IT WAS intended to be an occasion to celebrate; a time to toast the 200th show at renowned alternative music club Goleby’s Basement.

But it will now be a party tinged with great sadness for the Top of Town venue where New York cool met the Ipswich underground.

A change in leasing arrangements has meant live music is no longer welcome at the club, leaving Solidarity Kulture Club music and arts promoter Christian Sargeant with no other choice but to bring down the curtain for the very last time at the club this Saturday.

“After a lot of wrangling, I realised I was between a rock and a hard place trying to continue running the club, Mr Sargeant said.

“The real estate agent has allowed us this one, last show which, ironically, was planned to celebrate Goleby’s success.

Mr Sargeant has spent the past six years locking in acts from home and abroad to play the heritage-listed former saddlery.

His not-for-profit organisation has welcomed through its doors the cream of the nation’s alternative musicians, from The Living End’s Chris Cheney with his debut solo show, ’80s cult band Primitive Calculators, Davey Graney, Mick Medew, and Jeff Lang.

Mr Sargeant said the BYO venue had been a “decrepit cesspit” before Kate Roberts, former owner of Arttime Supplies, revamped the empty space in 2016.

“The crowds loved it, the musicians loved it, and Council loved it,” Mr Sargeant said.

“I hosted the nights at Goleby’s because I loved it, too – I was once that person in a band trying to get gigs, so I know how important these places are.

“I love seeing people come together through music and the arts; it is the bedrock of community that helps to drive the local economy.

“It’s not a business what I do, it’s philanthropic,” Mr Sargeant said.
“You don’t run a club like Goleby’s for the money, because there is no money in it.
“I do it for community engagement, to give artists a platform where one might not be available.”

Screaming Tribesmen co-founder Mick Medew played the cellar club most recently last October.

Medew said it was a gloomy day for the Ipswich music scene.

“Christian ran a wonderful club where I played with my band The Mesmerisers and in my duo with Ursula Collie,” Medew said.

“It was a wonderful meeting place which holds many happy memories for music lovers in Ipswich and my hometown, Brisbane.

“Lots of our followers made the trek from all over to see us play at the club.”

Community, Culture, Arts and Sport Committee Chairman Councillor Andrew Fechner said the contribution of Goleby’s to the local live music scene had been immense.

“Its loss as a live music venue will be a blow to the Top of Town cultural scene,” Mr Fechner said.

“It has been a vibrant and inclusive space for musicians, performers, and music lovers, and its absence will be strongly felt.

“The venue’s commitment to supporting emerging artists and providing a welcoming environment has fostered creativity and helped cultivate a thriving, local music community.”

He said its ability to attract diverse and dynamic local, national, and international talent helped shape local cultural identity.

Mr Fechner said he had been to many gigs there.

“It was an incredible experience at Goleby’s because of the intimate setting, exceptional acoustics and passionate audiences creating a unique energy,” he said.

“The diverse range of artists I’ve seen perform there has been remarkable and a testament to the venue’s commitment to showcasing talent from near and far.”

Head to West Street for the final gig, a 12-hour event, on June 10, from noon.

The line-up will include all genres of music – shoegaze, country, soundscapes, indie pop, hip-hop, punk, hardcore and more.

The bill features Cursed Earth, Relay Tapes, Hee Haw, Sherman and Field, Uncle Enk, Bindi Beckett, Louis Lewis and the Deadbeats, Trash, Ether, Permanent Revolution, Post Cats, Kairos Kin, The Arturos, and Terrornoid.

• The saddlery was founded in 1881 by Frederick Goleby and its craftsmen were well-known as far afield as England. In World War II, leather goods were crafted for US airmen. Goleby’s also once made bicycles – the Moreton and the Moreton Star being the most well-known.