate move to ensure the representation of as many types of music as possible.

“We try our best to program a diverse array of artists and to provide opportunities to artists from all genres,” Kosta says. “Whatever it is that you’re into, you can attend a gig of a particular genre and be in a room surrounded by like-minded people.

“Even better is when people with very different tastes can get into a room together and can appreciate each other’s musical interests.”

One venue where you can appreciate live music – every single night of the week – is The Rock, with artists performing daily from 5-9pm. With 100 hotel beds above in The Oaks, owner Kenneth Wagner hoped that by introducing entertainment each night, it would bring out-of-town visitors down from their rooms to explore what’s going on downstairs and the CBD. “Particularly Monday to Thursday our sales are reflective of our commitment to having entertainment every night,” he says.

“As far as a regional town goes we’ve got a great live music offering. All the musicians are mates, they all get along, they have reputations and they play at a few different venues - I think that creates a bit of a following in the CBD hotels.

“There doesn’t seem to be any competition between venues about who’s playing where, it’s just nice to participate in it.”

Once you start looking, you’ll find live music everywhere. Less than an hour out of town, Bunnyconnellen in Crows Nest regularly hosts weekend events to take a picnic rug and enjoy great local music and food. Good-time bar Bodega serves up Musical Bingo every Wednesday, The Irish Club Hotel does open mic nights on the first and third Thursdays of the month, and has an impressive lineup of live music on the days that follow.

Many of these venues aren’t just places for artists to perform; they are hubs for the local music community to spend time in, share their passion for music and meet new people who share this common love.

The Met’s Kosta Theodosis says this was one of the most important goals for them when opening up the pub.

“Cities that have really thriving music scenes tend to have a small group of core venues in which musicians have an opportunity to perform and develop their material in front of an audience that is there to appreciate the music.”

Toowoomba has the venues. It has the talent. Now make sure you get out there and be a great audience.

SIDE BAR: WHERE TO SEE LIVE MUSIC

If you’re someone who appreciates music, make sure you check out some of these locals venues on your next night out.

Bodega: @bodega_tba

Club Toowoomba: @clubtoowoomba

Fitzy's: @fitzys_toowoomba

Hotel Norville: @hotelnorvillesteakhouse

Monty’s Brewery: @montybrewingcompany

Muller Bros: @mullerbros

Mouse Proof: @mouse_proof

Proof BBQ: @proofbbq

Tatts: @tattshotel