The Sunshine Coast’s longest-running live music venue Solbar is shutting down, after more than 20 years providing a stepping stone for Australian artists.
Its looming closure has led to an immediate outpouring of tributes from artists and industry.
The venue first opened in Coolum in 2001 before moving to Ocean Street in Maroochydore, where it helped build the street into a live music and late-night entertainment precinct.
It won the Best Regional Venue in Queensland at the Queensland Music Awards three times.
Solbar has blamed high operating costs and changing audience habits for the closure. (Supplied: Solbar)
In a statement released this morning, Solbar owners Alex Johns and Dimitris Limnatitis said the closure of the venue was “not just the loss of a workplace, but the end of a shared creative community”.
“Staff, artists and patrons alike have watched Solbar grow from a small local venue into what many describe as the beating heart of Sunshine Coast nightlife,” the statement read.
The bar blamed rising operating costs, changing audience behaviours and economic pressures that had “created a difficult environment for venues to survive”.
Late last year, Birtinya music venue The Station also announced it would close, hosting Pete Murray as its final live act on January 2.
One of a kind
Natalee Johns from band Hugo and the Hive said Solbar had been “the most supportive venue” they had worked with.
Solbar will close this weekend after more than 20 years as a live-music venue on the Sunshine Coast. (Supplied: Solbar)
She described Solbar’s entertainment manager, Melissa O’Bryan, as the “glue to the Sunshine Coast music industry”.
“She saw something in us that not many other people had the time or interest in,” Ms Johns said.
“Her passion for including youth in the music space has always been unmatched and we always felt the love with her and Solbar.”
She said Solbar was an important part of the band’s history — they first performed as an opening act, and then as the headline.
“Without that support, we would have never had a place at the table in this industry,” Ms Johns said.
“Solbar gave us a leg to stand on, and helped us give back as well to the next generation fo youth bands.
“There will never be a venue like Solbar, and I am forever grateful for what they have done for me, both with my confidence as a young person to adult, and as a musician.”
Sunshine Coast artists Wave Raiders said they were “absolutely gutted” by the news.
“Such an important venue for emerging original bands like us,” they said.
No part of music industry is safe
QMusic chief executive Kris Stewart said there was a mixture of shock and an “inevitable sadness” that the Solbar could be lost.
Kris Stewart says live music venues are under pressure across Australia and across the world. (Supplied)
But she said this was not just an issue for the Sunshine Coast, but for the country and the world.
“All music venues are looking at real challenges like this in the eye and having to make, for many of them, really difficult decisions,” Mr Stewart said.
“You’re seeing an extraordinary number of small venues across the UK and US and Australia, sort of face ever-increasing challenges around presentation.
“I think it was interesting when they announced the Oasis tour, I think three-quarters of the venues where they did their first tour as an emerging band had subsequently shut.”
Mr Stewart said all levels of government and industry needed to look at how to support these venues to survive.
“One of the things I think we need to do is find ways to protect that passion and make sure these absolutely essential pieces of infrastructure aren’t lost to Queensland forever.”
Costs going up, punters drinking less
Solbar co-owner and co-founder Alex Johns said the venue was hit by higher costs, combined with fewer able to spend money on a night out.
“The challenge is that it has always been, our funding model is based around food and beverage,” he said.
“And people just don’t have the money to spend on that these days”.
Co-owners of Solbar say the venue has been under pressure with rising costs, while punters were spending less on a night out. (Supplied: Solbar)
On top of that, behaviours were changing.
“A lot of people just aren’t drinking anymore, particularly the younger generation,” he said.
“The younger ones certainly don’t drink like they used to, they want to be home earlier, and that just makes it tricky, really.”
But while the end is near, he expected the Solbar to exit the scene with a bang.
“Lots of the local guys that have been with us and supported us for the whole journey, they’re coming back in to tear the roof off it one more time.”
Thanks and goodbye
Marketing manager Katie Mateus has worked at the club for 12 years.
She said the venue had “been a home, a family, and a place where countless memories were made”.
“Many of our staff have dedicated over a decade of their lives to this space and the reluctant decision to close has been heartbreaking,” Ms Mateus said.
Solbar will hold its final event on February 28.
Dimi Limnatitis and Alex Johns say they are incredibly proud of the venue’s legacy. (ABC News: Owen Jacques)
Co-owner and co-founder Dimitris Limnatitis said the venue was created with “nothing more than a genuine passion for live music”.
“Fifteen years on, we’ve watched artists take their first steps on our stage and go on to perform on the world stage, and that’s something we’re incredibly proud of.”
The venue said it wanted to show gratitude to the artists, staff and “the audiences who danced, sang and made Solbar what it was”.