A worker at beloved Fortitude Valley live music venue The Zoo is calling on members of the public to help save the 32-year-old venue after its owners announced it will close this year.
Lighting director Dan Minnis sent the message to industry professionals on Tuesday:
“You may be aware of the upcoming demise of The Zoo, a live music venue in Brisbane, in its’ 32nd year. Many consider it to be the most important live music venue in Brisbane, some say in Australia.
“The nursery where many of Brisbane’s best bands have honed their skills.
“I am a Zooie to my core. I have been doing lights there for nearly half its life.
“Watching bands grow up here, moving on and conquering world.
“Then there is also the pleasure to work with established acts from all over the world. It is the most important thing in my life.
“I am reaching out to everyone to see if they could please help save The Zoo.
“I would greatly appreciate if you helped spread the word that The Zoo is still alive and with life there is hope, and she could still be saved.
“Live music is in a precarious position and the loss of The Zoo, will leave a huge hole in the space where new bands develop, and older bands continue to rule.
“Anything you could do, may help. #savethezoo“
If you can help Dan save The Zoo email him at dandanlighting@hotmail.com or phone 0409 821 063.
Greens members jump on live music train
Brisbane Greens MP Stephen Bates and candidate for McConnel Holstein Wong spoke to commuters at Bowen Hills Train Station last week about how they can save the crippling local music scene.
Stephen says almost everyone he spoke to had a story about The Zoo.
“With the arts community signalling that, this is just the beginning of trouble affecting venues across Brisbane,” Stephen says.
“People are worried about losing more of our city’s live music venues.
“We’re calling on the state government to buy buildings across Queensland and lease them out to not-for-profits and Councils for creative industries and artists to use.
“With publicly-owned spaces for the arts, we can keep our local scene alive and create more jobs in the sector.”
Sign The Greens’ petition save live music in Brisbane with more publicly owned arts venues: https://www.holsteinwong.com/savelivevenues.
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