Brisbane’s Fortitude to ‘fill void left by Festival Hall’

A new 3,300-capacity, Art Deco-inspired music venue is taking shape in Australia’s third city, Brisbane.

The Fortitude Music Hall is backed by key Australian music industry players, including John ‘JC’ Collins, former member of Powderfinger and owner of Brisbane venue the Triffid, Paul Piticco, co-founder of promoter Secret Sounds, and Live Nation, since 2016 Secret Sounds’ majority owner.

The new development, located at Brunswick Street Mall in Brisbane’s music mecca, Fortitude Valley, will also include a mixed retail and special events space. It fills the gap left by the famed Festival Hall venue, which closed in 2003, with architect Andrew Gutteridge of Arkhefield paying tribute to it and other historic venues with the Fortitude’s Deco-inspired front façade.

“It’s always been our dream and mission to build a venue that fills the void left by Festival Hall, and we are proud of the vision we’ve created for the Fortitude Music Hall,” says Collins. “The masterplan is well and truly rolling out for a venue and space that will enhance the area and one that the community will enjoy and benefit from for many years to come. We are doing this for Brisbane.”

“It’s always been our dream and mission to build a venue that fills the void left by Festival Hall”

Commenting on the involvement of Live Nation, which is a principal partner on the project, he adds: “Live Nation own and operate some of the best live music venues in Australia and all over the world. From the Palais Theatre in Melbourne to the House of Blues venues across the United States and venues such as the iconic Brixton Academy in London, Live Nation’s experience is unparallelled.

“We felt incredibly inspired by the Philadelphia Fillmore, and not just due to its similar dimensions and size to the building we have here in Brunswick Street, but the way it honours the historic traditions for music halls and local musical heritage, which is our aim too.”

Roger Field, CEO of Live Nation Australasia, comments: “The Fortitude Music Hall is set to be an industry leading venue not just in Brisbane, but in Australia. The 3,300-person capacity will fill a gap in the market and will ensure that Brisbane and the [Fortitude] Valley continue to attract the highest calibre of performers, while giving local audiences even more live experiences to enjoy.”

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