The Roller Den Launch Party

Overview

At times it seems baffling that in a city of 4.6 million people we’re struggling to keep our live music industry afloat. With the recent demise of the Annandale Hotel, there’s a gaping hole in Parramatta Road, once an inner west institution and home to Australia’s foremost musicians. Capped off with the new lockout laws, there’s now some gloom hanging over Sydney’s nightlife.

However, beyond the parameters of the CBD entertainment precinct, fresh meat is stewing in the inner west. The Roller Den is a spanking new venue that will occupy the basement of the Imperial Hotel in Erskineville. With an emphasis on hosting local and international acts of a variety of genres, this promising space is already creating some serious buzz.

"The Imperial Hotel have committed to a live music project throughout the entire venue,” says venue's booking agent Laurie Mahon from Kingdom Sounds. The next few weeks ooze with home-grown musical talent, such as Stonefield and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.

The fast-selling launch party will be headlined by boisterous blues-rockers and proud inner westies The Snowdroppers. There's also a swag of Sydney outfits, such as Born Lion and The Dead Love, giving the event a strong local thrust.

The folks at the Roller Den have massive plans for this year. Read all about it in our feature on the venue.