Tunes in the Den: Your New Live Music Thursdays

Chippendale has a new live music night: a weekly evening of good tunes provided by some of Sydney’s emerging musicians, in a delightfully homely venue. And it’s free.

Symposium is a cosy little affair downstairs in the 'den' of the Chippendale Hotel (previously known as the Lybrary, before that the Shannon), with a talented line-up of young local musos to look forward to each Thursday. Sourced from other gigs around town, open mic nights and musical word-of-mouth, the performers offer a variety of styles through the night to an attentive audience, while the bar keeps everyone sated with a range of food and drink specials.

Organiser Chris Raicevich says he started the event to help support the up and coming music scene of Sydney, wanting to establish an accessible performance space where there can be more focus on the artists, many of whom play other gigs as background music in noisy bars. He believes Symposium’s strength is in its friendly atmosphere, and an audience who “genuinely want to experience live music and really appreciate what the acts are doing”.

Decked out with couches and fairy lights, you do wonder if you're in fact at a gig in one of the artists’ lounge room, a sentiment further suggested by the obvious presence of fellow musicians and friends throughout the audience. The first show of this year ends on a spontaneous encore cover of Outkast's 'Hey Ya', complete with audience sing-along, before pockets of both artists and guests settle in to end the night with a board game from the selection in the corner.

It's easy to support the local music scene when the venues are cosy, the drinks are affordable, and meals start from just a tenner. And your night need not be over upon re-emerging upstairs, with fellow music lover Freda's and Chippendale's new local The Chip Off The Old Block each just minutes away.

Gallery photos courtesy of Zahra Photography.