hasn't it, now and again, nearly been on the ropes, every few years ... i'm hoping that this time it's just that situation again. but a little bird told me that things might wind up late this month, but i dunno - over the years i keep hearing this story and the end doesn't come.
god i am so not in the grapevine/scene but i heard something about the people that own it - at some point want to 'move' Arc out of there and put inner-city apartments in ... isn't it ironic how many people in inner-city apartments can't stand the noise of the inner-city?
things are really taking off in the live scene, for all sorts of performers from all sorts of genres; bands are even playing at the Cook and perhaps that means that original music might start moving back into the campus pubs (ReFuel excepted, of course) ... you would think as far as getting people in through the door and offering a big range of entertainment that Arc is covering its costs and more? it is to the scene what the Empire was in the 80s and 90s.
i don't know who. someone told me it's more like "bands" at the Cook. as in, not locals, but touring, professional, commercial-appeal bands. all i know is that apparently someone played there recently.
mind you other pubs are totally opposed to having original music played in their environs - someone asked another local studenty pub if their band could play there - pub was keen until they found out that the music was original.
They were having "scarfie gigs" on Wednesday nights last year -- although from what I heard wandering past, seemed like bad Loyal covers...
And I remember back in the day seeing the exponents play upstairs. It was the day before I turned 20. Back when you could get jugs upstairs.
And weren't the battle of the bands at The Last Moa a couple of years back? And The Outrack has had a couple of national tours lately (Feelers, Elemeno P admittedly), which they haven't done since it was Diva.
And they'll be no more covers at the Statesman, now that it's turning into Coyotes (TM).
Yeah. It was the oriental tavern originally, and was (that I can think of) the Fats, and the Moa, but has reverted back to being the Oriental (although I think they're mostly marketing as the Ori'). That battle of the bands was my last visit I think.
The Cook have had King Kapisi and I think Chris Knox play lately.
They are also currently running a battle of the bands comp. Fairly terribly organised but at least they're fronting the venue and cash for original music.
Arc is one of best live venues in the country, the place has something on nearly every single night - I can't see how it wouldnt be a successful buisness, its always full of people. I thought it was run by a trust?
I dont understand why theyd want apartments there, unless the casino had something to do with it, why stick the apartments in one of the buildings round there that are empty?
oh dear god i hope not....i gotta admit that i probaly spend more time at refuel than Arc but in saying that, everytime i've seen a gig at Arc i've had a great night.
and considering the niche it fills in dunedin, & what it puts back into the scene....
and, oh yeah, they're a big factor in Inferno fm still being on air....
this better be stinky rumour mill at work or i'll be mad
From what I can gather, the staff have gone on strike cause the trust hasnt paid them and the trustees have allowed the financial situation to get out of hand. I believe there are fill in staff on who dont know how to pour drinks - according to my sources
Thats really bad news!
dont forget that SJD are playing this weekend on Saturday night with David Kilgour and Dimmer next weekend with Ghostplane! I know those shows are still happening
Lets hope it gets sorted out. would be such a shame to loose another venue.
I think it just said that the rumours weren’t true and that it wasn’t closing down and I think it said that they actually weren’t having financial troubles.
I think
Just listening to Stephen Kilroy (a trustee) on the radio now. Apparently after 3 years of some financial issues it came to a head yesterday and closed last night, and will remain closed for the next few days. A short-lease to preserve it as a venue for the fringe festival is underway (so it will be opening on friday for the next couple of weeks). He seems optimistic that something will happen, and that the present staff will be re-employed at least for the fringe festival.
Bar Manager has been made redundant. Word is Arc has been sold to the Irish pub next door - my guess is that'll mean the price of the booze will now go up.
There's a company called Dunedin Catering Company that has taken over running the place at the moment, and that company is run by a fellow called Lindsey McKinney. I see in the Companies Office that Dicey O'Riley Ltd has the same man running it, so yes, it looks like it is being run by the pub next door.
Article in today's Otago Daily Times confirms the above. No real indictaion as to long term viability.
