Hope for Hopetoun?

(Michael Prechtl, Hopetoun Hotel, Sept)

(Sister Jane by Fastlane/ Faster Louder, Hopetoun Hotel, Sept)

In September, Punk Monk was given free reign of the Hopetoun to splash mutating, dripping colour and pattern over bands Wade Jackson, Sister Jane and Hailer. As far as I am aware, this is the first live liquid light show to beam there paying homage to psychedelic forefathers such as The Joshua Light Show (still pumping out light shows 09) with the Jimi Hendrix Experience and other 60s/70s acts like Janis Joplin and The Grateful Dead.

Punk Monk revived this with some old school overhead projectors back at ALGAE RHYTHM 0.02: PSYCHOCHEMICAL with the idea that it's important sometimes to feel like your on acid when you're not. Acid opens up your senses to let in more spine tingly textured, sweet tasting colour and light- why shouldn't we feel this sometimes anyway (without always having to take drugs- although don't get me wrong, they have their place)? There is stimulus everywhere, let's get some of it together to create events that allow you to take a nice trip into a beautiful wonderland. We're expanding this idea more and more, and I'm sure you can't escape how excited we were to be given the opportunity to take over The Factory for BORN IN THE DOORWAY last weekend. We're still buzzing and we have to thank venues for letting us get out our often messy supplies (dyes, cooking oil, paints, glue, detergent... ) and transforming their floors into playgrounds. We're relatively new in the game, but we grow up a little more each event we make our experiment- watch this space-----

(Shirley Chen, Born in the Doorway, Oct)

The reason I am lamenting this Hopetoun gig at the moment is in response to the recent closing of The Hopetoun Hotel. Will this gig, epic as it was, be the last I ever see at The Hopetoun? This the place my ears have rung out to my favourite bands, big and not so, where I have first experienced my now favs- this the place I fell in LOVE!? How can it be that one of my relationships can outlast The Hopetoun. Panic ensues...

I have now discovered The Harp in Tempe has been shut, hopefully temporarily and that The Annandale is possibly up for closure. There are many reasons/speculations for reasons ranging from noise complaints, financial difficulties, some kind of fuzzy code violations, management issues, council hassles etc etc etc but in the end what it seems to come down to is: Support.

These venues have supported our Sydney music scene for decades housing all genres and a range of events mainly by independent artists/groups which need as much support as they do. They provide. We need to provide right on back. I'm not sure what action needs to be taken from here. Perhaps we can revive the campaign that fbi so successfully boosted their community station with? Ideas?

Speaking of, the Red Rattler chicks have none less than mortgaged their lives and worked their asses off in between full time jobs elsewhere to open their space in Marrickville. In the spirit of cheaper rent for artists to house events in and a higher accessibility to these spaces, these incredibly cool women deserve a massive pat on the back. With venues threatened with closure, we can only hope others spring up to help fill the massive gap. Punk Monk have been involved at the Red Rattler for Kino Kabaret (#2 David Lynch) events and Canadian Film Festival nights (Know Your Mushrooms) and received so much willing support and friendly vibes from the red rattlers.

(redrattler.org)

(Victoria Waghorn, Know Your Mushrooms, Aug)

We'll be there on Friday night with The Lurkers who are all about anti-humourlessness activism are about to go to Copenhagen to prompt world leaders to "pull their fingers out and stop burning up our future by burning up coal". Should be fun so come Get Lurked.