Overview
In November 2018, the owners of The World Bar announced that the venue would be abruptly closing its doors after 18 years. The Kings Cross institution had, during its long tenure, hosted over 4000 DJs and 1000 bands, poured thousands of teapots and was the late-night go-to for many party fiends and Sydney music lovers. The news of its closure was met by an outpouring of emotion by Sydneysiders, musicians and local businesses, with owner Steve Ward describing the closure as "heartbreaking stuff".
But the venue hasn't called last drinks just yet. This morning it was announced that it will be home to a new live music spot, with Cali Club opening its doors on Wednesday, December 12. New owners Dane Gorrel and Matt Weir jumped at the opportunity to revive the heritage-listed site, saying there's a serious need for a live music venue and nightclub in Sydney — especially in Kings Cross.
"We need to preserve our nightclub institutions," Gorrel said today. "They have a tremendous impact on Sydney's culture, and once they go, it's incredibly hard for them to return."
Many Aussie musicians like Flume, DZ Deathrays and Gang of Youths played early gigs at World Bar, including Weir himself, who scored one of his first DJ residencies at the venue. Both Weir and Gorrel have been involved in the Sydney music scene since, running bars and club nights and, most recently, relaunching neighbouring late-night party institution Club 77.
Needless to say, live music will be central to Cali Club's offering. The program is set to be quite varied, with Gorrel telling Concrete Playground that the team is "hoping to book as many live acts as possible". As well as reinstating popular Wednesday club night The Wall (which will return for the club's opening night), they're launching a new Saturday night event with Western Sydney rap duo Cult Shotta and will host everything from acoustic gigs to live electronica.
Those who like to party late into the evening (and into the wee hours of the morning) will be able to scratch that itch at Cali Club, too, with the venue opening till 4am from Wednesday through Saturday. There are also plans to launch Sundays in the New Year.
For the moment, the space will look the same — Gorrel and Weir want to spend a couple of months getting a feel for it, and its patrons, before giving it a makeover. When ready, they've recruited Sydney designer Josh Clapp of Steel and Stitch, who's behind Lobo Plantation, Chula, and the pair's Castlecrag restaurant Apera to give the venue a "cosmetic facelift". And the space will be scoring a fancy new sound system courtesy of Prague's Kv2 Audio, too.
One thing that will be missing from the new venue is teapots. "We can't have teapots as they're trademarked by The World Bar," says Gorrel. "But we're going to be doing something different." Stay tuned.
Find Cali Club at 24 Bayswater Road, Potts Point from Wednesday, December 12. It will open from 3pm–4am, Wednesday through Saturday.
Image: Joe Cheng.