Of more concern than the prospect that our gig tonight (Dark Beaks and Tomahawks) would seem to be "doubtful" (I'm thinnking *positive* here...) is the reality that a whole bunch of neat people, comitted to good food and arts/ music and a uniquely Dunedin venue/ icon may be out of work, or with uncertain futures.
Longer term the concern is what will private owners want from the venue? Keep it going to make money from its dedicated clientelle? Or close it, strip remaining assets and remove the "competition"?
The reality is tho' that many people who go to Arc don't go to "pubs". and if they do, they only go to pubs to see original local/ NZ music. So where do they (I, we) go now?
Its a good question, where do we go now? I have no idea, as Arc has been THE place since I arrived in Dunedin, as far as I'm concerned. Nothing else compares really, and if bands start dispersing to places like the Outback or the Cook, there will soon be a pretty big clash of cultures. Imagine, if you will, Dimmer playing a venue like Fat Ladies Arms, which is what happened in Palmerston North, much to the disgust of fans of the band and locals of the pub alike.
If the trust couldn't make Arc work (and I do have to wonder why that was) then it is even less likely that it can be run as a commercial venture. A good Council might step in and do something to ensure its survival, but I can't see this one doing much. Having said that, I think I'll send an email to my new mate Teresa and see if she has anything to contribute. I wish now, when I saw on their old website that they were looking for volunteers to assist in running the thing, that I had stood up and been counted.
I was having a chat to a guy at lunch who reckoned it was the lack of effective management (bit too committee rather than business styles) combined with the interest repayments on the renovations.
Myshkin, or anyone else really, do you know if they own the building or are was it just a lease arrangement?
Yes, I don't want to speak out of line, but I have been wondering about the management team, because Arc looks like a goer, what with all the people in there and the donated furniture (except for the nights the beer fridges are empty) and yet financially it goes nowhere. I'm thinking that if something does survive in terms of Arc, I will offer such skills as I have - not particularly music-venue oriented, but more mainstream commercial.
Yeah. And you'd think as a charitable trust they'd actually be better placed than your average commercial operation. On the other hand, it may be that they're ability to stay in the black and accumulate money for dark days was limited or something like that.
Actually, I wonder if any profit got ploughed straight back in? I know there has been a lot of criticism of the university for turning a profit. On the other hand, it meant that there was capital for new (and perhaps unexpected) expenses.
i think the interest from the trust fund used to pay the lease ... i think that was the plan, but i guess things went wrong despite the efforts of a brilliant few.
I was listening to that in the car yesterday morning, we figured the gig we wanted to see there last night wasn't going to be on, it would be sad for the arc to close/ change in any way
Arc is the friendliest place in New Zealand. You can just hang on the couches, eat some great vege grub, have a yarn with the staff, use the free internet, watch some live music...it has a vibe like no other bar in the country. It is a wonderful place and I pray that the new owners carry on with this fine tradition.
Wunderbar in Lyttleton has also gone through a few shakeups lately, with Sam leaving. Sam was an institution and has treated so many bands, so well. I'll miss the big guy.
two wonderful venues, aguably the best in the country, just lost a little bit of heart.
Its sad when treating bands like shit and not caring as so many North Island venues do means you turn a healthy profit, when the few bars in the country that look after the artists and have a culture of love and support have to struggle. pisses me right off.
Hey, Blink, do you want to write to the only young person friendly mayoral candidate and ask her for Council support? It is unlikely she will actually be Mayor, but she's been Councillor for 12 years, so will no doubt get that position again.
Having a music promoter express concern would be good. Hell, anyone who wants to write in, I urge you to do so. teresa [and thats at] teresastevenson.co.nz is the person involved.
The guy who is actually likely to be Mayor is a really nice guy but (a) probably completely out of touch when it comes to something like Arc and (b) apparently not very effective anyway. He's so high profile, I've forgotten his name!
