By JENA MARINO
A NEW live-music venue in Geelong will provide a mentoring program to develop local musicians, according to one of its owners.
John O’Brien said The Workers Club Geelong would be a place for “music lovers” to congregate, connect and share their interest.
“We’re dedicated to live and original music – that’s our passion,” O’Brien said.
The venue would open in late March to showcase national and international acts while also hosting the mentoring program.
O’Brien said the program would cover everything from setting up equipment to organising posters and tickets for shows.
He hoped it would help local musicians follow in the footsteps of Australian bands that started out at The Workers Club Melbourne, such as Tame Impala and The Temper Trap.
O’Brien said the Geelong club could also adopt other “different initiatives”, such as a Seventh Gallery window at the Melbourne sister venue for displaying the works of local artists.
“We’re about the community in Melbourne and we want to do the same in Geelong.”
He praised City Hall for supporting the Geelong venue.
“The City of Greater Geelong has been fantastic. The people in general have been really positive and hope that it brings light back to Geelong.”
The workes club would join forces with Geelong entertainment booking and promotions service Spinning Half to help local artists arrange gigs and educate them about putting on their own event as part of the mentoring program.
Spinning Half’s Steve Nichols said the objective of the partnership was “to make every gig an event”.
“We don’t want to just take a booking and see how it goes.”
The Geelong Workers Club will occupy a building in Lt Malop St, near The Eureka hotel.
