In a city suffocating under lockout laws, there are some venues working hard to make sure our beloved town doesn’t become completely void of personality and culture. Sydney’s Metro Theatre is one of these venues.
Every Sydney music lover knows the Metro Theatre, and for good reason. Whether you’re catching an international power-act or the next local legend, this dependable venue is always a good time.
Opening on George Street in the mid-90’s with a Sydney Dance Company production of Beauty and The Beast first taking the stage, the space quickly evolved into one of the city’s best live music venues.
The Metro has played host to a massive range of big name local and international acts over the years, including Placebo, The Dandy Warhols, Muse, Blink 182 and The Prodigy. It was also the setting of the infamous Jeff Buckley gigs in 1995.
Over it’s 20-something year history, the Metro Theatre has experienced a number of transformations. Formally housing two cinemas, the building was made for entertainment, being re-imagined as a theatre by property developer Leon Fink.
Renowned Australian theatre designer Brian Thomson is responsible for the art deco design of the lobby. Regular concert-goers would immediately recognise the iconic chandelier which hangs in the entrance. In 2006, the Metro was very briefly renamed Century Theatre, before reverting back months later.
The Metro has been responsible for giving Sydney-siders a place to go and enjoy the music of some of the world’s biggest acts, as well as giving smaller, local musicians a place to play and a springboard into the Australian music scene – and you’d be hard-pressed to find a Sydney-sider who hadn’t moshed front and centre in the Forum of Metro Theatre.
Despite its short history, the Metro has solidified itself as a staple venue for both performers and lovers of music.
BadBadNotGood, Peaches, Holy Holy and Northeast Party House are just a couple of the acts due to take to the Metro stage over the coming months. If you live in Sydney and haven’t made it to a gig there yet, there’s no time like the present.
For more information on upcoming events in your city, check out our gig guide.
