The End of an Era and a Step Back in Time

MEL MURRAY PSM Publicity

Music fans in Newcastle were all shattered to hear that Brian and Jo Lizotte would be putting their beautiful venue up for sale. The building has stood in Lambton for over a century but has never felt more alive than in the last 14 years. Thanks to the dedicated staff and crew that have come and gone over the years, Newcastle patrons have come to expect nothing but the best. The mouthwatering food, the world-class entertainment, and the personal service made Lizotte’s the venue of choice for so many music lovers.

Anyone who has worked in the industry knows they are not hours that are conducive to a social or family life. So as much as we will all miss the Lizotte’s we know and love, we all wish Brian and Jo the best on their new adventure.

Despite this sad news, there are still things to look forward to on the horizon. One of them would be the addition of a Newcastle date on the national tour of Velvet Rewired in April 2023.

Continuing the amalgam of variety and concert, Velvet Rewired offers sheer entertainment in an ode to discotheque and Studio 54 - the infamous club synonymous with cultural acceptance, wild parties and endless good times. Much like Studio 54, Velvet Rewired is blind to colour, creed, class, gender, size and sexuality, welcoming audiences to a nightclub, a state of mind, and ultimately, a fantasy.

Rewired follows the original Velvet, born in the sequins and dust of the Adelaide Fringe Festival. Honouring the likes of Diana Ross, The Bee Gees, Earth Wind & Fire and The Weather Girls in an explosion of funk emulating the hedonistic clubs of the 1970s, Velvet Rewired takes us about as close to New York’s Studio 54 as we’re likely to get.

Newcastle will host seven performances at the Civic Theatre, Newcastle, from April 19. For more information and tickets, visit www.civictheatrenewcastle.com.au.