Legendary music venue shuts its doors
The Harris St club, founded by local jazz icon Peter Rechniewski, will bring down the curtain on Saturday with a final gig featuring vocalist Anna Weaving.
It all started in September 2013 as a 'labour of love', says 74-year-old Rechniewski, also a co-founder of the Sydney Improvised Music Association.
'I wanted to create a really good venue for the scene,' he says. 'One that had a good atmosphere with really good sound on stage that could present the best bands on the scene as often as possible as well as internationals.'
Rechniewski built it, and they came.
Over the years, Foundry616 has played host to a who's who of established and up-and-coming Australian jazz talent such as James Morrison, The Catholics, Barney McAll, Dale Barlow and Sandy Evans. Then there were the international artists including Lakecia Benjamin, Veronica Swift, Wayne Bergeron and Kamasi Washington.
A particular drawcard for many artists was the high-end Yamaha grand piano that Rechniewski installed, which led Kiwi-born jazz icon Mike Nock to make Foundry616 almost his second home for many memorable gigs.
'There was also a period when we were the main site for the Sydney International Women's Jazz Festival, and I was then co-artistic director,' says Rechniewski. 'We brought out some really, really good artists who were on the cusp of breakthrough.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
Ben Cousins looking ripped in Broome with Chris and Bec Judd
West Coast Eagles legend Ben Cousins was reunited with premiership teammate Chris Judd and his influencer wife Bec Judd as they lived it up in Broome. The Brownlow medal winning pair escaped the cold and spent some time in the Broome sun, staying at Kimberley Sands Resort last week. Cousins shared pics of his getaway to social media including a snap of a star-studded yacht that included himself, the Judds, Carrie Bickmore, Fifi Box and Jessie Roberts. Captioning the post, Cousins said: 'Holidays up North… even better than I remembered... Already planning a trip back!' While out and about, the six time All-Australian was out catching some dinner with his kids and showing off his physique that looks fit enough to still be out on the field. Ben Cousins is living it up in Broome. Credit: Instagram / Ben Cousins / Ben Cousins Cousins and Judd played 123 games together at West Coast in the mid 2000s, including the famous 2006 grand final when they helped lift the Eagles over Sydney for a one-point win. The 2005 Brownlow medallist appears to have bounced back fit and firing after recently revealing that he spent the night in hospital for a hernia operation, which saw him endure the most pain he's ever been in. 'I had a little bubble or lump pop up where it probably shouldn't a couple of months ago, and I've been in denial, if you like,' Cousins said on Triple M in June. Ben Cousins is living it up in Broome. Credit: Instagram / Ben Cousins / Ben Cousins 'I hadn't gone in and had the ultrasound and I thought I'd put it off until the end of the footy season, I'd hang on for 12 more games — you'd swear I was still playing. 'I may have been in as much pain (before in my life), but I have never been in more. I was ready to pass out, all this sort of stuff, couldn't talk. 'I did go down (like) Autumn leaves.'
AU Financial Review
5 hours ago
- AU Financial Review
The sure-fire signal Australia is back in Beijing's good books
Chengdu, China | Anthony Albanese was greeted by a familiar face as he toured Chengdu's panda research and breeding centre – a female panda named Fu Ni, who until late last year called Adelaide Zoo home. Fu Ni chomped nonchalantly on an apple while surveying Albanese, his fiancee Jodie Haydon, the Australian media pack and a large contingent of Chinese security guards from inside her new digs.
Sky News AU
5 hours ago
- Sky News AU
'They remind me of the young Kennedys': The reason social media is comparing Jodie Haydon to Jackie Onassis during China trip with Albo
Australia's unofficial 'First Lady' Jodie Haydon has sent the internet into a frenzy after wearing a striking $599 dress during a visit to the Great Wall of China. Ms Haydon stepped out in the floral frock, designed by Chinese-Australian designer Leo Lin when she joined Anthony Albanese on a visit to the historic landmark on Wednesday. She paired the cotton dress with hand-painted daisies and camellias, cinched by a belt, and completed the look with a white fedora and sneakers for the event, while Mr Albanese opted for a blue polo, jeans, sneakers, and a white South Sydney Rabbitohs cap. The diplomatic fashion choice was lauded by many as a savvy nod to Australia's multicultural ties, and likened to the kind of sartorial diplomacy often practised by royals. "As an Australian-Chinese brand, we are thrilled to see Jodie Haydon wearing Leo Lin in Leo's home country," Leo Lin's head of brand, Laura Good told The Sydney Morning Herald. "Ms Haydon has been a strong supporter of the Leo Lin label for some time and we loved welcoming her in to our Sydney showroom ahead of the trip." Social media also lit up with praise, with one user posting on X: "Real leadership that Australia needs!!! Ms Jodie Haydon continues to be an amazing ambassador for Australia and especially Australian designers. She's wearing a design by Australian Chinese designers from Melbourne." "Ms Haydon is sheer class!" added another. Some admirers even drew comparisons to Camelot-era America: "These 2 are the Royal Family of Australia – like the early Kennedys. Real and adorable," one wrote. Not everyone was impressed, however, with one critic commenting that the couple's appearance resembled "trailer trash". The Great Wall visit marked a symbolic moment for Albanese, echoing former Labor leader Gough Whitlam's 1971 visit as Opposition Leader. Whitlam went on to establish diplomatic ties with China in 1973, paving the way for the modern Australia-China relationship. Ms Haydon's look also drew parallels with Tamie Fraser, wife of former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, who wore a similarly belted floral dress during her own Great Wall appearance in 1976. Speaking at the historic site, Mr Albanese told reporters the setting represented both history and harmony. "We are literally standing on history, history in recognition of the longevity of Chinese culture and Chinese achievement," he said. He also spoke about his meeting with China's top leader, Xi Jinping, in Beijing, the day prior. "Yesterday was an opportunity as well for us to develop the relationship between Australia and China," he said. "I've said consistently that we'll cooperate where we can, disagree where we must, but engage in our national interests." Following their visit to the Great Wall, the couple travelled to a panda conservation centre in Chengdu, wrapping up their six-day diplomatic mission to China.