My sources tell me that the new owners' intention is to continue running Arc doing what it has been doing (but somewhat more profitably). I hope that is true. It would make sense... Arc has built up a national (even international) profile and reputation and loyal clientele over more than 10 years and isn't really competing with anything other venue so it would be crazy to destroy that... surely? I really hope that's what's gonna happen.
If they keep the Arc spirit, have good people running it and continue to provide the environment (musical and otherwise) Arc has come to represent hopefully those who have supported (and had their lives enriched by) Arc in the past will continue to get in behind it and make sure it succeeds, regardless of who banks the money. The alternative (an Arc-free Dunedin) is frankly too depressing to contemplate.
Oh... my *optimism* re: tonight's gig was unfounded.... damn.
I've had an interesting response to my plea to Teresa Stevenson for help: it seems that she/the Council has been involved in this saga, and that while the guy next door is running the cafe/bar aspect of the business, there is still a need for the Trust or its replacement to work on the musical and creative side of things. So - cautious optimism at the moment.
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hasn't it, now and again, nearly been ...
hasn't it, now and again, nearly been on the ropes, every few years ... i'm hoping that this time it's just that situation again. but a little bird told me that things might wind up late this month, but i dunno - over the years i keep hearing this story and the end doesn't come.
god i am so not in the grapevine/scene but i heard something about the people that own it - at some point want to 'move' Arc out of there and put inner-city apartments in ... isn't it ironic how many people in inner-city apartments can't stand the noise of the inner-city?
things are really taking off in the live scene, for all sorts of performers from all sorts of genres; bands are even playing at the Cook and perhaps that means that original music might start moving back into the campus pubs (ReFuel excepted, of course) ... you would think as far as getting people in through the door and offering a big range of entertainment that Arc is covering its costs and more? it is to the scene what the Empire was in the 80s and 90s.
Bands at the Cook!...
Bands at the Cook!
i don't know who. someone told me ...
i don't know who. someone told me it's more like "bands" at the Cook. as in, not locals, but touring, professional, commercial-appeal bands. all i know is that apparently someone played there recently.
mind you other pubs are totally opposed to having original music played in their environs - someone asked another local studenty pub if their band could play there - pub was keen until they found out that the music was original.
it's like we're back in 1980 or something.
// Bands at the Cook! They were ...
// Bands at the Cook!
They were having "scarfie gigs" on Wednesday nights last year -- although from what I heard wandering past, seemed like bad Loyal covers...
And I remember back in the day seeing the exponents play upstairs. It was the day before I turned 20. Back when you could get jugs upstairs.
And weren't the battle of the bands at The Last Moa a couple of years back? And The Outrack has had a couple of national tours lately (Feelers, Elemeno P admittedly), which they haven't done since it was Diva.
And they'll be no more covers at the Statesman, now that it's turning into Coyotes (TM).
// And weren't the battle of the bands ...
// And weren't the battle of the bands at The Last Moa a couple of years back?
yes - I got to be a judge - it was great! I heard it's gone back to being called the Oriental now?
Yeah. It was the oriental tavern ...
Yeah. It was the oriental tavern originally, and was (that I can think of) the Fats, and the Moa, but has reverted back to being the Oriental (although I think they're mostly marketing as the Ori'). That battle of the bands was my last visit I think.
i think it had a different name when i ...
i think it had a different name when i played there.
i saw originals once at the statesman and even occasionally (in between the covers) at gardies.
wait, we have a scene down here?...
wait, we have a scene down here?
The Cook have had King Kapisi and I ...
The Cook have had King Kapisi and I think Chris Knox play lately.
They are also currently running a battle of the bands comp. Fairly terribly organised but at least they're fronting the venue and cash for original music.
Arc is one of best live venues in the ...
Arc is one of best live venues in the country, the place has something on nearly every single night - I can't see how it wouldnt be a successful buisness, its always full of people. I thought it was run by a trust?
