Cherry Bar Is Permanently Closing Its Doors on AC/DC Lane

Six months after first breaking the news, and nearly three months after closing and reopening in its original digs, Melbourne's legendary live music hot-spot Cherry Bar is finally shutting its famed AC/DC Lane doors. While the beloved venue will be permanently farewelling its home of almost two decades, it'll also be moving to a yet-to-be-disclosed new location — so the rock 'n' roll-infused revelry will go on, just elsewhere.

Sunday, July 28 will mark Cherry Bar's last big hurrah at its initial site, as the venue announced on Facebook. Afterwards, it'll relocate to different CBD digs, although it's still keeping the details of its new spot under wraps.

Until the AC/DC Lane closure, Melburnians can head by on Fridays and Saturdays from 5pm–5am, as well as Sundays from 2pm–3am. A slew of gigs are planned for the venue's final few weeks, before it says goodbye to its original haunt yet again.

As revealed in January, thankfully this is a case of pulling up roots in an effort to ensure the Cherry Bar legacy lives on strong. "It is my intention to take the name, the staff and the sticky carpet to a new Melbourne address with a long lease and a safe and secure future for live local music and late night rock n roll revelry," co-owner and booker James Young stated in the earlier Facebook post. Stay tuned for details on its next home, coming soon.

The Cherry Bar story has been as colourful as it is long, the space playing host to everyone from the Arctic Monkeys to Lady Gaga, and amassing an army of die-hard fans over its lifetime. Back in 2014, the venue took just three days to crowdfund $90,000 for necessary soundproofing works, following the threat of mass noise complaints from a new residential building erected next door.

Find Cherry Bar at AC/DC Lane, Melbourne, open from 5pm–5am Fridays and Saturdays and 2pm–3am Sundays until July 28.

Images: Cherry Bar/Visit Victoria/Jake Roden.