‘End Is Nigh’ For Adelaide’s Jade Monkey
News posted Monday, February 20 2012 at 06:00 PM.
Related: Jade Monkey.
After several months of speculation, owners of Adelaide’s The Jade Monkey have announced its imminent closure.
The much loved Twin Street institution, which has hosted live music for the past decade, will shut its doors in October. The venue, as well as its Two Ships basement bar, will reportedly make way for a new hotel. The news was announced via Facebook today (February 20).
“After 10 years of much loved service to the wonderful and diverse Adelaide (and beyond) musical community at Twin St, the end is nigh,” read the statement. “Our wonderful 131 year old bluestone walled building at 29 & 29a Twin Street, Adelaide will be no more. Because even though we aren't on the exact spot, it seems that the owners don't want a live music venue next to their shiny new hotel, something I'm sure this city needs.”
Owners Zac Coligan and Naomi Thompson – also of Adelaide outfit The Sea Thieves – are determined to see off the building in style.
“If you have ever played/celebrated or simply been at the Jade (or Two Ships) in the last 10 years then we invite all of you to come and do it one last time. This is the last dance at Twin Street chums and we'd love to fill the dance card with you.”
The timing of the news couldn’t be more unfortunate, with the inaugural SLAM Day – which celebrates live music in small venues – taking place around the country this Thursday. The Jade Monkey is hosting performances by The Sundance Kids, Raider and Mere Theory. More listings here.
UPDATE 20/2: A Facbook group has been set up in protest: "While it may be too late to actually save The Jade, we're hoping to raise some awareness and voice our opinions on the state of live music in Adelaide in general. It's only going to get worse unless the (voting) pubic does something about it. Who might be next?"
+
– It’s time again for the PBS Radio Festival, where Melbourne’s augus…
Adelaide native MATT BANHAM pays tribute to The Jade Monkey, which wil…
Adelaide’s Jade Monkey has found an unlikely ally in South Australian …
Despite a groundswell of online support, including a Facebook group an…
A decade after the death of founding singer/bassist Tim Hemensley at a…
Tame Impala bass player Nick Allbrook has left the band.
A statement …
– Just off an 18-date European tour, New Zealand songwriter Hollie Ful…
So not only is the venue closing, but the building is being demolished too? That's garbage. Would have thought it'd be heritage listed.
NYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Sad. I remember seeing Grand Salvo and Love of Diagrams there back in 2003 or 04 on a holiday over.
wait ... you took a holiday in adelaide?
that would be 2nd & 3rd of april 2004. good times.
There was a girl involved
We did the paddly boats thing
Oh this is quietly devastating news.
The Jade Monkey was such a cool little venue - had lots of gigs there when I still lived in RADelaide.
Man this is thoroughly depressing
Is that what the kids are calling it these days?
I played Jade Monkey a couple of times in the early to mid-2000s. It was cool. Shame to see this venue go.
Such a waste.
SILVER LINING: the proposed hotel will have a bar/entertainment facility which will surely make up for the loss to new and eclectic bands by providing ponytailed guys in their late thirties another place to quietly strum Powderfinger and Diesel covers while an indifferent smattering of sweaty businessmen quietly self-medicate surrounded by polished black marble.
Phew.
aww
jade monkey one of the places i got to play in adelaide, was a v nice place to drink
Been to a hell of a lot of shows there (and organised a couple myself). As far as tours go Bill Callahan, Microphones, Crooked Fingers, Josephine Foster, Spiral Stairs, Philip Jeck, Rafael Toral, Max Tundra, Curse Ov Dialect, Love of Diagrams, Darren Hanlon, Music vs Physics, Kris Wanders & Keiji Haino come to mind, but of course have also seen an enormous number of great local bands there as well.
Damn. Only got to visit once, but I liked that place. Would've liked to play there.
Facebook group has been set up in protest. See above.
The Jade Monkey at its best (care of Spoz):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTO-MGB03sw
Played a bunch of shows there with My Sister The Cop and SWORDS (and have one coming up in March). Great venue, great people running it (and Two Ships) and I'm sad to see it go.
It will be sorely missed.
Adelaide is running out of good venues pretty quick.
I'm still trying to remember what this place was back in the 1980s and 1990s (and before). The only place around Rundle Mall with anything approaching music was the Richmond Tavern, and the Mansions Tavern.
As far as I know it wasn't any sort of venue until the JM opened. Was probably a shop of some sort. Old photos show it was originally a biscuit factory.
when i was a kid it was a pet shop then irving baby moved in then the jade.
WHAT???
WHEN???
WHERE WAS I???
The pubic need to do something!
Also seriously shitty news.
I'm kicking myself for not seeing Crooekd Fingers there, but I'm glad I saw Limit Of Shunt play there on the floor.
If anyone's interested in the politics behind this, this is an interesting read: http://renewadelaide.wordpress.com/2012/02/20/one-step-forward-one-step-back-tuxedo-cat-opens-jade-monkey-closes/
Sorry, I managed to write down completely the wrong name! He did not play there. I was thinking of Shoji Hano.
Was about to recommend this myself
Interesting piece. Thanks.
I could never get a gig here. But i know a lot of locals rate it so it's shitty news indeed.
Channel 9 ''news'' story last night...
http://youtu.be/1Pfig1oU14w
From the AdelaideNow website...
this also surprises me.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/protest-as-jade-monkey-to-close
Its open for comments as well
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/protest-as-jade-monkey-to-close/story-e6frea83-1226277536919
messed up the link
so a 131-year-old historic building can get demolished in adelaide, but pretty much every shitty weatherboard gets a heritage overlay in melbs? something not right here...
Wouldn't have happened in Don Dunstan's day.
a 10-year-old venue is one thing, but we're talking about a 131-year-old building and the site of a historic bakery.
it's absolutely baffling the government has allowed this.