I dont understand why theyd want apartments there, unless the casino had something to do with it, why stick the apartments in one of the buildings round there that are empty?
what, THE FUCK! oh dear god i hope ...
what, THE FUCK!
oh dear god i hope not....i gotta admit that i probaly spend more time at refuel than Arc but in saying that, everytime i've seen a gig at Arc i've had a great night.
and considering the niche it fills in dunedin, & what it puts back into the scene....
and, oh yeah, they're a big factor in Inferno fm still being on air....
this better be stinky rumour mill at work or i'll be mad
From what I can gather, the staff have ...
From what I can gather, the staff have gone on strike cause the trust hasnt paid them and the trustees have allowed the financial situation to get out of hand. I believe there are fill in staff on who dont know how to pour drinks - according to my sources
Thats really bad news! dont forget ...
Thats really bad news!
dont forget that SJD are playing this weekend on Saturday night with David Kilgour and Dimmer next weekend with Ghostplane! I know those shows are still happening
Lets hope it gets sorted out. would be such a shame to loose another venue.
// Lets hope it gets sorted out. would ...
// Lets hope it gets sorted out. would be such a shame to lose another venue.
===*positive thoughts*===
if you read The Star it will tell you ...
if you read The Star it will tell you that its not closing.
details please, i don't read the Star...
details please, i don't read the Star
I think it just said that the rumours ...
I think it just said that the rumours weren’t true and that it wasn’t closing down and I think it said that they actually weren’t having financial troubles.
I think
In somewhat less positive news, there ...
In somewhat less positive news, there website has been suspended....
[ http://arc.org.nz ]
<b>Arc closed yesterday</b> Just ...
Arc closed yesterday
Just listening to Stephen Kilroy (a trustee) on the radio now. Apparently after 3 years of some financial issues it came to a head yesterday and closed last night, and will remain closed for the next few days. A short-lease to preserve it as a venue for the fringe festival is underway (so it will be opening on friday for the next couple of weeks). He seems optimistic that something will happen, and that the present staff will be re-employed at least for the fringe festival.
If I hear anything more will update.
Bar Manager has been made redundant. ...
Bar Manager has been made redundant. Word is Arc has been sold to the Irish pub next door - my guess is that'll mean the price of the booze will now go up.
There's a company called Dunedin ...
There's a company called Dunedin Catering Company that has taken over running the place at the moment, and that company is run by a fellow called Lindsey McKinney. I see in the Companies Office that Dicey O'Riley Ltd has the same man running it, so yes, it looks like it is being run by the pub next door.
bugger. that's kinda what happened to ...
bugger. that's kinda what happened to the Empire, i think.
Article in today's Otago Daily Times ...
Article in today's Otago Daily Times confirms the above. No real indictaion as to long term viability.
Of more concern than the prospect that our gig tonight (Dark Beaks and Tomahawks) would seem to be "doubtful" (I'm thinnking *positive* here...) is the reality that a whole bunch of neat people, comitted to good food and arts/ music and a uniquely Dunedin venue/ icon may be out of work, or with uncertain futures.
Longer term the concern is what will private owners want from the venue? Keep it going to make money from its dedicated clientelle? Or close it, strip remaining assets and remove the "competition"?
The reality is tho' that many people who go to Arc don't go to "pubs". and if they do, they only go to pubs to see original local/ NZ music. So where do they (I, we) go now?
Its a good question, where do we go ...
Its a good question, where do we go now? I have no idea, as Arc has been THE place since I arrived in Dunedin, as far as I'm concerned. Nothing else compares really, and if bands start dispersing to places like the Outback or the Cook, there will soon be a pretty big clash of cultures. Imagine, if you will, Dimmer playing a venue like Fat Ladies Arms, which is what happened in Palmerston North, much to the disgust of fans of the band and locals of the pub alike.
If the trust couldn't make Arc work (and I do have to wonder why that was) then it is even less likely that it can be run as a commercial venture. A good Council might step in and do something to ensure its survival, but I can't see this one doing much. Having said that, I think I'll send an email to my new mate Teresa and see if she has anything to contribute. I wish now, when I saw on their old website that they were looking for volunteers to assist in running the thing, that I had stood up and been counted.
I was having a chat to a guy at lunch ...
