Overview
One of Sydney's most beloved clubs and live music venues is closing permanently. After nine years of trade, Chippendale's Freda's will host its last event and shut its doors on Sunday, November 21.
A mix of lost revenue due to COVID-19 restrictions and the uncertain future of the building Freda's currently occupies are the reasons named for the closure by Owner David Abram, who made the announcement on Instagram yesterday.
Freda's will be remembered for its packed dance floors and support for local, boundary-pushing artists. Over the last nine years, Freda's has been a haven for expression and art in Sydney, providing a performance space for artists including Mac Demarco, Rainbow Chan and Sui Zhen, as well as countless DJs, performance artists and rising musicians. The club has played a prominent role in Vivid for the last five years and was one of the first Sydney establishments to receive a 4am extension following the lockout laws.
In his statement, Abram said, "The 100-year-old warehouse we have inhabited, as is the way for many grassroots cultural spaces, will eventually become a memory to the high rise construction that is likely to envelop Chippendale in the next 10 years."
He also praised his parents, saying "without question the most important people on this journey are my parents Freda and Phil. Both immigrants and holocaust survivors of humble beginnings, they have taught me you can make creativity the centre of your life and succeed."
Although Freda's won't be able to host one final dance party due to current venue restrictions, it is throwing the Festival of Freda's over the next three weekends. Artists including Rimbombo, Gauci, Fascinator, Simon Cadwell and the Freda's House Band will take the stage performing a mix of live and DJ sets in celebration of the last nine years of Freda's.
You can except the Last Night of Disco on November 6, Freda's Final Birthday the following day, a Vibe Positive party on November 20 and The End on the venue's final day.
Freda's is located at 107-109 Regent Street, Chippendale. The Festival of Freda's will run from Friday, November 6 until the club's last day on Sunday, November 21. Tickets and more info is available at Freda's website.
Top Image: Imogen Grist