Closing time at the Zoo.

Just read in The Graun that Brisbane’s oldest surviving (and possibly most loved) music venue, The Zoo, won’t be surviving no more.

The Brisbane music venue the Zoo will call last drinks in July, with the owner listing a “perfect storm” of forces leading to its closure, including cost-of-living pressures and declining alcohol consumption among young people.

The 500-capacity room, which first opened its doors on Ann Street in 1992 in the formerly down-at-heel but now heavily gentrified inner suburb of Fortitude Valley, is one of Australia’s oldest music venues.

I have some fond memories of the Zoo from successful runs of the Felafel stage play there back in the 90s.

I think I’ve even got a video of one whole production on tape… somewhere. But of course, I have no way of playing the tape now, so that piece of history has almost entirely vanished.

It was a roaring venue back when I used to go out after dark. Primitive in some ways - no aircon, for instance. And I learned a valuable lesson there once after trying to wing a performance on boyish charm alone.

Lesson: over-prepare for everything.

It’s a shame it’s going. I’d like to think something cool will replace it, but as the current owners point out, that’s unlikely. Young folks can barely afford rent these days, so blowing a hundred on band tickets and beers is beyond most of them.