I was having a chat to a guy at lunch who reckoned it was the lack of effective management (bit too committee rather than business styles) combined with the interest repayments on the renovations.
Myshkin, or anyone else really, do you know if they own the building or are was it just a lease arrangement?
Yes, I don't want to speak out of ...
Yes, I don't want to speak out of line, but I have been wondering about the management team, because Arc looks like a goer, what with all the people in there and the donated furniture (except for the nights the beer fridges are empty) and yet financially it goes nowhere. I'm thinking that if something does survive in terms of Arc, I will offer such skills as I have - not particularly music-venue oriented, but more mainstream commercial.
Yeah. And you'd think as a charitable ...
Yeah. And you'd think as a charitable trust they'd actually be better placed than your average commercial operation. On the other hand, it may be that they're ability to stay in the black and accumulate money for dark days was limited or something like that.
Actually, I wonder if any profit got ...
Actually, I wonder if any profit got ploughed straight back in? I know there has been a lot of criticism of the university for turning a profit. On the other hand, it meant that there was capital for new (and perhaps unexpected) expenses.
i think the interest from the trust ...
i think the interest from the trust fund used to pay the lease ... i think that was the plan, but i guess things went wrong despite the efforts of a brilliant few.
I was listening to that in the car ...
I was listening to that in the car yesterday morning, we figured the gig we wanted to see there last night wasn't going to be on, it would be sad for the arc to close/ change in any way
I have been dreading this ...
I have been dreading this moment.
Arc is the friendliest place in New Zealand. You can just hang on the couches, eat some great vege grub, have a yarn with the staff, use the free internet, watch some live music...it has a vibe like no other bar in the country. It is a wonderful place and I pray that the new owners carry on with this fine tradition.
Wunderbar in Lyttleton has also gone through a few shakeups lately, with Sam leaving. Sam was an institution and has treated so many bands, so well. I'll miss the big guy.
two wonderful venues, aguably the best in the country, just lost a little bit of heart.
Its sad when treating bands like shit and not caring as so many North Island venues do means you turn a healthy profit, when the few bars in the country that look after the artists and have a culture of love and support have to struggle. pisses me right off.
Hey, Blink, do you want to write to the ...
Hey, Blink, do you want to write to the only young person friendly mayoral candidate and ask her for Council support? It is unlikely she will actually be Mayor, but she's been Councillor for 12 years, so will no doubt get that position again.
Having a music promoter express concern would be good. Hell, anyone who wants to write in, I urge you to do so. teresa [and thats at] teresastevenson.co.nz is the person involved.
The guy who is actually likely to be Mayor is a really nice guy but (a) probably completely out of touch when it comes to something like Arc and (b) apparently not very effective anyway. He's so high profile, I've forgotten his name!
Malcolm Farry or Peter Chin? Can't see ...
Malcolm Farry or Peter Chin? Can't see either getting over excited about Arc.
will do....
will do.
My sources tell me that the new ...
My sources tell me that the new owners' intention is to continue running Arc doing what it has been doing (but somewhat more profitably). I hope that is true. It would make sense... Arc has built up a national (even international) profile and reputation and loyal clientele over more than 10 years and isn't really competing with anything other venue so it would be crazy to destroy that... surely? I really hope that's what's gonna happen.
If they keep the Arc spirit, have good people running it and continue to provide the environment (musical and otherwise) Arc has come to represent hopefully those who have supported (and had their lives enriched by) Arc in the past will continue to get in behind it and make sure it succeeds, regardless of who banks the money. The alternative (an Arc-free Dunedin) is frankly too depressing to contemplate.
Oh... my *optimism* re: tonight's gig was unfounded.... damn.
I've had an interesting response to my ...
I've had an interesting response to my plea to Teresa Stevenson for help: it seems that she/the Council has been involved in this saga, and that while the guy next door is running the cafe/bar aspect of the business, there is still a need for the Trust or its replacement to work on the musical and creative side of things. So - cautious optimism at the moment.
same here. she seems a very on to it ...
same here. she seems a very on to it woman. I like her. shes got my vote.