Hitting the high notes
Popular Geelong nightspot looking to open Colac venue
COLAC residents could have a new venue to eat, dance and listen to live music at if a planning permit for a country expansion of a popular Geelong entertainment venue is approved.
Jazz and cabaret venue The Piano Bar has become a mainstay of the Geelong live music scene since it opened its doors in Little Malop St in May 2015.
Then named Blue Note, the venue was the first Americanstyle jazz club in Geelong and could cater for 50 patrons.
Founder and co-owner Andy Pobjoy, who is a local professional musician, wanted to create a relaxed music venue reminiscent of jazz clubs found in the side streets of New York.
The plan seemed to work, with the Piano Bar opening a second venue, with a far larger capacity of 200 people, on Malop St in June last year.
Last month, the initial venue closed with a cryptic Facebook post saying “Excited for what’s next? You bet”, perhaps suggesting it may have closed to make way for the Colac venue.
A planning permit for a 90patron Hesse St venue was submitted to Colac Otway Shire in December last year. The application is currently viewable online.
If approved, the jazz club would occupy a central Colac building formerly used by disability service providers Karingal and Matchworks.
Under the draft plans the office building would be converted into a restaurant, kitchen and bar with a storeroom, office and bathroom facilities located at the back of the building.
The plans state the club would operate from 5pm-1am from Friday to Saturday and from 2pm-10pm on Sunday with live music played from 7pm and 5pm respectively.
Piano Bar, at 26 Malop St, is open nightly from Thursday to Sunday, with Sunday dedicated to the Pitch Please drag show. It is not yet known which acts would perform at the Colac venue if approved, or when the venue would open.