Off The Record

Venues, venues, venues news this week. First up, another one bites the dust: Hugos Lounge in Kings Cross has been forced to close after going into voluntary administration. And why would that be? The lockout laws, of course.

According to Inthemix, after 15 years owner Dave Evans stated that running the club was not financially viable, with a 60 per cent loss in revenue due to the reported 80 per cent drop in visitors to Kings Cross following the lockout laws. Sadly, we’ll probably be reporting the same story about another venue next week, and the week after, and the week after that.

Several Newtown and Enmore venues are set to trial 3am lockout laws for six months from the beginning of September. Last week, ten publicans agreed to trial the lockouts in order to improve public safety, as patronage of the area has greatly increased since the introduction of the CBD lockouts, and led to an increase in violence.

Speaking of which, it has been reported that Slyfox is the only venue that has declined trying the self-imposed lockouts. And here’s why: Kerry Wallace, the main man behind S.A.S.H, bought the venue back in May. After completing the renovations (inspired by Melbourne’s Revolver), he announced that as of this week the hotel will become a late-night live music venue, with Fridays and Saturdays focusing on house, techno and disco. Hit facebook.com/slyfoxenmore for more information.

Anyone up for a trip to the 3000? Melbourne Festival has revealed its 2015 program, and this year the international techno drawcard is Sweden’s Axel Willner AKA The Field. Ever since the release of his 2007 debut From Here We Go Sublime, the Swede has been at the forefront of electronic music, and one of the biggest success stories on the legendary label Kompakt. He’s collaborated with the likes of Thom Yorke and Helmet’s John Stanier, and this will be the first time he’s been in Australia in almost five years. So, yeah, worth getting a flight for. He’ll play at the Foxtel Festival Hub on the banks of the Yarra on Friday October 23.

Reading material: the infamous Sven Marquardt,bouncer of arguably the world’s best club Berghain, has opened up in a rare interview with GQ. Want to know the secrets about how to get past the most notorious doorman on the planet? Hint: he doesn’t give much away. The mystery remains.

Tour rumours: we’re going to get visits from Felix Da Housecat and Pillowtalk [pictured] next month. Oh, and expect to see Rick Howard on our shores early next year.

Best releases this week: the new Huerco S. release Railroad Blues (on Proibito) is super solid, as are DJ Fett Burger’s Pogo/Kaosfield (Mongo Fett), The Maghreban’s Wonder Woman (Versatile), Life’s Track’s Venere (Bosconi), Nu Guinea’s World (Tartelet), Pulpo (AKA Bookworms and Patricia)’s CCCP016 (Russian Torrent Versions), Pablo Mateo’s Old Cars In New Man (LACKREC.) and A Vision Of Panorama’s Patches Of Light (Music For Dreams).