Legendary Rock Den Cherry Bar Is Closing Its Doors on AC/DC Lane

The famed bar is shutting up shop, but its sticky carpet legacy is set to live on somewhere new.
Libby Curran
January 23, 2019

After almost two decades of dishing up its signature rock 'n' roll-infused revelry, Melbourne's legendary live music hot-spot Cherry Bar has reached the end of an era. Co-owner and booker James Young took to Facebook in January to break the news, revealing the bar will close its famed AC/DC Lane doors for the final time on March 31 this year.

It's not been sold, and Young is firm on the fact that it never will be. Rather, this is a case of pulling up roots and scouting out a new home for the venue, 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," the post states.

So despite the sudden closure, fans can (sort of) rest easy — the team's revealed it's currently in talks with ten different venues across the city to work to find the perfect digs for this icon's next phase of life. Which is a relief, seeing that fellow CBD live music venue Lounge has announced it will close in April.

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.

You've got until the end of the month to catch Cherry Bar in its original habitat — drop by for its David Bowie party on Sunday, March 10 or a gig on any other night of the week. Stay tuned for details on its next home, coming soon.

Find Cherry Bar at AC/DC Lane, Melbourne until March 31. The bar's open late every night of the week. 

Images: Visit Victoria/Jake Roden. Updated: March 3, 2019. 

Published on January 23, 2019 by Libby Curran
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