Sounds like restoration of city’s rockin’ soul

Powderfinger’s John Collins, on the stage of the Fortitude Music Hall with the Grates’ Patience Hogson, talks about the beginning of a new chapter for Brisbane’s music history.

When Festival Hall was sold in 2003 to make way for an apartment block, the Queensland capital lost a much-loved music venue that had hosted the likes of the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac and Nirvana.

The Beatles playing at Brisbane’s Festival Hall June 29 1964.

A spiritual successor, the Fortitude Music Hall, will begin a new chapter of Brisbane’s music history. Situated in the centre of the city’s entertainment precinct of Fortitude Valley, the $43 million venue is a joint venture between a bassist, a builder, a music entrepreneur and an American entertainment giant.

“I want it to be an asset to Brisbane and the Valley, and to Queensland music,” said John Collins, bass player in rock group Powderfinger, which disbanded in 2010. “I think Brisbane deserves a bloody beautiful space, and I think we’ve waited long enough. We’re a bigger city than we were when Festival Hall was shut down and, in the past, we’ve lost shows for not having this size of venue. I think that’s a sad thing for our music culture.”

“I want it to be an asset to Brisbane and the Valley, and to Queensland music. I think Brisbane deserves a bloody beautiful space, and I think we’ve waited long enough.” – John Collins

No more: with a capacity of 3300, the Fortitude Music Hall will fill a gap between the nearby Tivoli theatre, which accommodates 1500, and the 9000-capacity outdoor Riverstage. “I’ve missed Festival Hall terribly — that was my temple,” said Scott Hutchinson, chairman of Hutchinson Builders. “I’m a punter, and this is a labour of love and self-indulgence. It’s a disaster commercially in the short term — but in the long run it should be OK. Brisbane needs big bands playing in the middle of town.”

In 2014, Collins and Mr Hutchinson partnered with entrepreneur Paul Piticco — long-time manager of Powderfinger and co-chief executive of Secret Sounds, which oversees festivals such as Splendour in the Grass and Falls — to open The Triffid, an 800-­capacity room in neighbouring Newstead. The trio’s experience and success with The Triffid led to a partnership on the second venue with American entertainment company Live Nation, which has a controlling stake in Secret Sounds.

Concerts booked at the Fortitude Music Hall include American psychedelic rockers the Flaming Lips, British metalcore band Architects, Indonesian rapper Rich Brian and Australian performers Kasey Chambers, Hermitude and The Cat Empire.

On opening night, the venue was christened by local rock acts Ball Park Music and DZ Deathrays, with guest performances by members of Powderfinger, Custard and the Grates.

“If you’re a Brisbane musician, you formed yourself in the Valley,” said Grates singer Patience Hodgson, who will host the opening night. “It’s gorgeous, and I feel like it’s a gift to the Valley.”

Originally published on The Australian by Andrew McMillen on July 19 2019.