Everyone talks about the stadiums and the arena tours. But the real engine room of Australian live music has always been the small rooms — the pubs, the clubs, the converted warehouses and basement bars where artists develop their craft, build their audience, and play to people close enough to see the sweat.

I’ve played, worked, or booked shows in hundreds of small venues across this country. Here are ten that deserve recognition for what they do for Australian music.

1. The Curtin, Melbourne

Tucked away on Lygon Street in Carlton, The Curtin has been a reliable home for Melbourne’s independent music scene. The band room is intimate without feeling cramped, the sound is consistently good, and the booking team takes risks on emerging artists. It’s the kind of room where you can see a band that’ll be selling out much bigger venues in two years.

2. The Lansdowne, Sydney

After a period of uncertainty, The Lansdowne on Broadway in Chippendale has re-established itself as one of Sydney’s essential small rooms. The upstairs band room has great sightlines, decent acoustics for a pub venue, and a programming philosophy that balances established indie acts with genuine newcomers.

3. The Bearded Lady, Brisbane

This West End institution operates as a bar, gallery, and live music venue, and it does all three well. The courtyard setup for summer shows is brilliant, and the indoor room works for louder acts. It’s deeply embedded in Brisbane’s creative community in a way that feels organic rather than commercial.

4. Jive, Adelaide

Adelaide’s Jive has been holding it down on Hindley Street for years, providing a mid-size room that fills a crucial gap in the city’s live music ecosystem. The sound system is better than you’d expect, the stage is a decent size, and the bar doesn’t gouge you on drink prices — which matters more than people admit.

5. Mojo’s, Fremantle

Mojo’s has been a Fremantle institution since 2007, and the compact room on North Fremantle’s strip is basically a time capsule of everything good about Australian pub rock venues. The walls are covered in band posters, the PA is loud, and the crowd is right there in front of you. It’s the kind of venue that makes you want to play music.

6. The Wheatsheaf, Adelaide

The Wheaty, as everyone calls it, is a masterclass in how a suburban hotel can also be a world-class music venue. Located in Thebarton, it programmes everything from experimental noise to folk to heavy rock, and the audience is one of the most musically literate pub crowds in Australia.

7. Mary’s Underground, Sydney

Operating beneath the iconic Mary’s on George Street, this room in the Sydney CBD has become a vital space for heavier music in a city that keeps losing venues. The low ceiling and tight space create an intensity that bigger rooms can’t replicate. If you like your music loud and sweaty, this is your room.

8. The Workers Club, Melbourne

Fitzroy’s Workers Club has multiple rooms and a programming approach that covers everything from folk to techno. The smaller room is one of Melbourne’s best spaces for emerging artists, with a sound system and lighting rig that are genuinely professional. I’ve seen more promising debut shows here than anywhere else in the country.

9. The Triffid, Brisbane

Located in Newstead in a converted World War II aircraft hangar, The Triffid offers something unique in Australian live music. The room has character and history, the outdoor area is perfect for Brisbane’s climate, and the 600-capacity main room sounds fantastic. It’s right on the edge of “small venue” territory but I’m including it because the vibe is intimate.

10. Moonah Arts Centre, Hobart

Tasmania’s live music scene has grown enormously in recent years, and the Moonah Arts Centre has been part of that growth. It’s a community-run space that programmes adventurous music alongside visual arts and community events. The audience is engaged and appreciative, which is what every artist wants.

Why these rooms matter

Every arena headliner played small rooms first. Every festival main-stager developed their live show in front of 50 people at a pub. These venues aren’t just entertaining audiences — they’re the development pipeline for the entire Australian music industry.

Supporting them means going to shows. It means buying a ticket in advance instead of deciding on the night. It means buying a drink at the bar, grabbing some merch, and telling your friends about the great night you had.

The big venues will always have the resources to survive. The small rooms need the community to keep showing up.