Sydney’s Inner West is about to get a new venue for live music.
For a long time, the iconic King Street space The Vanguard was a musical home for live music and discovery, until it closed earlier this month. But the vacancy has been quickly scooped up, asConcrete Playgroundreports.The Vanguard will reopen next month as Leadbelly, a restaurant and bar withfree live gigs.
The buyers are musos themselves, and co-owners of Surry Hills’ Tipple Bar & Bistro, Luke O’Donohoe and Zac Davis.“We want to keep the legacy of Vanguard alive,” O’Donohoe toldCP. “They’ve done so much with the local music scene over the years.”
The new venue’s name pays tribute to Lead Belly, the grandfather of 1920s, ’30s and ’40s blues guitar.“The actual venue will pay homage to music itself,” O’Donohoe said. “We don’t think there’s enough free live music in the city and it will be a point of difference for us.”
We’re sure the music will up to scratch with everything The Vanguard provided, but O’Donohoe and Davis assure that the booze and food offerings will be just as good. The menu will offer up Southern US cuisine, plus pizzas straight from the oven. And if that doesn’t get you through the door, maybe the Leadbelly Lager will.
Photo: Frank Sultana at The Vanguard by Ashley Mar
Leadbelly will open in August at 42 King Street, Newtown.
