A Peek Inside the New Lansdowne Hotel
Sydney artist Jessica Cochrane has brought her own unique vision (read: defaced Playboy magazine covers) to the iconic two-storey space.
Almost two years after closing, The Lansdowne is on the verge of a triumphant return. The beloved rough-around-the-edges live music venue in Chippendale is set to reopen on Thursday, June 15 — with Jake Smyth and Kenny Graham of Mary's and The Unicorn at the helm. But not everything will be exactly as you remember it.
Case in point: Smyth and Graham have teamed up with local artist Jessica Cochrane, who has brought her own unique vision to the iconic two-storey space. She helped design the staff t-shirts, the menu, the courtyards and the bathrooms, which she and the owners have dubbed 'The Pisstine Chapel'. Among her most striking additions is a wall covered in Playboy magazine covers that Cochrane has defaced with paint.
"I wanted to take advantage of a classic space being transformed into something with a contemporary edge and make my work mimic that sentiment," said Cochrane. "Taking an iconic symbol of popular culture that's been a controversial influence of feminine beauty and societal standards, and repurposing its information through artistic means."
"It's awesome to get to create something that can be enjoyed by an eleven out of ten community," she added. "For me, as an artist, it's exciting to engage an audience visually and encourage positive and interesting conversations. For Jake, Kenny and the team to support me and women in the arts in this way is the coolest shit ever."
The Lansdowne will return to its live music roots with a series of gigs already planned for the space. Opening weekend, starting Thursday, June 15, will see special guest bands announced an hour before they hit the stage, according to the hotel's Instagram. On Friday, June 23, The Delta Riggs will cause a characteristically Lansdowne ruckus, and on Friday, June 30, Red Bull Sound Select are putting on a free gig with I OH YOU's Johann Ponniah, Melbourne's The Peep Tempel and locals Sloan Peterson & Mezko. Then, in July, there's a whole month of gigs in store.
The Lansdowne will open on Thursday, June 15 at 2-6 City Road, Chippendale.
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