Adelaide has always been a proper live music town. And it’s not only during festival season, it’s all year-round. It’s the city that rewards grit and hard work and fostered some incredible Oz Artists – Bon and ACDC, Chisel, The Angels, Paul Kelly, No Fixed Address, Hill Top Hoods, Mark Of Cain. I’ve been performing for a long time now, and some of my favourite memories and lessons have come out of Adelaide venues that treat live music as part of the city’s DNA, rather than just a night out.
The Gov is right up there. I’ve been playing The Gov for over 20 years and it’s genuinely one of my favourite venues in the country. There’s something about that room – the sound, the stage, the way the crowd leans in – that just works. Whether it’s a full band or a stripped-back show, The Gov always feels like a place where musicians are respected and audiences come ready.
Then there’s The Thebarton Theatre. The Thebby has that old-school grandeur that reminds you of how long live music has mattered in this town. I’ve played there plenty of times over the years and it never loses its sense of occasion. Walking out onto that stage, you feel the history in the walls. It’s a reminder that Australian music didn’t happen overnight, it was built, show by show, in rooms like this.
And finally, The Cranker – the Crown & Anchor (now at the Ed Castle) which I reckon is one of the most important venues in Adelaide. It’s incredible for fostering young talent. New bands cut their teeth there. This is where they learn how to work a room, and to find their people. My daughter Bella has been heading there since she turned 18 to check out new bands, and my son James has played there with his band too. That’s the full circle right there.
When I’m doing Long Way To The Top, these will be the kinds of rooms and stories I’ll be thinking about. The miles, the stages, and the venues that make you earn it and shape you as a musician.
Long Way to the Top, The Fantail (open-air) at Gluttony – Rymill Park, 7-22 March, various times