Sydney’s Agincourt Hotel halts Live Music following sale
Live music has come to a sudden halt at Sydney’s Agincourt Hotel after the historic venue was sold for $30 million in an off-market deal last month.
Known for hosting gigs in its basement bandroom, The Alley, and first-floor Club 871, the Agincourt has reportedly scrapped all scheduled live music events following its sale to a new pub group, according to industry sources and affected promoters.
Alternative music event organisers Last Words—known for their emo, punk, and metal club nights at the venue—were among the first to confirm the news. In a post shared on Instagram, the group said: “The Agincourt Hotel / The Alley has been sold. The new owners will not be featuring live music or entertainment in the venue at all moving forward, and they will not be honouring any existing bookings past mid-June.”
Expressing frustration over the decision, they added: “Fuck the pokies and the investment groups that line their own pockets off of the misfortune of others and fuck those same people that are destroying live music in Sydney.”
While fans and artists lament the loss, the Lansdowne Hotel has stepped in to host Last Words’ upcoming event, saving at least one night of live music from cancellation.
The Agincourt`s shutdown marks yet another blow to Sydney’s embattled live music scene, which continues to face challenges from venue closures and shifting priorities in the city’s nightlife economy.