As passionate music fans and proud members of the community, it’s impossibly hard to share the news that after nearly 32 years of live music, The Zoo will be closing its doors on July 8th 💔
Sadly, the financial reality of keeping music venues afloat in 2024 is all too stark. The Zoo reached its highest ticket sales in its 32-year history last year, yet this was still not enough to combat rising operational costs, and decreasing returns.
As a music venue, we try our best to keep venue hire costs as low as possible for artists and promoters, which means that the financial risks are on the venue, and we depend on bar sales for profit. The cost of supplying alcohol is rising, and bar sales are going down, likely due to a mix of lifestyle changes and cost of living stress for our patrons.
The hard truth is that we’ve been running at a loss for over 3 years. Despite exploring every avenue available to us, we could not secure the level of support needed to surmount the continued financial strain. We have no choice but to call last drinks for both of our beloved music venues.
Our sister venue Stranded will also be wrapping up, ceasing trade on Monday May 6th...
To our loyal punters and past performers, we thank you for the great times we’ve shared; the decades of dancing, singing and moshing. The kindness of our community of music lovers is a gift The Zoo team has cherished.
We hope you’ll continue to support local live music and keep the scene alive in Brisbane and nationwide.
We encourage you to advocate for live music, to implore our government and music bodies to do everything they can to prevent more venues from closing their doors due to the industry-wide financial pressure that is decimating venues across the country.
We hope you’ll join us for one last dance over the next few months. We want to make the last shows very special and will be looking to add extra shows while we can!
If you have purchased tickets to shows that are outside the closure dates, we’ll be in contact soon.
Love from The Zoo Fam xx
We've been bowled over by the kind words and support today - so grateful for our community and the good times we've shared at Stranded 🖤
We hope you'll join us through this week for what will be our last shows, and they're hot ones!
It all kicks off tomorrow with Melb sister duo Charm of Finches, launching their latest album, backed by their band and with support from Riley Catherall.
Friday will see eccentric Adelaide 5-piece The Empty Threats take the stage, with guests DIAL and Houseplants .
Saturday we have Opal Sessions coming through for an intimate dance experience showcasing deep, ethereal and energetic sounds from expert selectors, alongside immersive visual arts.
Then in fitting fashion, Sunday's send off will be courtesy of Brissy icon Mad Macka and his Arts Holiday Blues Revue, playing a smattering of Blues standards and originals, with guests The Dangermen and Heavy Liquid.
Tickets can be purchased via our website. Looking forward to sharing a cocktail and a boogie with you all.
Lots of love,
Stranded HQ
★ THIS WEEK AT STRANDED ★
Huge week of music ahead at your friendly neighbourhood Stranded:
Thu 2.5 ~ Charm of Finches
Fri 3.5 ~ The Empty Threats
Sat 4.5 ~ OPAL 003 with Dondy, Keno Kowboy, Xeimma + more
Sun 5.5 ~ Mad Macka's Arts Holiday Blues Revue
All tix and info via link in bio.
Join us for one last drink tonight before we close our doors 🖤 Only fitting to host Brissy royalty for our final show, with Mad Macka's Arts Holiday Blues Revue kicking off at 7PM, plus support from The Dangerman & Heavy Liquid. Come say hi and enjoy some tunes - Stranded HQ x
Stranded's final weekend continues, with the third instalment of @opal.sessions TONITE ~ join local Meanjin artists for an intimate dance experience imbued with beauty, warmth and connection 🖤 ft. incredible selectors and curated visuals, from 7 til late. Last tix via link in bio / on the door.
Empties in the house tonight! Come lap it up at Stranded's last weekend, with @theemptythreats and support from @dial.band & @houseplantsband . Doors open 7PM ~ last tix at link in bio xx
Charm of Finches take the stage tonight, bringing darkly bewitching folk pop to Stranded - enchating vibes await ✨
Set times below, last tix at link in bio.
7:00PM Doors
7:30PM @rileycatherall
8:30PM @charmoffinchesband
@charmoffinchesband bring their haunting and intricate folk-pop to Stranded this Thursday, performing tracks from their new album Marlinchen in the Snow. Don't miss, tix via link in bio 🥀
Naarm sister duo @charmoffinchesband hit Stranded this Thursday, performing bewitching intricate folk-pop with seamless harmonies, with special guest @rileycatherall . Thurs 2.05, tix via link in bio.
It's time... @darkerhalfofficial hit Stranded tonight in all their heavy glory, treating us to one last show of their "If You Only Knew" era. Doors open 7PM, last tix via link in bio + on the door.
Come through tonight for a free entry vinyl party with DJ Gaz on the decks! Delish cocktails and all round primo Friday vibes await. 8 til late, see you soon xx
It’s time to roll out the red carpet for two of hip hop’s kings...
This May, veteran MC’s @el_da_sensei (Artifacts / NJ) & @ruste_muthafuckin_juxx (boot Camp Clik / NY) join us on Australian soil for the very first time in their illustrious 30+ year careers. On stage, they will be joined by legendary world champion turntablist, @djtotaleclipse (X-ecutioners / NY).
The East Coast Kings Tour will take you deep into the heart of hip hop’s Mecca… giving you a royal tour into a part of the world where many kings have been made!
Sunday 19 May at Stranded!
Tix on sale now via link in bio.
