Global entertainment giant Live Nation unveils plans for purpose-built Perth venue Northbridge Music Hall

Global entertainment giant Live Nation, which tours and promotes megastars such as Chappell Roan, Coldplay and Lady Gaga, has unveiled plans to build a 3000-person capacity venue in Perth. Northbridge Music Hall will be built in the heart of the nightlife district at 77-85 Francis St, the site of European Foods Wholesalers which operated until 2018. Live Nation Australasia director of touring and venue development Paul Piticco told The West Australian he expects construction on the $30m-plus project to begin in October or November with the concert hall hosting its first gig in late 2026. Northbridge has a “long and rich history of being the entertainment centre of Perth”, he said. Mr Piticco said the new venue would become a “cornerstone of Perth’s cultural landscape and a dynamic space for live entertainment” starring rising local talent and world-class performers. The former Powderfinger manager and Splendour in the Grass festival promoter expects around 120 shows to be held in the first year across its two performance spaces — a main 2500-capacity room and smaller club for up to 500 patrons. Northbridge Music Hall will follow the model of Live Nation’s existing venues, Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane and Hindley St. Music Hall in Adelaide. “When you have three or four shows in a week, that’s potentially 12,000 people that are coming to the neighbourhood,” he said. “That has a knock-on effect for restaurants and other food and beverage outlets. “It builds the sense of a thriving hub and strong night-time economy.” Live Nation’s Brisbane and Adelaide venues host a diverse range of acts and entertainment, with Australian rock icon Jimmy Barnes, K-Pop group STAYC, American country star Maren Morris and puppet comedian Randy Feltface due to perform in coming months. In June, Perth indie rockers Spacey Jane are scheduled to play three sold-out shows at Fortitude Music Hall before two more full houses at Hindley St. Music Hall. Mr Piticco said Northbridge Music Hall would create at least 70 jobs and host events ranging from music, comedy and cabaret to TED Talks, weddings and conferences. “One of the things that we learnt from doing the Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane is that it could broaden the sense of community and the contact it can have with all different walks of life,” he said. “Most importantly, it gives WA audiences access to bunch of talent in a purpose-built space,” he added. The Live Nation executive said Northbridge Music Hall filled a gap in Perth’s live entertainment market, despite long-running Roe Street concert venue Metro City having similar capacity for around 2000 patrons. European Foods Wholesalers, a 2292sqm warehouse previously owned by the family behind the popular Re Stores in Northbridge and Leederville, was purchased for close to $10 million. Mr Piticco said the project will cost Live Nation at least $30m. The US-based multinational entertainment group has a reported market capitalisation of more than $30 billion. Following its closure as a food storage facility in 2018, European Foods Warehouse hosted Fringe World and Perth Festival events using makeshift production. Mr Piticco said the festival shows proved the former warehouse had potential as a permanent entertainment venue. Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk said WA music, theatre and comedy lovers would welcome the new live entertainment hub. “A thriving creative arts sector is what makes Western Australia a great place to live,” she said, “and right-sized venues are an essential part of a vibrant live performance scene.”